Posts tagged ‘bus rapid transit’
Making Transit Human: International Expert to Headline Planning Department Speaker Series Event
SILVER SPRING, MD – With interest growing among county leaders and residents in new transit options, the Montgomery County Planning Department has booked international expert and author Jarrett Walker for its next speaker series event on February 7.
The international consultant on public transit planning and policy will make the case for focusing on network design and maximizing the usefulness and reach of quality transit service. Walker will explore how to think differently about transit to create systems that are attractive because they fit the community’s needs.
Walker’s more than two decades of experience designing transit systems ranges from small towns to metropolitan areas, and his network designs have been implemented in many areas. His track record in transit planning and policy includes bus-rail integration and bus rapid transit.
Walker’s recently published book, Human Transit, addresses how public transit can address a range of community problems, from traffic congestion to economic development. He explains the “geometry” of transit and how to match technology with individual communities.
Examples of his work integrating transit with planning include designing comprehensive bus service in San Antonio, Boise, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Reno, Spokane and four southern California suburban areas. He also has managed transit projects in major cities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
His focus on the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand is not by accident. Communities in land-rich nations, developed recently compared to European and Asian communities, have grown in low-density, car-dependent patterns and now clamor for a congestion fix.
Walker is known for educating stakeholders about the choices that transit requires, building clear processes and helping organizations form coherent and implementable transit goals. His popular blog, Human Transit.org, has grown into an online collection of articles explaining key transit concepts and issues. Copies of his book will be available for purchase at the speaker series event.
The presentations are part of the Planning Department’s speaker series – free, informative sessions about ways to forge great communities. Continuing education credits (AICP credits) are pending for planning professionals.
Walker also will headline local events on Thursday, February 9: at the National Building Museum at 12:30 p.m. and an informal discussion and question/answer session at the Young Professionals in Transportation office at 6:30 p.m.
Who:
Montgomery County Planning Department, featuring transit consultant Jarrett Walker
What:
Human Transit: A mobility-based approach to transit decisions
When:
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters auditorium
8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring
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SILVER SPRING – On Thursday, September 22 the Montgomery County Planning Board will review a scope of work for a transportation study that will evaluate corridors, signalization and right-of-way options for a new bus rapid transit network for Montgomery County.
Bus rapid transit (BRT) is intended to provide many of the benefits of light rail, such as greater speeds and passenger comfort, at a much lower cost. BRT offers bus priority on dedicated lanes and/or at intersections equipped with priority traffic signals, faster passenger boarding, and speedy fare collection. Successful BRT systems have been built in California, Oregon and other places around the world.
The bus rapid transit study will advance the recommendations of a county rapid transit task force that in August identified 16 corridors covering 150 miles on which the transit system could run. Some of those include MD 355/Rockville Pike, US 29/Columbia Pike and MD 97/Georgia Avenue.
The bus rapid transit network will become part of the county Master Plan of Highways and Transitways, a planning document that guides major transportation projects and any right-of-way requirements.
In the scope of work, planners describe each phase of the project, starting with reviewing the corridors already recommended and assessing the network for ridership potential to determine the level of investment each corridor merits. From there, planners propose to develop illustrations depicting how the proposed transitways and stations are accommodated within the corridors. Another significant task will be to identify where travel lanes might be repurposed or additional right-of-way acquired along corridors to accommodate BRT.
Planners will work with a consultant who will provide technical analysis.
To involve the community throughout the year-long project effort, planners propose to form a technical working group of state and county agency representatives and to hold public meetings to present draft recommendations and collect feedback. Comments also will be accepted at the BRT study webpage.
The Planning Board, which will consider the draft from transportation planners next summer, is scheduled to send its version of the plan to the County Council next September.
WHO:
Montgomery County Planning Board
WHAT:
Proposed BRT study scope of work
WHEN:
Thursday, September 22, approximately 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave.
Silver Spring, MD
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