Category: Better Public Transit

Montgomery paves the way for bus network that could zip by traffic

With Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett running for a third term in November, transit advocates are planning an agenda for his next term. Leggett will run against Republican James Shalleck in an overwhelmingly Democratic county. For transit advocates, this means a push to turn projects such as the Purple Line, Corridor Cities Transitway and a bus rapid transit network into reality.

Transit supporters to host Rockville open house

Supporters of a countywide transit system will hold an open house to discuss the system Wednesday in Rockville.

Two groups, the Coalition for Smarter Growth and Communities for Transit, are sponsoring the forum at Rockville Memorial Library, where residents will be able to learn more about the county’s planned 81-mile bus rapid transit system.

When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 25

Where: First floor large meeting room, Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville

What: Rockville Rapid Transit Open House

RSVP at http://bit.ly/rockvilleRTS

It will feature a basic overview of bus rapid transit and what is planned for the county and the Rockville area in particular, said Kelly Blynn of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.

Blynn said the system will connect areas not served by Metro and help link downtown areas with surrounding residential areas.

There also will be a presentation from Rockville staff on how the city wants the system to fit into its downtown, she said.

Organizers will discuss how people can help plan the system, Blynn said.

In Rockville, three bus rapid transit corridors are planned to converge at or near the Rockville Metro station on Md. 355.

From there, the lines would run north to Clarksburg, south to Washington and southeast to Wheaton.

City officials have expressed some concern about the impact the system will have on Rockville Town Center.

The forum, which runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m., is free, and Blynn said a sign language interpreter will be provided. More information is at smartergrowth.net.

 

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Discussing the Future of Rapid Transit in Rockville

On Wednesday, June 25th, Communities for Transit and Coalition for Smarter Growth are holding a free, open event from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Rockville Memorial Library to discuss Montgomery County’s planned 81-mile bus rapid transit (BRT) system. What is bus rapid transit, and how would it affect our city?

CSG Support for EYA Takoma Metro Station JD Proposal (Docket R14-01)

Please accept these comments on behalf of the Coalition for Smarter Growth. The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington, D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. Our mission is to promote walkable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities, and the land use and transportation policies and investments needed to make those communities flourish.

16th Street bus lane fact sheet

How to get better bus service for 16th Street – Rush hour bus lanes – 16th Street NW buses are plagued by overcrowding and delays – A rush hour bus lane would greatly improve service – What would a rush hour bus lane on 16th street NW do? A dedicated bus lane operating during rush hour in the peak direction would keep buses from getting stuck in traffic. Buses in dedicated lanes would avoid traffic delays, move at increased speeds, and arrive on time. This means more reliable, regular service, and less overcrowding for riders.

16th Street will get another bus upgrade, but only a dedicated lane will really fix it

Metro has added more buses to the 16th Street “S” line, but ridership just keeps rising, the buses are crowded, and they’re seriously bunching. A dedicated lane is the best solution, say WMATA planners, but in the meantime, they’re going to add articulated (or “accordion”) buses along the congested corridor.

Better DC Buses: What does it take?

Better DC Buses: What does it take?

New and innovative bus service has offered a better ride on DC buses, but many more improvements, like the 16th Street rush hour bus lanes, are still pending. Improving bus service is of vital importance to DC residents, since they rely more on riding the bus than on Metro.

Traffic congestion, constrained funding, and limited street space are all challenges to speedier and more reliable buses. For several years, better bus service has been planned, and sometimes implemented in DC and the region.

What’s the status of bus improvement plans, and what can we learn from other regions’ experiences? Together with ANC Commissioner Kishan Putta, CSG hosted Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Joseph Barr (formerly of NYC DOT), WMATA’s Jim Hamre, and DDOT’s Sam Zimbabwe, as well as DC Councilmember Mary Cheh.