MARTA unveils its dream project list for November Referendum (Atlanta: gated, subsidized)

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bhammaster

What is ART? Googling hasn't been useful/

Page 75 of the report describes it great.

5.1.3.2 Arterial Rapid Transit (ART)

The ART tier is envisioned as being a net-
work of fast and frequent enhanced transit

routes on existing high density, mixed-use

arterial corridors serving “transit lifestyle”

market areas that are expected to respond

positively to an enhanced transit product.

As part of the MARTA network, ART bridg-
es the gap between the speed of MARTA

rail and the convenience of local bus, and

like rail will serve as principal network

spines.

ART service operates with frequencies of

10 minutes or better all day along a route

with wider stop spacing than local bus

to provide a faster trip. Higher service

frequencies support increased ridership

through increased passenger convenience,

allowing passengers to arrive at a station

without having to consult a schedule in

advance, as passengers do with MARTA

rail today. Other “rapid” features that

improve the customer experience include

signal priority, queue jumps at intersec-
tions, dedicated right-of-way, level platform

boarding, off-board fare collection, and

all-door boarding, all of which decrease

the time buses spend stopped. Enhanced

station stops improve the wait experience

and reduce uncertainty. Appendix D con-
tains a guidance document on the types of

improvements that can be considered for

ART service.

The corridors selected for ART service

feature linear alignments with higher pop-
ulation and employment densities, with a

mix of residential, commercial, and retail

land uses that support shorter “sustainable

mobility lifestyle” trips and walkability.

The ART corridors also provide either a

rapid transit alternative to MARTA rail out-
side the existing area served by the Blue,

Green, Red, and Gold lines, or a more

locally-focused street level service aug-
menting rail service.

In addition to supporting existing walkable

mixed-use corridors, it is possible to com-
bine regional and local land use planning

around ART corridors to foster transit-ori-
ented development similar to the develop-
ment around MARTA rail stations and pro-
mote greater sustainability and improved

quality of life.

[primaltech]

ART = like a rapid bus, like the Rapid Ride lines that King County Metro does in Seattle. Google that.

It's a fantastic concept. You just simply walk outside and grab the bus, which should be there in about 5 minutes. And it takes you directly to the train station, quickly and efficiently.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I guess different folks have different goals with the bus.

To me the most important factor is convenience, not speed. I'd much rather have the bus stop within a block of my house and travel at normal traffic speeds than to have a high speed arterial line that's hard to get to.

I think we need to flood the zone with buses that penetrate deeply into our neighborhoods and make transit an effective way to get around. Public transit is for mobility and convenience, not speed. I you want to get somewhere fast you're obviously going to drive.

I disagree, MARTA has been doing this for awhile, having 40' buses penetrate into SFH areas with long, meandering routes that are slow and lose ridership. Instead the COA proposes creating tiers of bus service, where frequent routes are concentrated along major roads. Research has shown people will walk further for more frequent service, so by creating more frequent routes that spend less time sitting at signals, stops (loading/unloading) the network will move more people and attract more riders.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I disagree, MARTA has been doing this for awhile, having 40' buses penetrate into SFH areas with long, meandering routes that are slow and lose ridership. Instead the COA proposes creating tiers of bus service, where frequent routes are concentrated along major roads. Research has shown people will walk further for more frequent service, so by creating more frequent routes that spend less time sitting at signals, stops (loading/unloading) the network will move more people and attract more riders.

I'm not talking about long, meandering routes. Those need to be reevaluated and if they aren't providing good value and service, they should be rerouted.

What we need is plenty of buses that can quickly get in and out of neighborhoods and move people to local destinations and to the train stations for longer trips. Do it like Seattle, so that most people live near a bus that comes every 12 minutes.

[primaltech]

Originally Posted by cqholt

I disagree, MARTA has been doing this for awhile, having 40' buses penetrate into SFH areas with long, meandering routes that are slow and lose ridership. Instead the COA proposes creating tiers of bus service, where frequent routes are concentrated along major roads. Research has shown people will walk further for more frequent service, so by creating more frequent routes that spend less time sitting at signals, stops (loading/unloading) the network will move more people and attract more riders.

That is why I think the "local bus" tier should be eliminated entirely, and every 10 of those type routes be converted into 5 or so straight-corridor, limited stop ART routes, to serve the same general area.

The bus shouldn't be looping around on tiny roads. It should stay on the main road, and people should just walk to their nearest main road. But then they're rewarded by being able to catch the next bus very quickly, and that bus is direct and straight to their destination, with minimal stops and delays. Well worth the walk.

The other thing is the stop spacing. Space those stops out a bit, like a 1/3 mile at least. So the bus has to stop far less frequency, but groups of people board and alight each time. That's efficiency.

Also goes hand in hand with that whole feeling of safety issue. Safety in numbers. I'd rather stand around waiting for a bus with 10 people, than with 1 crazy person or something. I'm sure women feel the same.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by arjay57

I'm not talking about long, meandering routes. Those need to be reevaluated and if they aren't providing good value and service, they should be rerouted.

What we need is plenty of buses that can quickly get in and out of neighborhoods and move people to local destinations and to the train stations for longer trips. Do it like Seattle, so that most people live near a bus that comes every 12 minutes.

Did you read in the COA about the Community routes?

Community bus routes are short transit routes intended to provide local circulation and

connections to the regional rail and bus transit network at major stations and hubs.

Similar to MARTA’s former “Small Bus” program, the community tier will typically be

fixed route shuttles, but may include flexible route and demand response options if

necessary to serve less accessible, lower density neighborhoods in the service area.

pg 401, 405-406

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by cqholt

Page 75 of the report describes it great.

An important note here is that the COA doesn't distinguish between ART and BRT, though MARTA has recently. So while the original COA mentions that ART can have it's own right of way, and actually suggests adding such at a later time, it isn't limited to only having a right of way, the way BRT is.

So, MARTA has taken that a step further and separated BRT from ART as a distinct tier of service. It doesn't really affect much, but it is important to consider when using the various names for the tiers.

[bu2]

Originally Posted by fourthwarden

An important note here is that the COA doesn't distinguish between ART and BRT, though MARTA has recently. So while the original COA mentions that ART can have it's own right of way, and actually suggests adding such at a later time, it isn't limited to only having a right of way, the way BRT is.

So, MARTA has taken that a step further and separated BRT from ART as a distinct tier of service. It doesn't really affect much, but it is important to consider when using the various names for the tiers.

ART as described seems to be just a semi-express route. Not a true express bus, but with limited stops.

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by bu2

ART as described seems to be just a semi-express route. Not a true express bus, but with limited stops.

It's more BRT without dedicated lanes, than Express service. Express has 2-3 stops; P&R lot and then business district; while BRT will have signed, shelters, and branded service.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by bu2

ART as described seems to be just a semi-express route. Not a true express bus, but with limited stops.

Express is defined seperatly as a different tier of service, more closely resembling a commuter bus than anything like BRT.

Originally Posted by cqholt

It's more BRT without dedicated lanes, than Express service. Express has 2-3 stops; P&R lot and then business district; while BRT will have signed, shelters, and branded service.

Exactly, it's the difference between a light rail route (BRT), streetcar (ART), and commuter train (express).