Express bus plan in works for Oakland-Downtown link (Atwood: fit in, 2014)

[doo dah]

Express bus plan in works for Oakland-Downtown link | TribLIVE

A bus station at Fifth and Atwood! That's why the former Children's land hasn't been developed yet?

[Blackbeauty212]

I thought UPMC was planning another Grandiose project for that plot of land. Lord knows it is in a prime location. They need to extend the stop further down towards Lothrop so that more buses can fit into the stop. Right now barely 2 Accordion Buses can fit into the stop and when a gang of Buses come at one time they create a solid line back past Bouquet street.

[speagles84]

Can't help thinking that Port Authority just did this because the transportation bill was just passed...

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by speagles84

Can't help thinking that Port Authority just did this because the transportation bill was just passed...

Issued a press release?

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by doo dah

Issued a press release?

Ha.

This is good news I suppose. I like that they're progressing ahead connecting Oakland and Downtown better. I still am a big advocate of rail vs BRT but guess this is better than nothing.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

I thought UPMC was planning another Grandiose project for that plot of land. Lord knows it is in a prime location.

You're right. They certainly aren't using that whole plot for a bus station.

[that412]

Originally Posted by Blackbeauty212

Right now barely 2 Accordion Buses can fit into the stop and when a gang of Buses come at one time they create a solid line back past Bouquet street.

Maybe this stop will be "express only" so that there's only ever one bus there at a time? Though it does seem kind of unfair to make everyone who wants to take a local bus wait at a shabby older stop on adjacent blocks.

[AaronPGH]

This is just the BRT plan that we've already talked about. Not much news here. It's moving forward and is a good idea!

[MountainDewGuy]

I am still not sure what the REAL benefit of the BRT is? An "express" bus line from Oakland to downtown does what, exactly? Decrease the travel time by 5 minutes? Are there even that many stops between Oakland and downtown to warrant an "express" bus? The buses are still going to be using the same roads and same traffic lights as cars, are they not? I am an advocate one dedicated rail line from downtown through the east end. Nore sure what the word billion scares people so much, but at $1 billion dollars for a rail extension, it would cost the citizens of Allegheny County $16 per year when the cost is spread out over a 50 years period, and a dedicated and functional rail line will benefit the region for more than 50 years and provide more than a billion dollars in return value over that period.

[pman]

Originally Posted by MountainDewGuy

I am still not sure what the REAL benefit of the BRT is? An "express" bus line from Oakland to downtown does what, exactly? Decrease the travel time by 5 minutes? Are there even that many stops between Oakland and downtown to warrant an "express" bus? The buses are still going to be using the same roads and same traffic lights as cars, are they not? I am an advocate one dedicated rail line from downtown through the east end. Nore sure what the word billion scares people so much, but at $1 billion dollars for a rail extension, it would cost the citizens of Allegheny County $16 per year when the cost is spread out over a 50 years period, and a dedicated and functional rail line will benefit the region for more than 50 years and provide more than a billion dollars in return value over that period.

Trips to Morewood Avenue, for example, would take 14:07 from Downtown, compared to an average time of 23:10 now.

Read more: Express bus plan in works for Oakland-Downtown link | TribLIVE
I'm having trouble understanding what costs $200 million dollars. a dedicated lane and a fancy station cost that much?

the first option is better for transit imo, have them both on the same street

The first would leave the current bus lane on Fifth Avenue in place and add another on the north lane of Fifth, leaving three lanes for cars through Oakland. A second option would establish an outbound bus lane on Forbes Avenue with an inbound bus lane on Fifth Avenue.