BRT: A solution to an urban transport crisis or a financial burden?

Transcription

1 BRT: A solution to an urban transport crisis or a financial burden? SABOA Conference 28 February 2013

2 Content 1. Our opinion of BRT 2. BRT Perceptions 3. Why the disconnect? 4. Population density vs Cost 5. BRT cost comparison with conventional bus services (Cape Town) 6. Alternative strategy 7. Quality of service BRT vs. Conventional bus 8. Conclusion

3 Point of departure We are not against IRT/BRT every bus operators dream It is the most efficient bus service It is the Rolls Royce of bus services First proper investment in public transport Lifted the media profile of public transport

4 BRT Perceptions 1. Internationally cost effective solution to public transport problems. Sold to National Government as cost effective system not needing operational subsidies 2. Brings order to industry

5 What they didn t say BRT implementation, internationally, compared to rail/metro alternatives BRT advantages best experienced over short routes in highly populated cities In SA most Cities have rail system Urban sprawl low population density Long trip distances Lower congestion levels Relative poor population

6 Example: Cape Town Best metropolitan rail system in SA 1000 buses serving city 50% of commuters use public transport All this despite no proper investment and attention from authorities in 20 years All this despite a moratorium on new bus services since 2000 and kilometres being restricted since 2009 Cape Town s public transport not in crisis

7 Example: Cape Town Population density: Cape Town: 1,425 persons per square kilometre (2007) Bogota: 3912 persons per square kilometre Relative poor population Recent survey showed that 66% of our passengers earn less than R3000 per month, 84% < R5000pm.

8 Population Density vs. Cost Study done in Maryland, Montgommery County USA in 2011, (Author: Clay Martin) Minimum density thresholds assumed for a sustainable BRT system: Majority of corridors with over 1,000 daily boarding's per mile or 625 per km. MyCiti trunk (17km) route will need 10,600 boarding's per day Currently carrying, on average, 6,028 per day Source:

9 Population Density vs Cost Study in Detroit USA Conventional bus service requires 800 regular commuters within 800m radius per bus stop To support sustainable BRT will require regular commuters per bus stop Required density is required along complete BRT corridor Source:

10 International Review- : Plot of Systems based on Quality & Density Total Cost of Transport Strategies 9 Low Density S. Africa High Quality US/Aus, low density auto dependent Very high external costs Africa, Informal, unsupported W.Europe, Strong policy favouring PT Low Quality E. Europe, Centrally Planned for PT. Where next? Operational Breakeven Line Developed Asian. Sustainable, Profitable Latin America. Developing Asian. Sustainability issues High Density

11 Comparative Stats Cape Town Conventional Bus Annual Statistics MyCiti IRT R696,2 mil 40 mil 51.1 mil 1043 Subsidy Passenger KM s Passengers Total Fleet R187 mil 3.24 mil 4 mil 42

12 Comparative Stats Cape Town Ratio Conventional Bus MyCiti IRT Comments Subsidy per bus per annum R R 4.5 mil IRT 6.7 times more expensive Subsidy per passenger R R IRT 3.4 times more expensive Subsidy per passenger kilometre R R IRT 3.3 times more expensive Source City of Cape Town s 2012 MyCiti Business Plan

13 Alternative strategies Step 1: Rail backbone of Cape Town s public transport system Question: What would Cape Town s rail system look like if the R5b was spent on improving it? Step 2: Incremental improvements to existing services to build up passenger base Investment in infrastructure Proper policed bus lanes

14 Imagine Investment in existing bus termini

15 Bus lanes for all Imagine

16 Alternative strategies Step 1: Rail backbone of Cape Town s public transport system Question: What would Cape Town s public transport system look like if the R5b was spent on the already good system? Step 2: Incremental changes to build up passenger base Investment in infrastructure Proper policed bus lanes Allow and manage current natural growth (current requests) Bus priority signalling Conventional buses with BRT qualities

17 Text Book: BRT Characteristics 1. Segregated Bus ways 2. Level entry 3. Pre Paid integrated Ticketing 4. Large multi-door buses 5. Distinct Image 6. Centralised Control

18 BRT Characteristics Segregated Bus ways Level entry Pre-Paid Integrated Ticketing Large multi-door buses Distinct Image Centralised Control Bus Comfort Affordable / Sustainable BRT BRT X Conventional Bus

19 Conclusion In our opinion BRT very expensive It is a huge financial burden on City which have many demands for funds Relative poor population Budgets exceeded We re not the only people saying this

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21 Cape Town is poised to propel itself and its hapless ratepayers into a financially disastrous, no-win corner with nobody but itself to blame Article by Rollo Dickson 2009

22 In conclusion City's have a choice between A Conventional bus service Sustainable system With a high percentage of BRT quality More comfortable journey or BRT We say maybe a Mercedes is good enough, the Rolls Royce can come later

23 Questions?

24 BRT compared with conventional bus services Bus comfort