Alex Posorske - Greater Greater Washington

Move forward and be smart about Montgomery BRT

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:20:00 EDT

Rockville Pike is the best place to first launch a "gold standard" Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, says a recent report. The report is less certain about other potential routes, but that shouldn't stop the county from investing in top-quality BRT on key corridors, and being smart about how to phase in BRT and other bus improvements elsewhere.

Rockville Pike, the best spot for BRT. Photo by tracktwentynine on Flickr.

Our region must invest in the next generation of transit to provide alternatives to sitting in traffic, to grow more sustainably, and to remain economically competitive. The demand to live in walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods has never been greater and will continue to grow. These are the motivations behind Montgomery County's bold proposal for a network of BRT lines.

Linked with investment in the Purple Line, improvements to Metro service, and walkable, transit-oriented communities, the "RTV Network" proposed by the county's Transit Task Force will be critically important as the county absorbs at least another 200,000 residents in the next two decades.

Yes, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP)'s report, which Ben Ross wrote about Friday, takes a much more cautious approach for implementing BRT than did the Transit Task Force. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't move forward.

Instead, it pushes the county to be smart about BRT. It's best to methodically phase in each new transit route, adjusting each one as necessary to work in the neighborhoods it passes through while seeking to maximize high-quality, frequent service.

Start with gold-standard BRT on Rockville Pike

Some areas and corridors in the county have the potential right now for high quality BRT, and the county needs to move forward before it's too late—before congestion drives away jobs and investment. As the ITDP report notes, the rapidly urbanizing Rockville Pike has the most immediate potential for what they have defined as "gold" standard BRT—with its own dedicated right-of-way, very frequent service, rapid boarding, and real-time information, among other features.

The county and the City of Rockville have recognized that the best way to absorb growth, to protect suburban neighborhoods and the Agricultural Reserve, to manage traffic, and to meet the demand for transit-neighborhoods is to reinvent Rockville Pike as a mixed-use, walkable transit corridor tied both to the Red Line Metro Stations and a new BRT line.

"Gold standard BRT" in this corridor, combined with new local street networks, is essential to make the new residential and commercial development succeed and to maximize transportation performance and livability. Montgomery County has the opportunity here to build what could be the nation's best new BRT line.

The ITDP report underestimates BRT's potential

The ITDP report took a unreasonably cautious approach toward BRT, recommending the county narrow down its BRT to just the Rockville Pike corridor. Much of this turns on the definitions: the task force advocated for "gold standard" BRT on all routes, and ITDP suggests gold standard is not appropriate for many of these. However, not every route has to truly meet the gold standard to make a substantial difference.

ITDP relies on current bus ridership numbers in Montgomery County, comparing them to other countries with far higher numbers of bus riders. But frequent, dedicated-lane service can indeed attract new riders and connect the county's growing urban neighborhoods. Comparing Montgomery County to a metropolis of 7 million like Bogotá, as the ITDP report does, and comparing its multiple "gold" standard BRT routes to Montgomery County's current, traditional bus ridership, simply isn't apt.

Montgomery County is growing quickly, and something needs to be done. The Maryland Department of Planning estimates that the county will add over 200,000 new residents and 130,000 jobs between now and 2040. That will make it the only Maryland jurisdiction with more than a million people.

The county faces the challenge of how to grow without repeating past mistakes of simply building and widening more roads, which inevitably leads to more spread-out development and even more traffic.

These population projections might even be conservative, and may also assume far too many workers commuting long distances into the county. Study after study shows that more and more Americans want to live in walkable, transit-accessible communities and closer to jobs.

Transit ridership continues to increase, and it's becoming clear that the younger generation will be much less tied to their cars and much more likely to take public transportation than before. Recognizing this, WMATA is expecting Metro ridership to double between 2001 and 2025.

So let's be smart about implementing much-needed new transit in Montgomery. Fund Metro's rehabilitation and service improvements, build the light rail Purple Line to connect the high-demand transit market between Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and phase-in BRT routes. Start with the "gold" standard BRT for Rockville Pike. Then implement some of the Task Force's Phase 1 routes that have the best potential, tailoring the design and service to the particular conditions and potential of each of those corridors.

How could BRT realistically work elsewhere in the county?

The Transit Task Force report included the following routes as part of its Phase 1 proposal:

Rockville Pike (MD-355) from Montgomery Village Avenue to the Bethesda Metro Station: 12.1 miles
Viers Mille Road (MD-586) from Rockville Metro and the county office buildings to Wheaton Metro and Georgia Ave: 6.7 miles
Colesville Road (US-29) from Burtonsville/MD-198 to Silver Spring Metro: 10.7 miles
Georgia Avenue (MD-97) from Olney to Viers Mill Road: 9.8 miles
ICC (MD-200) from I-270 to Colesville Road: 22.9 miles
Randolph Road from Rockville Pike to FDA Boulevard: 12.5 miles

Proposed BRT phase 1.

Viers Mill Road is served today by the Metrobus Q line, which has the highest ridership of any WMATA line in Maryland. Approximately 10,000 riders took the Q on the average weekday in 2009. With slightly lower ridership than Viers Mill Road, the Georgia Avenue corridor also has some of the highest ridership levels in Maryland, according to WMATA.

WMATA's report also notes that the Q line route suffers from overcrowding and "frequent delays caused by traffic and other factors." Traffic, lack of dedicated lanes, lack of bus priority at traffic signals, substandard bus stops, and other hurdles discourage "choice" riders (those who have the option of driving) from taking the bus. This is where BRT can make a real difference, even if it's not 100 percent "gold" standard.

The Task Force recognized the importance of physically separating the transit vehicles from general traffic to the maximum extent possible. But the Task Force also noted that there are several different ways to do this and that any one route could potentially have multiple configurations, such as the preferred center running dedicated lanes, reversible lanes depending on the commute flows, curbside lanes, or, as a last resort, running in mixed traffic on occasion.

Even non-"gold standard" BRT can attract choice riders while significantly improving service for transit-dependent riders. Modern BRT vehicles, signal priority, quick boarding, and robust route and arrival information and on-board wireless can provide faster and better service.

The alternative to BRT would be the fruitless, business-as-usual approach of widening roads and intersections just for cars, disrupting neighborhoods with controversial and wasteful new arterials like M-83, and still sitting in traffic without a viable option. BRT offers that viable option with the advantage of adding more vehicles and more frequent service year after year.

Frequent, high capacity bus and BRT service between Montgomery County's growing mixed-use residential and employment centers and interconnecting the Purple Line and Red Line will allow Montgomery County to grow in an environmentally sustainable way, vastly expand transportation options, and compete for the next generation of workers and high-tech businesses.

Neighboring Fairfax County has reached this same conclusion. They are building the Silver Line, and planning for the Columbia Pike Streetcar and other dedicated lane bus or rail transit corridors like Route 1. Montgomery County should move forward with a bold transit vision while being smart about the implementation and committing to funding all three legs of the "three-legged transit stool:" Metro, the Purple Line and the BRT network.

30 comments

Montgomery's bus future is more than BRT (Oct 19, 2012)
Montgomery plans 160-mile, "gold standard" BRT system (May 22, 2012)
For gold-standard BRT, Montgomery must start now (May 30, 2012)
Start Montgomery BRT today with priority corridors (May 2, 2012)
Could RTV transform Montgomery's transit? (May 24, 2012)

DC Council: Don't choose parking meters over people

Wed, 18 May 2011 15:46:00 EDT

by David Alpert and Alex Posorske

It was very disappointing to hear DC Councilmembers support rolling back parking meter rates and opposing a graduated RPP fee in the midst of large proposed cuts to transit and affordable housing programs.

Photo by izik on Flickr.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth has created a petition for DC residents to contact their Councilmembers and ask them to prioritize reasonable revenues, forward-thinking parking and transportation policies, and essential affordable housing funds.

The Council is meeting tomorrow to talk again about the budget and voting next Wednesday, May 25. We have to act right now if we want to have an effect. Please sign the petition and ask your friends to do the same.

The petition asks members to:

Support the Committee on Public Works and Transportation report calling for graduated Residential Parking Permit fees;
Oppose Councilmember Evans' rollback of parking meter rates;
Support Mayor Gray's income tax increase on households earning more than $200,000 a year;
Restore Housing Production Trust Fund money, and;
Provide the needed funds to ensure Metro doesn't have to cut service on weekends.

Depleting parking meter revenues while slashing funds for essential transit and affordable housing programs will hurt all of us. Speak up now to ensure the city budget continues to build a more livable and inclusive city.

23 comments

Councilmembers vehemently stand up for stingy, multiple-car owning, wealthy residents (May 16, 2011)
Council will debate parking meter hike Monday (Dec 5, 2008)
DC 2010 budget would end Saturday free parking (Mar 24, 2009)
Wells would keep Circulator fare, expand CaBi, and more (May 11, 2011)
Fenty budget raises Ward 2 parking meters to $3/hr (Apr 12, 2010)

Meet the next generation of planners

Tue, 17 May 2011 16:18:00 EDT

by Laura DeSantis and Alex Posorske

Have you ever wanted to pick a planner's brain? Would you like to get to know some of the young, up and coming professionals who are redefining the way we think about our region and our communities?

Image by Mike Licht on Flickr.

The world of development and planning is complex and often elusive. But now you can meet 3 of the region's most promising young planners at the Coalition for Smarter Growth's Young Planner Showcase on Wednesday, May 25. They'll present their best work, get feedback from our expert panelists, and answer all your questions. Consider it American Idol for planners, but slightly less vicious and without any fear of Steven Tyler.

Our presenters, Matt Ladd, Brandi Collins, and Maritza Mercado, are helping plan sustainable communities in our region and are the brains behind various projects in Fairfax, Alexandria, and DC. Don't miss out on this opportunity to find out everything you've ever wanted to know about the process behind making the DC area great.

What goes into a project? What makes a plan sustainable? Who's involved? How can jurisdictions better work with the community to make decisions? What struggles do planners face on a daily basis? The possibilities for questions are endless (though we only have until 8:00 pm, so come prepared). And who knows, you might get inspired to join the community planning process!

If you've been to a CSG event before, this forum may surprise you a bit. We're trying out the Pecha Kucha presentation format. Each presenter will have 20 PowerPoint slides and get 20 seconds per slide. Each presentation is thus a total of 6 minutes 40 seconds long, leaving plenty of time for audience questions and conversation.

Meet the Speakers:

Matt Ladd, Fairfax County Department of Planning & Zoning
Matt Ladd was the primary contributing author to the Comprehensive Plan for Tysons Corner. He is currently working to evaluate redevelopment proposals in Tysons that would allow nearly 40 million square feet of new, mixed-use development surrounding 4 new Metrorail stations.

Brandi D. Collins, City of Alexandria Department of Planning & Zoning
Brandi Collins will present her work on the 2003 Long-Term Vision and Action Plan for the Arlandria Neighborhood, located in the northeastern portion of Alexandria, Virginia. She will cover the problems the plans addresses, including under-utilized retail space and a lack of new development.

Maritza E. Mercado, AECOM
Maritza Mercado will discuss her work on the Washington, DC Neighborhood Sustainability Indicators Project Pilot, a community-based, grassroots effort to engage neighborhood residents, businesses, and institutions to define their vision, goals, and targets for sustainability at the local level.

This event is sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and the National Capital Area Chapter of APA. APA has approved Certification Maintenance (CM) credit for this event.

RSVPs are required.

The Young Planner Showcase will be held Wednesday, May 25, 2011 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm at the National Capital Planning Commission, 401 9th Street, NW.

11 comments

Support a sustainable Tysons (Sep 3, 2008)
Tysons planners: Making a city is hard, so never mind (Sep 15, 2009)
Who is Peter May, and why is the National Park Service anti-urban? (Dec 10, 2008)
Montgomery rewriting 33-year-old zoning code (Apr 20, 2010)
A toast to 2010: Top five Smart Growth moments of the year (Dec 9, 2010)