Strategies for an Intra-Urban Circulator System, Final Report BD-549-11
November 9, 2005|NCTR
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Currently, there are several urban communities that have implemented trolley/circulators or are in the process of developing such services. In general, proponents of central business development and smart growth have been some of the supporters of circulator systems in downtown cores. Because of nostalgia and their historical experiences, one of the most favored modes has been the trolley (fixed and non-fixed guideway). However, while several urban communities have recently implemented trolley services, or are in the process of developing one, currently there are no such guidelines to use in the implementation and operation of the service. Therefore, the case studies in this report identifying key elements of successful practices can be an important resource for these entities. This study develops a synthesis of existing circulator systems in Florida and other select systems around the country. The study further identifies key characteristics for developing an effective circulator…
Effective Bus-Based Transit Oriented Development
January 1, 2005|Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia Planning and Transport Research Centre
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Transit oriented development (TOD) has been hailed as an essential part of planning tomorrow’s communities because of the efficient use it makes of resources such as fossil fuel, arable land and public investment funds. The desirability of communities based on TOD principles will increase as fuel becomes scarcer and societies search for neighbourhood structures that encourage personal activity and social inter-action. This paper takes the values of this form of urban development as given, but then asks “How can TOD be achieved with greater efficiency and across wider economic models of urban growth?”
Strengths and Weakness of Bus in Relation to Transit Oriented Development
January 1, 2005|Institute of Transport Studies, Monash University
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While Transit Oriented Development (TOD) has almost exclusively concerned rail based modes there has been a recent interest in bus related TOD with an emphasis on new bus rapid transit (BRT) developments in North/ South America and Australia. This paper takes a critical look at the strengths and weakness of bus based transit systems in relation to TOD through a review of the literature and an assessment of TOD related developments. The performance of BRT systems in relation to TOD are considered with specific reference to BRT systems in Australia. In addition TOD related to local suburban or ‘low order’ bus service is considered. The paper describes the general concept of TOD and how this relates to features of transit modes, outlines the literature relevant to bus based TOD and identifies the strengths and weakness of bus based transit systems in relation to TOD. It concludes by using the findings of the review to identify ways in which bus based TOD might be better planned and…
Safe Routes To Transit: Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide Pedestrian Section
January 1, 2005|Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
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Nelson\Nygaard was retained by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy to update and augment the Pedestrian Section in their Bus Rapid Transit Planning Guide. The work was funded by the Hewlett Foundation and the Global Environment Facility and builds on a previous guide prepared by the German Technical Assistance Agency (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit).
From Bus Shelters to Transit-Oriented Development: A Literature Review of Bus Passenger Facility Planning, Siting, and Design
March 25, 2004|Florida Planning and Development Lab, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University
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Introduction
The recent California Supreme Court decision in Bonanno v. Central Contra Costa Transit Authority, 30 Cal. 4th 139 (2003) ruled in favor of a pedestrian who was tragically hit by a car while crossing a dangerous intersection to reach a bus stop. Although the $1.6 million verdict undoubtedly sent a chilling message to hundreds of public transit agencies that now they can be held liable for the location of their property, it reaffirms the importance of good planning, siting and design of bus passenger facilities—often a low level priority vis-à-vis other transit operation concerns. The judges’ decision underscored the significance of effective interagency coordination in enhancing safe bus service provision. The car driver was sued and bore the bulk of total liability. However, the lack of coordination between the county owning the right of way along the busy street and the public transit agency which neglected to relocate its bus stop to a safer location was what…
Bus Rapid Transit: The US Experience
January 1, 2004|Breakthrough Technologies Institute
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Bus Rapid Transit can achieve the capacity and economic development potential of rail, but at a fraction of the cost. Despite these successes, communities often view rail as superior to BRT and thus demand new rail systems. The challenge will be to ensure that BRT is evaluated on a level playing field with other technologies.
From Bus Shelters to Transit-Oriented Development: A Literature Review of Bus Passenger Facility Planning, Siting, and Design
January 1, 2004|Florida Planning and Development Lab, FLorida DOT
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This annotated bibliography assembles a large body of literature related to the planning, design and siting of bus passenger facilities. Its organizing themes were conceptualized using brainstorming and nominal group techniques. The techniques were applied during an advisory group session held in Fall 2002. Session participants represented an array of specialties from the Florida Department of Transportation, such as pedestrian and bicycle transportation and livable communities planning, transit design and demand analysis, and roadway design. Other advisers in the session included the city’s transit agency planner, transportation consultants and academics, and landscape architects. The aim of this compilation is to offer to planners and transit planners, and most particularly to those planning bus transit facilities, a variety of sources to the relevant literature concerning good bus passenger facility planning, siting and design. It is organized along the following themes.
Accessing Transit: Design Guidelines for Florida Bus Passenger Facilities
January 1, 2004|Florida Planning and Development Lab, Florida DOT
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This handbook can be used for a variety of purposes. Transit agency directors and planners can customize these guidelines to provide specific physical design criteria within their agencies’ identity programs, capital resources, and operations. Land use planners and growth managers, traffic engineers and transportation planners, and bicyclepedestrian coordinators can work with their local transit agencies and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to integrate the standards and guidelines with local comprehensive plan policies, land use and concurrency ordinances, pedestrian plans, and street design guidelines. The design guidelines could also be used by a developer or builder who is interested in developing a project that is transit friendly or who is seeking to conform transportation concurrency requirements through transit provision.
Case Studies in Bus Rapid Transit, TCRP Report 90: Bus Rapid Transit, Volume 1
January 1, 2003|Transit Cooperative Research Program
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Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems are found in cities throughout the world. Their operating flexibility and their ability to be built quickly, incrementally, and economically underlie their growing popularity. The systems vary in design, operations, usage, and effectiveness. Collectively, the case studies on BRT provided on the CD-ROM accompanying this volume give a wealth of information on BRT and how it should be planned and implemented. This report draws on the experiences of 26 urban areas in North America, Australia, Europe, and South America. Most of the BRT systems reviewed are in revenue services, and a few are under construction or development. Information was assembled for each case study on institutional arrangements, system design, operating practices, usage, costs, and benefits.
Implementation Guidelines, TCRP Report 90: Bus Rapid Transit, Volume 2
January 1, 2003|Transit Cooperative Research Program
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This report presents planning and implementation guidelines for bus rapid transit (BRT). The guidelines are based on a literature review and an analysis of 26 case study cities in the United States and abroad. The guidelines cover the main components of BRT—running ways, stations, traffic controls, vehicles, intelligent transportation systems (ITSs), bus operations, fare collection and marketing, and implementation.
