Quote:
Originally Posted by HOWITZER
In a tight urban area such as the core/beltline/dense neighbourhoods? I would think so. But at the same time, it isn't just about the type of vehicle used, it's a larger scale public space issue. I think you could make a case that different types of transportation vehicles not only offer different carrying capacities, but also differ in the built space that they are ideally suited for.
Breaking down some common public transportation vehicles...
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The major advantage that streetcars have over busses are their greater capacity. However, this advantage is very pricey and only results in more passengers becoming stuck in mixed-traffic. Alternatively, a dedicated right-of-way would allow numerous modes of public transport to consistently achieve frequencies of 15 minutes or less (i.e. rapid transit). Consequently, it is more efficient and effective to invest in bus lanes than streetcars.
Once the bus lanes become congested, you can place tracks in the RoW and convert your Bus Rapid Transit into Light Rail Rapid Transit. If you break public transport into categories based on frequency rather than mode/technology, it removes the limitations wrongly places on certain modes.
Public Transport By Frequency
Twice Daily
Hourly (Peak Only)
Hourly (All Day)
30 Minutes
15 Minutes
5 Minutes
2 Minutes