Looks like a BRT. Must be a BRT. Or is it? Bus rapid transit, or BRT, is a growing mode of choice given its flexibility and lower capital cost compared to rail alternatives. But what does a BRT need to look like to qualify for FTA funding? What are the major considerations for BRT design when it comes to serving your community? How can you tailor your BRT to a specific corridor? Hear up-to-date information on the current FTA definition of BRT and how it impacts potential funding for BRT projects. Then listen to three practitioners who've planned and defined their BRT projects to meet both their funding goals and the needs of their communities. Moderator: Art Guzzetti, Vice President, Policy, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC Rick Kiegel, Project Manager, Maryland Transit Administration, Baltimore, Maryland Katie Roth, AICP, Senior Planner, Metro Transit, BRT/Small Starts Project Office, Minneapolis, Minnesota John Myers, PE, Associate Vice President, HNTB Corporation, Indianapolis, Indiana Jeffrey F. Boothe, Chair, New Starts Working; Partner, Holland & Knight, Washington, DC

1. 1
The Right Tools for the Problem: Arterial BRT in the Twin Cities
Katie Roth, AICP Metro Transit
September 22, 2014 Rail~Volution

2. 2
Define the problem
Use the right tools to solve the problem
Defend the solution & overcome challenges 2

3. 3
12 Workhorse Corridors
•
Core frequent service network
•
90,000 daily rides
•
Growing urban neighborhoods
•
Speed & reliability challenges
•
Transit market growth potential

4. 4
•
10 miles, Rosedale to METRO Blue Line 46th Street Station
•
20 stations, roughly 1/2 mile apart
•
Frequent service:
A Line every 10 minutes + Local underlay every 30 minutes
•
Fast: 27% faster than local bus
•
4,000 current daily rides, 9,000 by 2030 with A Line
First Line Coming in 2015
ROSEVILLE
FALCON
HEIGHTS
SAINT
PAUL
MINNEAPOLIS

5. Define the problem 5
42%
Moving
32%
Boarding
23%
Red Light
Frequent, long stops & red light delays hamper service speed.
Traffic delays
make up just 3% of travel time.
Buses are moving less than half the time.

6. Define the problem 6
Inadequate bus facilities belie service quality.

7. 7
Critical Tool: 100% Off-Board Fare Payment
St. Paul Pioneer Press

8. 8
Critical Tool: Bumpouts for Speed & Space
6’ clear zone
for snow clearance & all-door boarding
5’ shelter depth
Unobstructed sidewalk
Bus stops in travel lane

9. 9
Critical Tool: Scalable, High-Amenity Stations 9
Visible Branding
Station Name
Real-Time “Next Bus” Information
Roof-Mounted
Heaters & Lights
Destination Sign
Ticket machines & Fare validator
Security Cameras
Detectable warning edge
4’ Clear Zone
Information & Maps
Foundation Wall
Near-level platform height
Emergency Phone

10. 10
Building more, faster, for less…but how? 10
$450 million
System of
4 LRT lines:
$4+ billion
System of
12 arterial BRT
lines:
FFGA
FFGA
FFGA
FFGA
????

11. 11
State Bonds
(One-Time)
Challenge: Filling in the gaps
•
Stable, dedicated source critical to system buildout
Federal CMAQ
(One- Time)
Federal Formula
Funds
Local Funds
State Competitive (One-Time) Trunk Highway Bonds
Fleet
TSP
Stations
Technology
Design & Soft Costs
State
Appropriation
(One-Time)
$25 Million Total A Line Project Cost

12. Challenge: Is it or isn’t it? 12

13. A toolbox, not a package. 13
Fast Frequent Reliable Comfortable Predictable
THE RIGHT TOOLS

14. Contact 14
More information:
metrotransit.org/snelling-brt
Katie Roth, AICP katie.roth@metrotransit.org