DENVER | Transportation Thread - Page 380

Cirrus · #**7581** Posted **Aug 30, 2014, 5:31 PM**

Go to the SSP transit plan thread and comment on the routes one more time.

PLANSIT · #**7582** Posted **Sep 3, 2014, 5:47 PM**

I'll bring the discussion over here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wong21fr

It would be great if we can get enhanced bus service for the Speer Blvd, Leetsdale routes in the next couple of years. If there are branded buses running at <15 minutes frequency with some fancy stops it might be the jump-start that the City needs to improve routes elsewhere in the city. Now enhanced buses on Colfax..... looks like the policy and planning department division needs to talk to their counterparts in Aurora a bit more before unveiling years of study where Aurora proceeds to basically spit in your face.

RTD Planning + Development Committee - September 2, 2014

TIP applications include:

15L Transit Station Improvements
Regional BRT Feasibility Study (District-wide)
16th St. Mall Reconstruction (1 block)
SH 119 BRT Environmental Clearance Study
Free MetroRide Service Expansion
Speer / Leetsdale Corridor 83L / 79L Study (Analyze feasibility and requirements to establish BRT-type service along Speer/Leetsdale corridor from Downtown Denver to Nine Mile)

LAM · #**7583** Posted **Sep 4, 2014, 3:55 AM**

Random photo from the article

Atlantic Cities has an interesting article about streetcars not meeting minimum standards for transit. I'm not too sure how valid the analysis is since they readily admit that the lines are too short to be useful for long distance travel. But, they do bring up one of its flaws is that it tends to run in existing traffic lanes.

LINK

Cirrus · #**7584** Posted **Sep 10, 2014, 3:43 PM**

^
Streetcars are neither inherently great nor inherently bad. It all depends on the operational details: Does it go to the right places, does it come often enough, and does it get there fast enough?

Fort Collins' Mountain Avenue streetcar is useless as transit. But a streetcar on Colfax that came every 10 minutes would be very useful. Details matter.

PLANSIT · #**7585** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 6:10 PM**

Well...

RTD unveils design of buses for U.S. 36 BRT service

Quote:

Named "Flatiron Flyer," the new BRT line will offer riders their choice of nonstop or all-stop service along U.S. 36 between Boulder and Union Station in downtown Denver.

The nonstop service will run on the new express lanes, which are currently under construction. The all-stop service will run on general purpose lanes with stops at the corridor's six stations...

TakeFive · #**7586** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 7:13 PM**

^^ Snazzy

bobg · #**7587** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 7:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANSIT

Well...

RTD unveils design of buses for U.S. 36 BRT service

From the RTD site:

Quote:

The nonstop service will run on the new express lanes, which are currently under construction. The all-stop service will run on general purpose lanes with stops at the corridor's six stations.

I knew questions were out there about going to and from the express lanes in the middle to the side stations. Initially the answers were shoulder riding during peak times when they couldn't get to the middle, and now it looks like they won't use the express lanes unless it's a BX type service. The more I learn about this the more I hate it.... I need to stop learning.

wong21fr · #**7588** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 8:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobg

I knew questions were out there about going to and from the express lanes in the middle to the side stations. Initially the answers were shoulder riding during peak times when they couldn't get to the middle, and now it looks like they won't use the express lanes unless it's a BX type service. The more I learn about this the more I hate it.... I need to stop learning.

Seems like Boulder should be pretty happy about this. Non-stop service from the most important place on Earth to downtown Denver is what Boulderites have always wanted. Screw the peons who can't afford to live their little slice of heaven.

RyanD · #**7589** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 8:14 PM**

I really like the bus and the branding. However, I am a little disappointed it wasn't more like this:

seventwenty · #**7590** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 9:10 PM**

Ryan would fit right in at Burning Man.

Cirrus · #**7591** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

nonstop service will run on the new express lanes... all-stop service will run on general purpose lanes

This is a really great highway express bus, and on those terms it's probably one of the best in the country. But it's not BRT.

Cirrus · #**7592** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 9:30 PM**

Seriously though, remind me, are they at least improving the headways from the old B bus?

TakeFive · #**7593** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 10:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cirrus

This is a really great highway express bus, and on those terms it's probably one of the best in the country. But it's not BRT.

Yep, I'd say they were on the ball at RTD to do it this way. At least the investments are still being made to make the stops much easier and quicker for those buses.

bcp · #**7594** Posted **Sep 11, 2014, 11:41 PM**

I think Montel Jordan said it best....this is how ya do it....

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...e-brt-by-2018/

nice write up dan!

bunt_q · #**7595** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 2:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

I think Montel Jordan said it best....this is how ya do it....

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...e-brt-by-2018/

nice write up dan!

I really think they should do peak hour only BRT. I mean, leaving those as bus-only lanes the rest of the day is obviously a waste of money.

TakeFive · #**7596** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 5:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcp

I think Montel Jordan said it best....this is how ya do it....

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/...e-brt-by-2018/

nice write up dan!

And if you click on either image you'll get a nifty pdf of the public presentation. For $50 million this seems like an excellent project.

TakeFive · #**7597** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 5:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bunt_q

I really think they should do peak hour only BRT. I mean, leaving those as bus-only lanes the rest of the day is obviously a waste of money.

Looks like the East End and the West End will use general travel lanes so Dan will have to clarify how that will work.

bunt_q · #**7598** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 10:37 AM**

Same way the Boulder bus will work.

Cirrus · #**7599** Posted **Sep 12, 2014, 7:25 PM**

It's not really BRT on either end; it's a very good priority bus. But it's definitely, unquestionably BRT in the middle. It doesn't get much better for BRT than a median transitway.

TakeFive · #**7600** Posted **Sep 13, 2014, 7:43 PM**

Here comes Aurora!

ENR's Paula Moore has the Good News.

Quote:

The city of Aurora is also anticipating the transit-oriented development (TOD)—from apartments to retail and office space—planned near rail stations and the impact the line will have in attracting younger workers

"This project gives the city an opportunity to appeal to millennials," says John Fernandez, team leader for the FasTracks/TOD team in Aurora's planning and development department. "The whole metro area is attractive to 20-somethings, and being part of a regional mass transit system allows Aurora to compete better economically."