Chicago Bus Rapid Transit

1. Chicago Bus Rapid Transit CHRISTOPHER ZIEMANN, AICP FEBRUARY 26, 2013 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION

2. Special Thanks With support from

3. What is Bus Rapid Transit? Train-like service with the Buses • Faster • More reliable • More efficient Cleveland New York City 3

4. Design Elements BRT Systems • Specialized Buses • Boarding Area Amenities • Real Time Bus Arrival Signs • Streetscaping • Wide Doors • Branded Service • Enforcement • Exclusive Traffic Lanes • Transit Signal Priority • Prepaid Boarding • Limited Stops • Level Boarding

5. Quito, Ecuador

8. Cleveland, OH Las Vegas, NV

10. Bogota, Colombia

11. Here’s how it works • http://youtu.be/kkWFHjiE7ek

12. The BRT Standard Purpose of BRT Standard • Evaluate existing systems • Evaluate systems in the planning phase Gold, Silver, and Bronze Standards BRT Standard Committee • Walter Hook, ITDP • Lloyd Wright, Asian Development Bank* • Dario Hidalgo, EMBARQ* • Gerhard Menckhoff, World Bank (retired), • ITDP Vice President • Wagner Colombini Martins, LogitConsultoria • Carlos Felipe Pardo, Slow Research • Pedro Szasz, Consultant • Ulises Navarro, Modelistica • Scott Rutherford, University of Washington Avaliable at www.itdp.org

13. Why Look at BRT in Chicago? • Rising ridership on high-service routes – AKA trains • Non-Downtown trips • Population shifts – transit-dependent households • Roads do not meet today’s needs

14. Transit in Chicago - Annual Ridership (in millions) Source: CTA

15. 1 in 4 Chicago households does not own a car

16. 23% of the land in the City of Chicago such as streets and alleys is found in the public right of way

17. History of BRT in Chicago 2003 – Central Area Plan • Calls for Downtown transitways Congestion Pricing in NYC • Funds to LA, Chicago April 2008 - 153.1 million grant to CTA/City  • Combined BRT with Parking Pricing Strategy for Downtown 2010 - application for Jeffery, 3 other corridors • Jeffery Blvd. approved by FTA for funding July 2010– FTA grant to study Western and Ashland Corridors 2011 - MPC Report: Chicago’s New Rout to Opportunity 2012 – Western/Ashland Kicks off • Central Loop BRT continues • Jeffery Jump Service Starts 2013 – System Network Plan • River North/Streeterville Study • North Lakeshore Drive

19. Benefits of BRT in Chicago Riders • Speed and Reliability • Especially important for hourly workers • 26% of Chicago households car-less • Complete Streets • Customer experience • Neighborhood-focused Efficient Use of Funds • Funding flexibility • Short- and long-term investments • Steady investment Efficient Operations • Lower Cost • Minimum service standards • Speed and reliability

20. Challenges of BRT in Chicago Roadway Trade-offs • Bus-only lanes • Parking and loading • Station spacing • (1/2 v. 1/8th mile) • Turn restrictions • Potential for traffic to residential streets Political / Community • Routes cross aldermanic wards (50) • Potential for compromise • Rumors of different fare

21. Chicago’s Approach to BRT Goals • Grow ridership on the bus network • Eliminate Bus Slow Zones • Forward Compatible Investment • Implement Complete Streets Short-Term Improvements • Targeted bus lanes • Transit Signal Priority • Test BRT elements on Jeffery corridor • Implement full BRT in the Loop Long-Term Vision • Develop citywide BRT plan • Phased implementation • Short-term modular improvements • Develop branded services • Concept of third mode ‘L’, Bus, and BRT

25. Central Loop BRT

26. Traffic Stats Over half of people on Washington and Madison Walk Of those in vehicles, nearly half are on the bus Buses make up only 4% of vehicles 26

27. Central Loop: Total round-trip travel time benefit (faster) Net average user benefit (47% Bus; 51% Car/Taxi) Option 1: +1.41 min Option 2: +2.76 min Option 3: +3.11 min Travel Minutes Saved (slower) 27

36. Western Avenue Impacts

37. System Network Plan • Next 10 BRT Corridors in Chicago • Implementation Plan • Short- and long-term • Financing Plan • Outreach Plan • Starting this Spring MPC Recommendations

38. BRT Steering Committee

39. Chicago Architecture Foundation

40. Active Transportation Alliance

41. Metropolitan Planning Council

42. Civic Consulting Alliance Targetcom Targetcom U.S. Equities Realty U.S. Equities Realty Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Kevin Pound, Architect

43. The Chicago Community Trust

44. Chicago BRT Work • Branding • Communications • Outreach • Design Competition • Business Advisory Group • Land Use Coordination

45. Branding System Branding • Develop brand standards • Hours of operation • Frequency • Minimum speed and reliability • Design standards • Amenities • Develop design standards • Logo and color • Messaging • Jeffery Jump 45

46. Communications Strategic Communications Plan • Six key messages • Organize communications and Outreach Website • www.BRTChicago.com Focus Groups • Test Messaging and Branding Newsletter • Sign up in Back Media Plan

47. Outreach Phase 2 • North LSD • River North / Streeterville • Citywide • Supporters list Phase 1 • Western / Ashland • Aldermen • 30 meetings • Neighborhood Groups • 36 organizations • Pop-up Meetings • 3 meetings • One BRT happy hour

48. Design Competition Las Vegas, NV, Rendering

49. Business Advisory Group • Engage downtown business leaders • Modeled on other cities • Could include • Marketing expertise • Surveys • Data • Political support

50. Land Use Coordination • MPC • Supporting DHED study • Engaging with developers • BRT Roundtable this Friday, March 1 • Dept. of Housing, Economic Development (DHED) Study • Western/Ashland corridors • Rezoning • Adjusting parking requirements • Design standards • Market Study • Add BRT-related amenities • Shelter, benches, bus tracker • Incentives