Bus Rapid Transit: Basic Design for Non-Transit Planners Paul Bignardi, AICP - Principal Planner San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Graham Carey, PE Principal careybrt Consulting Peter Gabancho, PE - Project Manager San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Table of Contents 1. BRT in California 2. BRT Planning 3. BRT Tool Box Actions 4. Van Ness BRT Experience 5. Interactive Exercise Build Your Own BRT 2
BRT in California pbignardi photo BRT should play a role in the future development of cities throughout California 3
BRT in California Local Rail Service Transit = 9 systems Local Bus Service = 50+ systems 2015 Population = 38.9 million pubzi.com 25% increase 2050 Population = 49.8 million Not all of the additional people will drive cars or ride light rail trains... many will use buses 4
BRT in California Existing BRT or Near-BRT Service Cities / Areas with high potential for future BRT service www.geology.com 5
BRT in California Where BRT Works Best Bus speeds are significantly slower than average auto speeds Demand exists to attract riders by providing a more competitive travel time www.omnitrans.com 6
BRT Planning START What you have crafted END Project Elements What conditions and elements you have as a starting point BRT Plans Local Transportation Conditions What tools are available to improve service Actions (Tool Box) Better Service Priorities What you want to achieve 7
BRT Planning Sources of Time Savings Traffic Signals 10%-15% Stations 10%-15% In Motion 50% Service Type & Bus Type (includes stop removal) 30%-40% Traffic Lanes 25%-33% 8
Faster & More Reliable Service BRT Planning General 1 Service Type (Reduce stops) & Bus Type 3 Traffic Lanes HOV Lanes / Semi-Exclusive Bus Lanes 2 Traffic Lanes Dedicated Exclusive Bus Lanes (red lanes) 4 Stations - Reduce Dwell Time - All Door Boarding - Prepaid Fare Media 5 Traffic Signal Priority 7 Frequent service balanced headways 6 Queue jump at traffic signals 8 Branding 9 Improved stop amenities - Shelters - Next Bus 10 Landscaping Attractive Street 9
BRT Tool Box Actions Value per dollar Costs of BRT elements of improvement vs. relative performance improvement 10
BRT Tool Box Actions Service Type & Bus Type Layered Service / Tiered Service (Local + BRT) Hybrid Service 40-foot low floor 60-foot low floor 3 door 60-foot low floor 5 door 42-foot double deck 11
BRT Tool Box Actions Service Type & Bus Type New York MTA example: BRT (named SBS in NY) has half the number of stops as local service. Local = 11 stations Limited = 7 stations BRT = 5 stations 12
BRT Tool Box Actions S e r v i c e T y p e & B u s T y p e 60-foot low floor 5 door 42-foot double deck 60-foot low floor 3 door 40-foot low floor 13
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Time Direction Space (Dynamic) Mixed Traffic Curbside (Semi Exclusive) Median (Full Exclusive) 14
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Degree of Exclusivity Median Exclusive Curbside Semi- Exclusive Separated Shared 15
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes 16
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes 17
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Separated 18
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location - Median 19
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Median - Reversed Flow (aka Contra-flow) 20
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Median - (shared left turns) 21
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Median - (Single Lane Two-way) 22
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Median - (Single Lane Two-way) 23
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Curbside - Business Access w/transit - (BAT) 24
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Curbside (BAT) shared with left turns 25
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Curbside (BAT) (with parking) 26
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Location Curbside (Single lane - Two-way) 27
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Degree of Exclusivity (Exclusive) 28
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Degree of Exclusivity (Semi-Exclusive) Time Direction Space (Dynamic) 29
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Degree of Exclusivity (Semi-Exclusive) (Direction) 30
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Degree of Exclusivity (Semi-Exclusive) (Dynamic) Bus Lane Intermittent Priority (BLIMP) 31
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Lanes Landscaping / Improved Stop Amenities / Branding pbignardiphoto pbignardiphoto www.flickriver.com pbignardiphoto 32
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Signals Queue Jump Transit Signal Priority 33
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Signals Queue Jump (with receiving bay) 34
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Signals Queue Jump (without receiving bay) Need separate signal phase Delayed if bus approaches on green phase 35
BRT Tool Box Actions Traffic Signals Traffic Signal Priority (TSP) 36
BRT Tool Box Actions Stations Position (Far side / Near side / Mid-block) Open / Closed Platform height (vehicle floor & doors) Transfers Location in route Mix of services (regular, connector, local & BRT, etc.) 37
BRT Tool Box Actions Stations Position far side / near side Far side and near side station Far side stations 38
BRT Tool Box Actions Stations Design Open / Closed 39
BRT Tool Box Actions Stations Design Platform height (vehicle) Amenities (shelter, information, etc.) 40
BRT Tool Box Actions Stations Design Ticket machines / Pre-payment All-Door Boarding 41
Van Ness BRT Experience
Van Ness BRT Experience 1940s 3 traffic lanes each direction 2 streetcar tracks (shared w/ traffic) 2 lanes of curb parking No median
Van Ness BRT Experience Today 3 traffic lanes each direction 2 Muni transit routes / 8 Golden Gate Transit routes (mixed traffic + buses) 16,000 daily passengers 2 lanes of curb parking Extensive planted median
Van Ness BRT Experience Bring Van Ness into 21st Century - Modern transit corridor using BRT - Fast - Reliable - Affordable - Dependable - Attractive - San Francisco 2015 Population = 850,000 25% increase 2050 Population = 1,000,000+ Insert photo of SF skyline or city hall
Van Ness BRT Experience Long Range Planning Four Corridor Plan -1995 T-Third LRV Third St. LRV Central Subway Fisherman s Wharf Concept Study Van Ness BRT Geary BRT
Van Ness BRT Experience Service Type & Bus Type Layered Service / Tiered Service (Local + BRT) Hybrid Service 40-foot low floor 60-foot low floor 3 door 60-foot low floor 5 door 42-foot double deck 47
Van Ness BRT Experience Service Type & Bus Type Route 47 Caltrain - North Beach new 60-foot hybrid buses Route 49 City College Ft. Mason new 60-foot trolley buses
Van Ness BRT Experience Service Type & Bus Type Hybrid Service 1 15 bus stops 3 4 5 7 6 8 9 10 9 stations
Van Ness BRT Experience Service Type & Bus Type 60-foot low floor 3 door 1 60 foot New Flyer Trolley Bus Route 49 3 4 5 7 60 foot New Flyer Hybrid Diesel Route 47 6 8 9 10
Van Ness BRT Experience Traffic Lanes Time Direction Space (Dynamic) Mixed Traffic Curbside (Semi Exclusive) Median (Full Exclusive) 51
Van Ness BRT Experience T r a f f i c L a n e s 4 5 6 3 8 Mixed Traffic 1 (right door loading - 3-door bus required) Semi-Exclusive Lanes (right door loading - 3-door bus required) 7 Full Exclusive Center Lanes, Single Median 9 10 (left / right door loading - 5-door bus required) Full Exclusive Center Lanes, Dual Medians (right door loading 3-door bus required)
Van Ness BRT Experience Landscaping / Improved Stop Amenities / Branding 53
Van Ness BRT Experience Traffic Signals Queue Jump Transit Signal Priority 54
Van Ness BRT Experience Traffic Signals Traffic Signal Priority (TSP) Traffic signal management is very challenging issue: - 10+ major transit cross-town Muni routes - Golden Gate Transit routes - 200,000+ daily passengers 55
Van Ness BRT Experience Stations Position (Far side / Near side) Open / Closed Platform height (vehicle floor & doors) Amenities Fare Collection (Regular vs. All-Door Boarding) Mix of services (regular, connector, local & BRT, etc.) 56
Van Ness BRT Experience Stations Position (Far side / Near side) 1 3 4 Truck turn impact on far-side station 5 7 6 8 9 10 Truck turn impact on far-side station (truck runs over platform) forced a change to all near-side stations
Van Ness BRT Experience Stations Open / Closed Amenities (shelter, real-time bus information, etc.) 1 3 4 5 7 6 8 9 10
Van Ness BRT Experience Stations Platform height (vehicle) 1 Vehicle Docking Test conducted using 14 boxes to stand in for a proposed 3 14 boarding platform Minimum 4 gap distance achieved: 5 Maximum 5 ADA allowable gap distance: 3 14 platforms prevent the deployment of Muni wheelchair ramps 6 8 7 9 10
Van Ness BRT Experience Stations Ticket machines / Pre-payment All-Door Boarding 60
Van Ness BRT Experience Hypothetical Preview Enhanced Stations & Landscaping Transit Signal Priority Hybrid Service Reduced Number of Stations Full Exclusive Bus Lanes Off-board Fare Collection & All-Door Boarding
Van Ness BRT Experience Complete Design Plans 1 2 3 Full exclusive red-colored transit lanes New traffic signals w/ Transit Signal Priority optimized for north-south traffic 60-foot low-floor buses and trolley buses and all-door boarding 4 5 Quality platforms and shelters at transit stations located at key transfer points, and improved landscaping along the corridor Safety enhancements for peds, including accessible countdown signals, curb bulbs, median refuges, nose cones, zebra-striped crosswalks and left turn restrictions
Van Ness BRT Experience Basic Fact Sheet Cost - $159M (BRT components) / $260M (BRT + other infrastructure) Funding - $ 75M FTA Small Starts / $20M CMAQ / $24M FTA Sect. 5337 / $ 7M SHOPP (Caltrans) / $44M Prop. K (S.F.) / $12M Central Fwy. / $ 5M CPMC Impact Fees / $44M SFPUC / $27M SFMTA Rev. Bonds Project components Transit lanes, overhead electric lines, light poles, landscaping, sewers, traffic signals w/ TSP and ped. countdown, stations (platforms / shelters), curb bulbs, water lines, ADA ped. upgrades, roadway repavement, green infrastructure, variable message signs (VMS) Time savings - (33% end to end within project area) (one-way peak period trip: reduced from 21 mins. to 14 mins.) Transit Equipment - Fleet of: 60 New Flyer hybrid buses & 60 trolley buses Ridership projections - 50% increase 24,000 daily passengers by 2035 in project area Opening Date - Spring 2019
Van Ness BRT Experience
Interactive Exercise Build Your Own BRT BRT Planning Worksheet APA - Oakland - October 6, 2015 BRT Session: Paul Bignardi, Graham Carey, Peter Gabancho Instructions: Use worksheet to select the items you want in your BRT concept for a fictional city in California. Mark the appropriate box with an 'X'. Items listed as REQUIRED mean you must select at least ONE item. Items listed as OPTIONAL means you select ONE item or NO items. Costs are approximate (emphasize Costs Social / Performance = 5 miles of Politica Minutes Saved Service bi-direction Select Action X l - Based on 60 Notes Improvements BRT Impact minute route (10 miles total) travel time Service Type & Bus Type REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group REQUIRED - Select only ONE item (calculate total and write in COSTS (Preliminary) column) from this group Sub-Total Layered Service (BRT route and Local route operate on the same street) 13 buses needed Hybrid Service (BRT & Local are combined into one hybrid route ) 13 buses needed 1 2 BRT every 12 minutes (5 buses per hr.) / 46 minutes to complete 10 mile route cycle (removal of 40 stops [1/2 of all stops] - large time savings) Local every 12 minutes (5 buses per hour) / 60 minutes to complete 10 mile route cycle (all 80 stops kept for local service - little or zero time savings) Buses every 6 minutes (10 buses per hour) / 53 minutes to complete 10 mile route cycle (removal of 20 stops [1/4 of all stops] - good time savings) No new buses - use available fleet FREE 1 0 Unknown - save capital $$, but performance characteristics =?? 40 foot low-floor bus ($500,000 each) $ 6,500,000 1 0 Basic bus - small to medium capacity 60 foot low-floor bus ($750,000 each) $ 9,750,000 2 2 Longer bus - medium to high capacity - (50% more than 40-foot bus) - loads / unloads faster than Double-Deck bus, not as stylish 60 foot low-floor bus - 5 door bus ($1,000,000 each) $ 13,000,000 2 2 Same as 60-foot bus, but with 2 added doors on left side so it can load from either side - like a light rail vehicle 42 foot low-floor double deck bus ($750,000 each) $ 9,750,000 2 0 Double Deck - medium to high capacity - (50% more than 40-foot bus), stylish, but loads and unloads slower than a 60-foot bus Add up costs / impacts / and time saved for the Service Type and Bus Type Section Select from options below in bus area $ 14 7 Traffic Lanes Select ONE of the three Traffic Lane options (A, B, or C), and then customize your selection. Leave the other two sections blank. --- and remember to include Landscaping Traffic Signals Stations A B C MIXED TRAFFIC REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group SEMI-EXCLUSIVE RIGHT LANE REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group OPTIONAL - select ONE item or NO items from this group REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group FULL EXCLUSIVE CENTER LANE REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group OPTIONAL OPTIONAL - select ONE item or NO items from this group OPTIONAL - select ONE item or NO items from this group REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group Sub-Total OPTIONAL - select ONE item or NO items from this group Sub-Total REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group REQUIRED - Select only ONE item from this group OPTIONAL OPTIONAL Buses operate in MIXED TRAFFIC Calculate below No special markings - buses operate in mixed traffic - same as current operations No landscaping improvements - not needed BRT lane is on side FREE 1 0 No improvements needed - BRT lane is on the side - landscaping should not be affected Modest landscaping improvements - desire to enhance the corridor $ 5,000,000 1 0 Although BRT lane is on the side - desire / community pressure to enhance the corridor = new trees, new greenery, new artwork, etc. Buses operate in a SEMI-EXCLUSIVE Right Lane Calculate below Special "transit only" markings (select below), but cars allowed to cross lanes to park on curb, and make right turns at intersections HOV Standard Markings $ 1,000,000 2 3 Basic white diamond and white street traffic markings Colored transit lanes $ 10,000,000 2 5 Salmon (red) thermoplastic treatment with white street traffic markings Keep 6 Traffic Lanes - Remove parking - replace ZERO with off street $ 500,000 3 2 Loss of 350 parking spaces per mile (bi-direction) - costs include replace ZERO parking with off street parking ($15k per space) Keep 6 Traffic Lanes - Remove parking - replace 1/2 with off street spaces $ 13,500,000 2 2 Loss of 350 parking spaces per mile (bi-direction) - costs include replace 1/2 parking with off street parking ($15k per space) Keep 6 Traffic Lanes - Remove parking - replace ALL with off street spaces $ 27,000,000 2 2 Loss of 350 parking spaces per mile (bi-direction)- costs include replace ALL parking with off street parking ($15k per space) No landscaping improvements FREE 2 0 No improvements needed - BRT lane is on the side - landscaping should not be affected Modest landscaping improvements $ 5,000,000 2 0 Although BRT lane is on the side - desire / community pressure to enhance the corridor = new trees, new greenery, new artwork, etc. Buses operate in a FULL EXCLUSIVE Center Lane Calculate below Special "transit only" markings, but complete separation from mixed traffic - improved performance vs. semi-exclusive lanes HOV Standard Markings $ 1,000,000 2 3 Basic white diamond and white street traffic markings Colored transit lanes $ 10,000,000 2 5 Salmon (red) thermo treatment with white street traffic markings Curb Separated BRT lanes $ 10,000,000 2 1 Low divider curb (6") to keep mixed traffic and BRT completely separate - helps to guarantee bus reliability Passing Lanes - Use ONLY with Layered Service allows BRT to pass Local $ 5,000,000 3 3 Loss of 270 parking spaces per mile (bi-direction) - allows BRT to pass Local w/o delay at "Local" stations - NO replacement parking in this option Passing Lanes - Use ONLY with Layered Service allows BRT to pass Local $ 25,000,000 3 3 Loss of 270 parking spaces per mile (bi-direction) - allows BRT to pass Local w/o delay at "Local" stations - costs include off-street replacement parking Keep 6 Traffic Lanes - Remove parking - replace ZERO with off street $ 500,000 3 2 Loss of 350 parking spaces per mile - costs include replace ZERO parking with off street parking ($15k per space + misc. expenses) Keep 6 Traffic Lanes - Remove parking - replace 1/2 with off street spaces $ 13,500,000 3 2 Loss of 350 parking spaces per mile - costs include replace 1/2 parking with off street parking ($15k per space + misc. expenses) Keep 6 Traffic Lanes - Remove parking - replace ALL with off street spaces $ 27,000,000 3 2 Loss of 350 parking spaces per mile - costs include replace ALL parking with off street parking ($15k per space + misc. expenses) No landscaping improvements Not Applicable 3 0 Only applicable if entire existing street is asphalt without any median - and hypothetical Route A plan view shows landscaped medians Modest landscaping improvements $ 12,500,000 2 0 Modest landscaping: new trees, new greenery, new artwork, etc., but because median significantly rebuilt, costs = 250% of side lane Extensive landscaping improvements $ 25,000,000 2 0 Extensive landscaping and rebuild of median after complete disruption to install BRT center exclusive lanes = 500% of side lane Add up costs / impacts / and time saved for the Traffic Lanes (and Landscaping) Section $ Queue Jump $ 5,000,000 2 2 For this exercise - assume modern signal controllers, hardware, etc. If not modern, this will cost up to 5X more Transit Signal Priority (TSP) $ 12,500,000 2 4 For this exercise - assume modern signal controllers, hardware, etc. If not modern, this will cost up to 3X more Add up costs / impacts / and time saved for the Traffic Signals Section $ No Change - continue to use old shelters with existing amenities FREE 1 0 Keep existing stop shelters / stations - make no changes Basic $ 5,000,000 1 0 New Basic shelter with seating, schedule holder, stop flag Enhanced $ 12,500,000 2 0 New solar powered shelter with lighting, seating, schedule holder, NextBus, iconic stop flag Custom Enhanced BRT & Local $ 30,000,000 3 0 New solar powered shelter with lighting, seating, artistic and branding images built into design, schedule holder, iconic stop flag Near Side Stations (station before intersection) Costs paid w/ 2 1 Stations located before traffic signals - advanced signal timing can allow for minimal delay, older signals = delay - assume newer signals Far Side Stations (station after intersection) station choice 2 2 Stations located on far side of intersection - after traffic signal - signal timing (basic or advanced) can get bus through to keep moving Ticket Vending Machines $ 4,000,000 2 2 Fare pre-payment utilizes stored value fare cards, but also allows for cash fare passengers to purchase a fare from a ticket machine at the station All Door Boarding $ 500,000 2 2 Allow boarding by prepaid passengers at all bus doors - cash pay fares only at front door Final Total Sub-Total Add up costs / impacts / and time saved for the Stations Section Add up costs / impacts / and time saved for the 4 sub-sections $ $
Bus Rapid Transit: Basic Design for Non-Transit Planners Thank You Paul Bignardi, AICP - Principal Planner San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Graham Carey, PE Principal careybrt Consulting Peter Gabancho, PE - Project Manager San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency