While BRT makes a large amount of sense from the standpoint of implementing a more reliable transit route, it will be interesting to see the second order effects of GoRaleigh's BRT on the rest of the system. I've recently run into significant reliability issues catching my bus home from Moore Square after work, almost regardless of which bus I take (12p, 230p, 4p or 5p), a bus just not showing up or showing up and having no driver to take over for my route, which is incredibly frustrating for someone who could drive if I had to. That said it, did bring about an interesting reflection: the reliability of a city bus system is still heavily reliant on the average reliability of the grouping of the systems bus operators. I would expect that the prestige associated with BRT I would expect the best bus operators (in terms of safety, reliability, customer service, etc.) would probably be given right of first refusal to switch to the BRT line, which does make sense for trying to attract choice riders. Does that have a net positive increase on the system operatiobs overall? especially given that the average reliability of the rest of the system probably takes a hit and if the non-BRT riders are more likely to be transit dependent, then who is really benefiting from BRT? This isn't to say that I'm anti-BRT, but at least in the transportation industry, there is a long an storied history of assuming that because something is newer and faster then it is better. And while BRT may attract some small subset of choice riders who could t bring themselves to ride a normal city bus, I'm not convinced that it will make the system as a whole better. I guess it will make land values in Knightdale go up a bit and make me wish I bought a house there instead?
Now that they've released the Durham BRT and its basically just down main street, what are your thoughts? Personally I prefer your proposal and wonder who the new line serves. Downtown condos?
Great post! I do think lining up BRT to work with a long-term vision for the Raleigh/Durham rail makes sense, since it seems like that’s still the long-term vision and part of both cities’ transit plans despite the setback last year.
While BRT makes a large amount of sense from the standpoint of implementing a more reliable transit route, it will be interesting to see the second order effects of GoRaleigh's BRT on the rest of the system. I've recently run into significant reliability issues catching my bus home from Moore Square after work, almost regardless of which bus I take (12p, 230p, 4p or 5p), a bus just not showing up or showing up and having no driver to take over for my route, which is incredibly frustrating for someone who could drive if I had to. That said it, did bring about an interesting reflection: the reliability of a city bus system is still heavily reliant on the average reliability of the grouping of the systems bus operators. I would expect that the prestige associated with BRT I would expect the best bus operators (in terms of safety, reliability, customer service, etc.) would probably be given right of first refusal to switch to the BRT line, which does make sense for trying to attract choice riders. Does that have a net positive increase on the system operatiobs overall? especially given that the average reliability of the rest of the system probably takes a hit and if the non-BRT riders are more likely to be transit dependent, then who is really benefiting from BRT? This isn't to say that I'm anti-BRT, but at least in the transportation industry, there is a long an storied history of assuming that because something is newer and faster then it is better. And while BRT may attract some small subset of choice riders who could t bring themselves to ride a normal city bus, I'm not convinced that it will make the system as a whole better. I guess it will make land values in Knightdale go up a bit and make me wish I bought a house there instead?
Now that they've released the Durham BRT and its basically just down main street, what are your thoughts? Personally I prefer your proposal and wonder who the new line serves. Downtown condos?
Great post! I do think lining up BRT to work with a long-term vision for the Raleigh/Durham rail makes sense, since it seems like that’s still the long-term vision and part of both cities’ transit plans despite the setback last year.