Would bus rapid transit be a better investment than light rail?

[Yippeekayay]

Problem with trains is from station, how to get home.

[septimus]

Originally Posted by Yippeekayay

Problem with trains is from station, how to get home.

you walk... If I lived even 1/2 mile closer to Harding Pike in Nashville I would use the bus stop at Harding/Lynwood when I need to get downtown. When I lived in Boston I walked to the T stop and then took the Subway to work. The issue is Nashville doesn't have good sidewalk systems either.

[mjtinmemphis]

It will take years and billions to make Nashville transit friendly. From what I understand, there are many cities competing for federal funds. The OP may be right about BRT being the first step in moving Nashville in the right direction. Nashville would have to show higher transit ridership to make it worth digging a tunnel and LRT.

[jetgraphics]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

It will take years and billions to make Nashville transit friendly. From what I understand, there are many cities competing for federal funds. The OP may be right about BRT being the first step in moving Nashville in the right direction. Nashville would have to show higher transit ridership to make it worth digging a tunnel and LRT.

I would advise against seeking public funding.

BEST WAY TO RAPIDLY IMPLEMENT URBAN and INTERURBAN RAIL
[] Zero tax on urban rail companies and personnel
. . . Will attract investment and employees
. . . Companies will make money only when they’re hauling passengers
. . . Do not let government meddle!

It worked in the 1890s, when the nation rapidly built up a network of urban and interurban tracks.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by jetgraphics

I would advise against seeking public funding.

BEST WAY TO RAPIDLY IMPLEMENT URBAN and INTERURBAN RAIL
[] Zero tax on urban rail companies and personnel
. . . Will attract investment and employees
. . . Companies will make money only when they’re hauling passengers
. . . Do not let government meddle!

It worked in the 1890s, when the nation rapidly built up a network of urban and interurban tracks.

How would that work cost wise per ride for the daily user? I know in many cases transit agencies are functioning at 80% local state and federal funding. So the fare that is paid by the end user is a very small part of what it takes to run mass transit.

[septimus]

Originally Posted by mjtinmemphis

How would that work cost wise per ride for the daily user? I know in many cases transit agencies are functioning at 80% local state and federal funding. So the fare that is paid by the end user is a very small part of what it takes to run mass transit.

It has to be subsidized or it doesn't work.

I used the T all the time in Boston because a monthly pass was affordable and single rides at the time were 1.25. At 1.25 I'd still use it for my whole family because parking was easily north of $35. When you start charging $5/ride it is a lot more tempting to just drive especially since parking downtown hasn't reached astronomical amounts yet.

I went down to the Gulch yesterday. It looks nothing like it did when I worked in Cummings Stations 5+ years ago. I met a friend working at the new HCA building for lunch. She said no one has thought about traffic in that area. It takes her 10 minutes just to get out of the parking garage after work and since Lifeway opened up this week even longer. Building new office complexes without public transport in place is a disaster.

[mjtinmemphis]

Originally Posted by septimus

I went down to the Gulch yesterday. It looks nothing like it did when I worked in Cummings Stations 5+ years ago. I met a friend working at the new HCA building for lunch. She said no one has thought about traffic in that area. It takes her 10 minutes just to get out of the parking garage after work and since Lifeway opened up this week even longer. Building new office complexes without public transport in place is a disaster.

I am in Nashville 4 to 5 times a year and everytime the city looks different. It's exciting to see a city develop that fast but there are going to be some major issues if all the buildings fill up with offices, apartments and condos. The city isn't ready for it.

[850_branded]

^^This.