Touring the Northside: BRT North Corridor Photo Tour

[tufsu1]

exactly Lake....the most successful transit systems stop at both the passenger's origin and destination....now, this is often difficult to accomplish with rail (or BRT) that has limited stops....which is why there must be a fully integrated system that includes local bus as well.

In this case, JTA is proposing a hybrid of local bus and BRT....its basically an express route with limited stops and short headways.

[thelakelander]

Need proof that reliable bus service will not have a negative impact on a commercial corridor? 

Here is a bus that stops at Boylston & Dartmouth Streets (Back Bay Boston) every 7 minutes during peak hours and every 20 minutes off peak.   

9 Copley Sqaure via Broadway: Weekday Effective 12/27/08
http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/bus/routes/?route=9

Here are a few photos from past MJ articles showing the immediate area surrounding the bus stop:














Below is a make shift seating area for a bus stop at 6th & Main (Jacksonville), right before the streetscape project started.



It would be hard to argue that reliable bus service has had a negative impact on Copley Square and Bolyston Street.  In fact, it would be easier to argue that it has increased the area's vibrancy by providing a direct transit connection to Back Bay from the dense neighborhoods south of I-95, near Independence Square.


By the way, speaking of layering transit modes, a portion of the Green Line runs underneath the street and has a station at this location also.  This bus route connects the Green, Silver and Red lines with Independence Square.  Without this bus, transit riders in the connecting neighborhoods would be forced to ride into downtown Boston to transfer to other lines.



An integrated transportation system in Jacksonville would offer the same opportunities, as shown above, with a mix of local bus, rapid bus, commuter rail, streetcars, Amtrak and the skyway.

[zoo]

Nobody is saying there shouldn't be layered transit in Springfield. What I'm saying is I'd prefer that layered transit be consistent with the character of the neighborhood. If BRT (express bus, whatever) is not on Main, then there is a reason to have a linked route on 8th & Main that is more historically appropriate (I think we would all agree that the buses there never should have been - it should have stayed streetcar!)

Lake, any chance we'll see a map of the solution we discussed the other day that shows the BRT/express bus on Broad/Jefferson/Boulevard (north of 10th)/Pearl (north of S-line link)/Golfair, etc? As we discussed, this route, of at least 30 blocks, included the least residential disruption (approximately 5-6 blocks on a 4-lane stretch of Golfair), and did not affect connectivity of the Historic District to its park system, or one side of the district from the other, or the residential areas north of Springfield.

Then layer on the 8th/Main trolley route - I know this is just a bus, but it is more historically appropriate and short-term actionable (still possible in 2009), since we'll have to wait at least 3 years for streetcar - and you've got layered transit, commercial corridor connectivity, historical appropriateness and minimized residential disruption. Then layer on the S-line commuter rail and bikeway, and you've got a useful system.

The pics of Copley are nice, and of course they show people enjoying the bus-fumed air. In a city with Boston's density (compared to Jax's) I would expect people to be outside there despite traffic noise/fumes, 5-degree temps, or maybe even a napalm drop at Fenway.

[thelakelander]

Here you go Zoo:

Buses making limited stops, will run every 10 minutes during peak (rush) hours and every 15 off peak.  Aerials include JTA's routes for commuter rail (orange) and streetcar (green).

BRT North Corridor - JTA plan


Pro: straight line down/up Boulevard
Con: Excluding Shands, Boulevard is residential between Hogans Creek and Golfair.


MetroJacksonville Alt A - Jefferson/Shands/Pearl


Pro: BRT provides service to Shands while avoiding residential areas.
Con: Would require buses to make multiple turns between the railroad tracks and 8th Street.


MetroJacksonville Alt B - Jefferson/8th/Pearl


Pro: Provides service to Shands while avoiding most residential areas.
Con: There is a two block stretch of residential on Pear, between 9th & 11th Streets.


MetroJacksonville Alt C - Main Street


Pro: connects with FCCJ stations, two-way Main between DT and Springfield and Main is a commercial corridor.
Con: No connection to Shands.

[thelakelander]

Here is another alternative that pushes the express bus route to Myrtle Avenue.  However, there is also a stretch just south of Golfair that is residential.

[zoo]

Jefferson to Myrtle. Interesting idea when you consider the S-line in layered transit plan.

[thelakelander]

• JTA is hosting a public meeting concerning the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) North Corridor March 9 from 5-7 p.m. at the Gateway Mall. The study transit corridor extends from Downtown north along Boulevard Street to the Gateway Mall and further north along Norwood Avenue and Lem Turner Road ending south of Armsdale Road near I-295. Interested parties are invited to view study materials, discuss the project with JTA staff and provide comments. Anyone requiring special accommodations should call 630-3185 no later than March 2.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/citynotes.php