Express Routes use Express Ways
Express Ways
A combination of HOT lanes, toll roads, and regular streets with Queue
Jumpers will enable
express buses to connect all transit centers (TCs) at speeds between 30
and 50 mph.
The commuter rail, in blue, will connect 8 TCs.
The green routes are regular roads, like North Lamar, that have queue
jumpers at major intersections.
This map shows 100+ miles of roads that would allow buses to average 30
mph by use of queue jumpers.
CMT differs from many BRT systems in that there are no bus only
lanes.
Lanes dedicated for bus alone would be helpful but are probably not
necessary.
The travel pattern in Austin is many to many.
That means from many low
density residential areas to many low density work areas.
The old operational model was many to one as in from many neighborhoods
to one downtown.
But people don't follow that pattern anymore so we don't need a high (
20,000 riders per hour) carrying capacity on any one route.
Speed
Express bus routes are truly express, they stop only at transit
centers[1].
On HOT, or managed, lanes they could average 50 mph. HOT stands
for High Occupancy & Toll.
Compare this to the North Lamar bus which currently averages 11 mph.
On streets with Queue Jumpers an express bus could average 30 mph.
Queue jumpers are special lanes that run for about a block near
congested intersections. A bus approaching the intersection can
drive around a queue of waiting cars and then get a green signal before
adjacent car lanes. This allows a bus to jump in front of the
line or “queue” of cars. Queue jumper lanes are much cheaper, than full
length bus only lanes, since they require only one tenth of a mile of
road widening for every mile or two of road.
Other options for increasing speed are signal priority and signal
coordination. Signal priority means the bus driver can shorten a red
light or extend a green light. Signal coordination means the signals
are timed so that traffic can progress at a steady speed through
several intersections. Combine this with AVL (automatic vehicle
location) and the signal timing can be coordinated with the bus
position.
[1]They might stop at a large employer,
mall, airport or city center AFTER stopping at the last TC on the
route.
Low Income Core in green. Cells
have dotted line boundaries. Light blue line is commuter rail line.
Break this low income core into two corridors : Central and East
The 4 yellow TCs are the central corridor and the 4 dark blue TCS are
the eastern corridor.
Riders should be able to get from any corridor TC out to any spoke TC
with a single express route.
The north west spoke has 4 red TCs.
Simplified Route Map for Eastern
Corridor
Simplified Route Map for Central
Corridor
Skip Stop Routes
This skip stop route would pick up at two blue TCs in the
south and run 10 or more miles,
without stops, to two red TCs in the north west.
By avoiding many intermediate stops the bus, or van, would average more
than 30 miles an hour.
About 25 such routes would run in the peak hours (M-F, 6-9am &
4-7pm)
This would enable low wage workers from the south to get to restaurant
and retail jobs in the north west spoke.
Another skip stop route
using toll road and HOT lane to get to CC1, a TC down town.
The HOT lane on MOPAC would enable the bus to cover 10 miles in
ten minutes.
This skip stop route would
connect 3 north side TCs with two south side TCs.
The HOT lane on MOPAC would enable the bus to cover 10 miles in ten
minutes.
This would be much faster than express buses going through the down
town traffic jam.
[1]They might stop at a large employer,
mall, airport or city center AFTER stopping at the last TC on the
route.
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