Los Angeles Bus Rapid Transit Tour Lessons Learned

The Model - L.A. Metro BRT With support from 36 Commuting Solutions, RTD, CDOT and U.S. 36 Coalition visited L.A. Metro June 1-3, attendees represented the corridor coalition Half-day of BRT and HOT lanes presentations Tours of BRT and ExpressLanes Projects

U.S. 36 BRT Tour to Los Angeles Presentations – Metro ExpressLanes Program and Silver Line Service – Orange Line Transit Operations – Metro Branding and Marketing – Transit Access Pass (TAP) Program – Metro Bike Program – El Monte Transit Center

U.S. 36 BRT Tour to Los Angeles (cont.) Tours – El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway – Orange Line BRT

Elements of BRT observed during trip: – Prepaid tickets – Quick Boarding – Vehicle Types – Branding – Stations – Bicycle storage U.S. 36 BRT Tour to Los Angeles (cont.)

Tour Benefits – Established foundation for unified vision for US 36 BRT – Highlighted potential trade-offs for consideration – Described potential BRT system integration – Provided lessons-learned considerations for implementation – Solidified relationships with RTD, CDOT and U.S. 36 Coalition – Established relationships with Metro leaders U.S. 36 BRT Tour to Los Angeles (cont.)

Application to U.S. 36 Corridor Implementation The Tour of Los Angeles BRT systems provided an example of many elements that should be included in the planning and implementation of U.S. 36 BRT, including: Running Way Stations Vehicles Fare Collection Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Service and Operations Branding and Marketing Elements

Running Way LA Metro: Orange Line: The line is 14.3 miles, 14 stations, seven park-n-ride lots. Metro ExpressLanes Project: Conversion of HOV lanes to HOT lanes on I-10 and I-110. Tolling begins Fall New Silver Line express bus: Service consolidated two lines on the I-10 and four lines on the I-110 Freeways. Ridership has already improved 37%. U.S. 36 BRT: Managed lanes will serve as the running way. Ten out of 18 miles constructed from Pecos Street to Interlocken Loop. Queue jumps: construction to begin at McCaslin and Church Ranch summer Orange Line Metro ExpressLanes Project

Stations LA Metro: Orange Line includes Side-loading stations with public phones, restrooms, seating and shelter, and trash receptacles. Metro ExpressLanes Project includes center and side-loading stations with planned future installations of fare machines, restrooms at each end of Silver Line terminus, and a new two-story 25 bus bay station now under construction at I- 10 terminus. U.S. 36 BRT: Side-loading ramp stations that could include level boarding platforms at existing Park-n-Rides. Coordinate infrastructure design and construction with the distinctive and consistent visual branding of stations. Crime prevention. Station along the Orange Line. Stations include ticket vending and validating machines. Seating space and shelter protects waiting passengers.

Vehicles LA Metro: Orange Line uses NABI 60B.01 vehicles, which include multiple door boarding, low floors, sleek design and unique, dedicated graphics match station graphics. Metro ExpressLanes Program uses NABI 45C- LFW vehicles, which include front door boarding, low floors, and sleek design. U.S. 36 BRT: Existing Fleet of over-the-road coaches have high floors, single door boarding, and are unbranded. Fleet could be repainted/ re-decaled for unique image, and could match graphics at stations. Can incorporate BRT vehicles as part of RTDs rolling stock change. Develop specifications that work for rapid boarding as well as long-haul comfort. Seek grant opportunities to purchase BRT vehicles. Orange Line vehicle Silver Line vehicle

Fare Collection LA Metro: Orange Line has no fare boxes on vehicles, and operators do not validate fares. There are pre- paid fare kiosks at all stations for Transit Access Pass (TAP program). Metro ExpressLanes Project currently has on board fare payment, although off board fare payment is planned. Even with the TAP, LA Metro finds prepaid fares worthwhile for travel time savings/ customer service. U.S. 36 BRT: Smart Card technology is planned for implementation system-wide. At a minimum, select high-ridership, pilot locations which would benefit from pre-paid fares and evaluate boarding time benefits with current vehicle fleet. Ticket vending machine Off-board fare validators and ticket vending machines at stations TAP card validator TAP card

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) LA Metro: Global Positioning System relays information between bus operations for real-time location. Signalized transit priority at all intersections. Automated stop announcements on buses. U.S. 36 BRT: Transit Signal Prioritization study to begin in 2011 to identify Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) infrastructure and corresponding roadway impacts to add transit prioritization at four intersections along U.S. 36. Fiber in the project area will be included. Connecting conduit at each of the BRT stations to provide RTD customers with travel information. Variable Message Signs (VMS) at each BRT station with real-time bus arrival information, and automated stop announcement on vehicles. Orange Line buses receive priority at all signalized intersections.

Service and Operations LA Metro: Orange Line has 4 minute peak, 10 minute off- peak frequency Metro ExpressLanes Project Silver Line has 4 minute peak on I-10, 8 minute peak on I-110, and 15 minute off-peak frequency U.S. 36 BRT: Service plan needed to maximize benefit of managed lanes with express families. Service increase from bus travel time savings, FasTracks Operations as well as toll revenue supporting transit operations. Metros Bus Rapid Transit operations rely on high frequency service rather than timetables.

Branding and Marketing Elements LA Metro: Significant investment in Metro branding and route color coding integrated into vehicles, stations, bus shelters, collateral materials, advertising, etc. U.S. 36 BRT: RTD is developing a implementation plan to create a brand identity into infrastructure elements such as the bus shelters, vehicles, pedestrian bridges, etc. As the branding scheme unfolds identify any infrastructure finishes that could be incorporated.