December 4, 2008 Preserving the American Dream 1 1 Faster by Bus By Gabriel Roth

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream2 Comparing travel by rail and bus  Comparisons should be of like-with-like  Exclusive rights-of-way should be assumed for both modes  The median of the Dulles Airport Access Road can accommodate a busway as easily as a railway

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream3 Speed  Express Buses can offer faster door-to- door service than rail if every train has to stop at every station. For example:  Reston-to-Pentagon:  By Fairfax Connector 40 minutes;  By planned Dulles rail 57 minutes.  Buses offer higher frequencies than rail — reducing passenger waiting time.

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream4  Bus service more flexible than rail, so requires fewer changes at stations  Passengers with luggage can travel by bus or minibus without having to change modes or negotiate Metro stations Convenience:

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream5 Busways offer higher capacity  Lincoln Tunnel express bus lanes carry 32,000 seated passengers per hour  WMATA Red Line carrying 17,760 passengers in peak hour — many standing — is running at 94 percent of its capacity

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream6 Easier access to premises in urban centers  Tyson's Corner, Reston, and other urban centers need to be served by circulating buses  Such buses could be given direct access the busway, without requiring passengers to change travel modes at stations

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream7 No injustice to toll road users  Travelers on the Dulles Toll Road would not have their tolls raised to finance a facility few would use

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream8 Bus competition can improve service and lower costs  Rail service to Dulles would be monopolistic  Bus services can be provided competitively  Competition and flexibility can improve service and lower costs

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream9 More effective use of right-of-way  Space between rail trains is wasted  Space between buses can be used by other vehicles

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream10 Virtual Exclusive Busways Right-of-way dedicated to buses, with other fee-paying vehicles using the available remaining capacity, is more effectively used and can raise funds to pay for the busway  Fees set to ensure free flow, and collected electronically, as on California’s SR-91 Express Lanes  As proposed by Bob Poole and Ken Orski in rps.305  As proposed by Bob Poole and Ted Balaker in rps.337

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream11 Lower costs  Bus system-costs are typically a third of rail system’s  while providing superior service for most trips

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream12 Cost Per Person-Mile of Travel  Source: John Semmens, Arizona Transportation Institute ModePrivate costs TaxesTotal Roads$0.32$0.04$0.36 Buses$0.15$0.94$1.09 Commuter rail $0.22$1.28$1.50 Light rail$0.15$2.75$2.90

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream13 Can we help Peter Orszag, the new budget director?  The President-Elect requires Peter Orszag to review federal spending programs,  "eliminating those programs we don't need and insisting that those we do need operate in a cost-effective way.”  (Barack Obama, Nov. 25, 2008)

December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream14 Mr. President-Elect: YES WE CAN ! ! !  We can show your budget director how to provide superior transit service in the National Capital region at lower cost  Connect Dulles airport by BUS!