Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Even before covid, the BRT was barely used. Most times I saw a bus go by on it, there were zero passengers. I don’t know what the projected ridership numbers were to justify the enormous cost, but I’m extremely skeptical they will ever be reached.
But as Slava says, what does that matter now? The money is spent. When another project like this is proposed going forward, some will champion it because public transit is good and should always be supported; some will oppose it because they’re nimbys who never use transit. And the metrics we should be using to assess it - the realistic cost/benefit projections - will either be too complicated for the public to understand, or skewed by interested parties to push their desired outcome.
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And sadly in today's climate, once the loudest have dug their heels in it becomes even less about the particular issue, but the tribalism.
I'll admit I was on the fence about this project, but the nature of the opposition pushed me onto the 'support' side.
I do wish/wonder if these busways could be more effective, by also permitting HOVs and/or EVs, or even a 'toll' system (monthly basis, not trip by trip). Obviously it would have required a slightly different design (wider pullouts at the stations).
Ultimately that would be a drop in the bucket, but even a couple hundred cars a day is better than nothing.
I don't drive it often enough to know...do ambulances at least take advantage of it?