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Chicago Bus Rapid Transit. CHRISTOPHER ZIEMANN, AICP FEBRUARY 26, 2013 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION. Special Thanks. With support from. What is Bus Rapid Transit?. Train-like service with the Buses Faster More reliable More efficient. Cleveland. New York City. 3.
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Chicago Bus Rapid Transit CHRISTOPHER ZIEMANN, AICP FEBRUARY 26, 2013 AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION
Special Thanks With support from
What is Bus Rapid Transit? Train-like service with the Buses • Faster • More reliable • More efficient Cleveland New York City 3
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
Cleveland, OH Las Vegas, NV
Here’s how it works • http://youtu.be/kkWFHjiE7ek
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
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
Transit in Chicago - Annual Ridership (in millions) Source: CTA
1 in 4 Chicago households does not own a car
23% of the land in the City of Chicago such as streets and alleys is found in the public right of way
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
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
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
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
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
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
System Network Plan • Next 10 BRT Corridors in Chicago • Implementation Plan • Short- and long-term • Financing Plan • Outreach Plan • Starting this Spring MPC Recommendations
Civic Consulting Alliance Targetcom Targetcom U.S. Equities Realty U.S. Equities Realty Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group Kevin Pound, Architect
Chicago BRT Work • Branding • Communications • Outreach • Design Competition • Business Advisory Group • Land Use Coordination
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
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
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
Design Competition Las Vegas, NV, Rendering
Business Advisory Group • Engage downtown business leaders • Modeled on other cities • Could include • Marketing expertise • Surveys • Data • Political support
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