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Bus Rapid Transit in Chicago

BRT in Gapers' Block

 

An interesting article about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) being studied in Chicago; benefits, requirements (streets being considered must have (or create) a bike lane).

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Permalink Reply by Liz on August 23, 2011 at 9:53am


I think you're underestimating how far many people in this city have to walk to reach a bus stop with local stops.  West of western, south of Roosevelt and north of Lawrence it is not uncommon to have bus lines 1 mile apart.  


John Wirtz said:

I think you're overestimating the number of people that would be negatively impacted.  The vast majority of bus users are already boarding and alighting at the stops every half-mile, and I'm proposing stops every quarter-mile.  We're talking about improving travel times for probably 90% or more of riders and 10% or less of riders having to walk 600 feet farther.  Here's some recommended reading:

 

http://www.humantransit.org/2010/11/san-francisco-a-rational-stop-s...

http://www.humantransit.org/2011/04/comments-of-the-week-ideal-stop...

 

Also, London recommends stops spacing of 400 m (0.25 miles).


h' said:



Permalink Reply by Liz on August 23, 2011 at 10:02am

Looking at the square milage I think this is a fair break down:


Area in which 15-25% of stops could be consolidated/removed 28 sq. milres (Lawrence-Roosevelt, Lake to Western) 

 

Area of Chicago: 234 sq. miles

This is only 12% of the city.  Granted its a 12% that receives a majority of the transportation money and focus.  

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on August 23, 2011 at 12:54pm

I think another issue of concern to cyclists is where the bus physically makes the stops (any of them) - my sense is that stops that are after an intersection are preferable.  When the stop is right before the light,  cyclists, the bus and cars turning right (or being jerks/passing illegally on the right) are all shoehorned together.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 23, 2011 at 1:47pm

It's too bad that the primary reason they put the stops before the light is because many drivers are TOO STUPID not to block the intersection as they wait behind a bus stopped at the far side.  When the lights turn they they are stuck blocking cross-traffic. 

 

People who do this should be drawn and quartered. 

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on August 23, 2011 at 4:24pm

hmm... and if they're being blocked by a bus (assuming the bus has pulled over to the right) they are DOUBLY GUILTY as not only are they blocking the intersection but they did so while illegally passing on the right!

 

sadly, drawing and quartering probably isn't realistic.  however, a $300-$500 ticket might get the message across.  I swear to god I could pay my salary 4x over if they'd let me ticket drivers at Fullerton/Elston/Damen who block the intersection.  Maybe Rahm would go for some independent contractor "traffic enforcement bounty hunters."


James BlackHeron said:

It's too bad that the primary reason they put the stops before the light is because many drivers are TOO STUPID not to block the intersection as they wait behind a bus stopped at the far side.  When the lights turn they they are stuck blocking cross-traffic. 

 

People who do this should be drawn and quartered. 

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on August 23, 2011 at 4:58pm

Here's the part of the article that I liked best:

"The BRT systems would require streets to be a minimum width of 86 feet for right-of-way for BRT. The streets detailed in the report would require both sides of the street to have parking, traffic lanes, and bike lanes. For streets that would have BRT stations in their median, the streets must be at least 97-feet wide, allowing for the station, a dedicated BRT lane, a traffic lane with a left turn lane, bike lane, and parking. As a result, several suggested streets for routes were removed due to their inability to accommodate the requirements."

All would have bike lanes too.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 23, 2011 at 5:27pm

It was a shock when I moved to Chicago at how so many drivers think that the right-turn lane and bike/bus/parking lane on the far side of an intersection is for passing/shoaling past traffic in the regular driving lane(s.)

 

Pull that crap up where I'm from and they do ticket.  Here it seems like nobody cares and people in the other lanes always seem to just let them back in and reward them by allowing them ahead of them.  Again, try that elsewhere and you'll get stuck waiting forever to merge left again as drivers wouldn't stand for it and would never let someone bud in line like that.

 

Chicago drivers...

Permalink Reply by Elihu Blanks on August 24, 2011 at 5:24pm

Hey,

 

One thing that could be good for local comunities and the distance between bus stops is that cabs could make money giving people short trips. If you don't like cars maybe those bike cabs we see downtown could set up small businesses and help people to the stops. I think this could become efficient if every comunity helped itself; It could support local bike clubs / shops etc and give the biking comunity more respect.

 

eblanks

Permalink Reply by Davo on August 25, 2011 at 10:35am


I hate that intersection with a passion. I always stay to the right (going North on Damen) unless some jack hole is blocking the lane (going SE on Elston). Then I take up the lane so I can weave around the parked (basically) car. They should have Police there to personally ticket these people, or time the lights better, or make that intersection a round about. I know that there are plans to make it better but that wont happen for a while.


Carter O'Brien said:

 I swear to god I could pay my salary 4x over if they'd let me ticket drivers at Fullerton/Elston/Damen who block the intersection.  Maybe Rahm would go for some independent contractor "traffic enforcement bounty hunters."

 

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on August 25, 2011 at 11:57am
It's even worse trying to turn left from Elston onto Damon.  The light turns Red for you but the oncoming traffic still has a green.  You are just left out in the breeze to hang.
Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on May 2, 2012 at 1:32pm

http://www.activetrans.org/blog/lcrandell/bus-rapid-transit-may-be-...

http://www.activetrans.org/blog/brenna-conway/dont-forget-public-me...

Bumping this thread to remind us transit geeks of tonight's presentation on bus rapid transit, at 224 S Michigan, beginning at 5:00 PM:

 

Public meeting on Bus Rapid Transit in the Loop May 2

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), in partnership with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and 42nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly, invites you to attend a public open house on bus rapid transit (BRT).

The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 2 at the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Lecture Hall at 224 S. Michigan Ave.

The new BRT service in the Loop will provide riders with fast and reliable connections throughout the central business district – from Union Station and Ogilvie Transportation Center through the Loop and over to Streeterville and Navy Pier.

The open house begins at 5 p.m.

Open session: 5 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Attendees can view and discuss project plans with CDOT, CTA and the project team. Written feedback can also be submitted at this time.

Presentation: 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Ald. Reilly and CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein will make introductory remarks on BRT. CDOT Deputy Commissioner Luann Hamilton will present the city’s plans for the Central Loop BRT project.

Open session: 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Attendees have a final opportunity to view and discuss project plans with the project team and submit feedback.

http://www.activetrans.org/blog/brenna-conway/dont-forget-public-me...

Permalink Reply by joseph.musco on May 6, 2012 at 2:30am

There is a bit of a disconnect between the BRT planning and the reality of the X-route cancellations. If faster bus service on these routes is essential to economic development, why were the X-routes cancelled? If it's OK to keep the X-routes in the dustbin while BRT moves forward, why do we need BRT?

Western and Irving Park are two of the main arterials being considered for BRT and both had their express service cancelled!

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