[Mpls] Real BRT doesn't share a lane with cars. . . .

[Russell Raczkowski]

While I applaud the city council's resolve to support transit for the 35W corridor, I am 
troubled that the city seems confused as to what Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) really 
means.

The news release posted by Laura Sether says, "Unlike Light Rail Transit, Bus Rapid 
Transit would allow some cars to drive in the bus lane, but only as many as would not 
slow down the buses."

In fact, for BRT to work as rapid transit NO CARS (except perhaps emergency 
vehicles) should be allowed in the same lane as the buses and the lane should be 
physically separated in a way that routine auto traffic CANNOT enter the BRT lane.

The best local example is the transit way between the Minneapolis and St. Paul U of 
M campuses.  I went to the fair this week, catching the bus shuttle at on east bank, 
riding down the the transit way without interruption to be dropped at the fair gate in 
six minutes.  Half of that time was the short stretch where we left the transit way and 
traveled on Como.  

Throw even a few cars in that want to make turns or exit off that transit way and you 
easily double or triple that travel time.  

Same with  a few cars in a BRT lane.  Enforcement becomes an issue--cheaters will 
try to jump into that lane regularly, and to stop them, state patrol will have to pull 
them over and ticket them, mucking up the flow of the buses no doubt.  With cars in 
the lane, too, all it takes is one accident to stop the service in that direction until the 
accident is cleared. . . .  

Real BRT is a viable option for the 35W corridor and may have multiple applications 
in the metro area.  But, if half-BRT (i.e. mixed bus and HOV lanes) is what we are 
talking about, then it will only be of limited benefit.  

I hope that the council's actions open up a real discussion now of mass transit 
options in the corridor, including a consideration of LRT and (real) BRT and their 
relative merits.  

Russell Raczkowski
Bancroft