Implementing a BRT Project: The Final Steps

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Implementing a BRT Project The Final Steps
1010 1130 a.m. Michael A. Sanders Chair,
Connecticut Department of Transportation (Moderat
or)
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Session Presentations

• ITS Enhanced Bus Rapid Transit, Matt Hardy
• HOV and BRT A Great Combination, David
  Schumaker
• A New Beginning Transforming Bus Operations at
  MBTA through Bus Rapid Transit, Steven Epps

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• Steven Epps
• 26 year employee of the Massachusetts Bay
  Transportation Authority (MBTA)
• Director of Bus Operations
• Has held the positions of Bus Driver, Inspector,
  Instructor, Facility Superintendent and Chief
  Transportation Officer

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A New Beginning Transforming Bus Operations at
the MBTA through Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Steve Epps, Director - Bus Operations, MBTA
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MBTA Bus Operations

• 2,300 employees
• Over 1,000 vehicles
• 10 Maintenance Facilities
• 90,000 daily fleet miles
• Over 200 bus routes 9,200 bus stations stops

Southampton Street Maintenance Facility
Construction
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MBTA Ridership 2004
Total Daily Ridership 1.2 Million passengers
(unlinked)
4 out of 10 MBTA customers are bus riders for all
or a portion of their trip (linked)
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MBTA Bus Operations (1980)

• 8 maintenance facilities
• Over 950 diesel high floor vehicles
• Average Vehicle age 7 years old
• Average MF age 39 years old
• Most recently built facility Cabot Yard (1979)

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MBTA Priorities (1980s) Subway Systemwide
Investment

• 1.5 Billion investment
• Subway systemwide improvements
• Subway station modernization
• Platform extensions
• Power and signal system upgrades
• Major track replacement program
• Subway expansion
• Northwest Corridor (Red Line)
• Southwest Corridor (Orange Line)
• Acquisition of technology advanced vehicles
• Advanced Technology Operations Control Center
  (OCC)
• Increased train consists from 4 to 6

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MBTA Priorities (1990s) Systemwide Improvements

• 2.0 billion investment
• Commuter rail expansion
• Worcester Commuter Rail Extension
• Old Colony Railroad Extension
• Newburyport/Rockport Extension
• Commuter Rail vehicle procurement (214 coaches,
  25 locomotives)
• 20M modernization of OCC
• Build out of major intermodal facilities
• New commuter information systems
• 98 new communities served
• Doubled commuter rail ridership

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MBTA Bus Operations (Aug. 2003)

• No new bus maintenance facilities built
• 978 diesel, high floor vehicles
• 25 low floor, CNG vehicles
• Average Vehicle age 14 years old
• Average MF age 64 years old
• Youngest maintenance facility Cabot Yard (23
  years old)

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MBTA Bus Operations (Nov. 2004)
Arborway Maintenance Facility

• 2 new maintenance facilities in operation
• Southampton Street Arborway Yard Maintenance
  Facilities
• Strategically located in industrial areas
• High end technological equipment
• Modern Maintenance Control Reporting Software
  System
• A third maintenance facility in design
• Upgrades and improvements at Cabot Yard and the
  Everett Backshop and Heavy Repair Facility

Cabot Yard CNG Retrofit (Underway)
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MBTA Bus Operations (Nov 2004)

• 578 new low floor, clean fuel, advanced
  technology vehicles (compressed natural gas,
  ultra low sulfur diesel dual mode vehicles)
• Average vehicle age 4 years old
• Customer friendly bus stops (shelters
  schedules)
• Bus fleet equipped with Global Positioning
  Systems (GPS), automatic vehicle announcements
  and variable message signage

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New Workforce Standards

• Basic aptitude recruiting skill set required
  for
• Mechanics
• Engineers
• Electricians
• Emphasis on diversity and maximizing talents of
  workforce potential
• Top down accountability
• Information and resources to bring a standard of
  excellence

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Bostons 5th Rapid Transit Line The Silver Line

• Rapid transit without rails
• The flexibility of bus service combined with
  attributes normally associated with rail service
• A major investment
• A highly effective choice to improved the public
  transportation options and boost ridership

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Building the Silver Line Project-by-Project
Worcester Square

• Washington Street Service - Dudley Square to New
  England Medical Center
• South Boston Piers Transitway South Station to
  Logan Airport
• Silver Line Tunnel New England Medical Center
  to South Station

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Silver Line Phase I July 2002
Phase I Washington Street Replacement Service

• 2 Miles
• 16 Stations
• 17 New Vehicles
• Ph. I Cost 50M

Worcester Square
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Silver Line Phase I project elements include...

• Complete street reconstruction, building edge to
  building edge.
• A reserved lane for BRT service.
• New lighting, landscaping, information kiosks and
  street furniture.
• A design that does not preclude light rail in the
  future.

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Silver Line Phase I Ridership Impact Daily Riders
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Silver Line Phase I Ridership Impact Trip Time
Reduction
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Silver Line Phase II Fall 2004
Phase II South Boston Transitway
Logan Airport
BMIP
BCEC
Worcester Square

• 4.1 Miles
• 3 Stations
• 32 New Vehicles
• Ph. II Cost 601M

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Silver Line Phase II elements includes...

• 1 mile tunnel from South Station to the South
  Boston Waterfront.
• 3 new stations
• South Station
• Courthouse Station
• World Trade Center Station
• A new maintenance facility on Southampton Street.

Russia Wharf (NATM Method)
South Station
Courthouse Station
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Silver Line Vehicles

• Phase I Vehicle
• 60-foot articulated vehicles
• CNG powered
• Low floor
• Smart Bus Technology

• Phase II Vehicle
• 60-foot articulated vehicles
• Dual mode
• Low floor
• Smart Bus Technology

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Silver Line Phase III December 2010
Phase III Silver Line Tunnel

• 1 Mile
• 3 Stations
• Ph. III Cost 760M
• Total Silver Line Cost 1.4B

Worcester Square
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Silver Line Phase III New Starts Status

• Silver Line Phase III is among 27 projects in the
  preliminary engineering phase for consideration
  in FTAs New Starts process
• Silver Line Phase III is the MBTAs priority
  project for consideration in FTAs New Starts
  process
• Projects are rated based on seven New Starts
  criteria
• Mobility improvements
• Environmental benefits
• Operating efficiencies
• Cost effectiveness

• Transit-supportive land use
• Local financial commitment
• Other factors

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The Silver Line A catalyst for economic
development
Area D-4 Police Station (5M)
South End Community Health Center (30M)
Laconia Lofts (18M)
Joseph Moakley Courthouse (200M)
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Why BRT for the Silver Line?

• Flexibility
• Capacity
• Convenience

• Allows for incremental growth
• Cost effective investment
• Triggers economic development

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Silver Line Benefits An Investment in Transit
Community

• Improves mobility reduces travel times
  connects/extends the MBTAs transportation
  network
• Enhances economic opportunity provides
  accessibility to jobs
• Revitalizes and expands business districts and
  activity centers creates and sustains jobs
• Supports transportation policies on environment,
  energy conservation, providing health, safety and
  security for our citizen, expanding multimodal
  transportations systems