Bus Rapid Transit and Other Transit Enhancements
Overview
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
With costs of light rail service moving upwards of $50 million per mile to build, PCTPA and Placer County have undertaken preliminary studies to implement Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service in western Placer County. BRT has many advantages over light rail service, and in it’s higher forms, can mimic light rail at half the cost. No overhead wires. No metal tracks. And because it uses rubber tires, there is the flexibility to use existing roads in some circumstances, or use separate right of way in others. The studies has taken a look at the following corridors as potential areas for BRT service:
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Watt Avenue
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Pleasant Grove Blvd
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Blue Oaks Blvd
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Placer Parkway
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SR 65
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I-80
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Roseville Parkway
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Douglas Blvd
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Eureka Road
Recommneded BRT routes would connect such destinations as the future CSUS-Placer Campus, the Hewlett Packard Campus, SR 65/Blue Oaks Blvd/Corporate Center, the Roseville Galleria, the Watt/I80 LRT station, the future West Roseville Town Center, the future Placer Vineyards Center, and the Sunrise Avenue and Hazle Avenue light rail stations. The inital studies estimate approximately 5,900 daily boardings at build out of BRT service in Placer County.
Public Transit Enhancements
There are six public transit providers currently serving Placer County – five serve the western portion of the county, with one serving the Lake Tahoe Basin in eastern Placer County. These providers include:
The Unmet Transit Needs process conducted in Placer County each year reveals a variety of currently unserved public transit trips desired by local residents. Additional funding opportunities provided to Placer's transit operators by way of a transportation sales tax and future state and federal funds will allow for implementation of expanded transit services to meet many of these needs, especially for local senior and disabled populations.
Partners
PCTPA - As the Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for Placer County, the PCTPA Board determines and manages Placer’s priorities for the regional transportation system. The Agency is also the lead for administering funding for transit projects.
Member Agencies - Placer County, City of Auburn, City of Colfax, City of Lincoln, City of Rocklin, City of Roseville, and Town of Loomis
CTSA/Pride Industries - The Consolidated Transportation Services Agency of Placer County (CTSA) is the designated provider of elderly and disabled transit services in Placer County.
Status/Schedule
The implementation schedule of BRT is currently unknown due to extreme funding limitations currently in place. However, with a dedicated local funding source for transportation, Placer could see BRT service get underway as early as 2012.
Existing transit services will continue to operate based heavily on funding provided by the state and federal governments. Expansion of basic services is anticipated as growth occurs in Placer County; however, each jurisdiction in Placer County will continue to prioritize its funding resources for providing transit service to its residents. For more information on planned service expansion and changes for each of Placer County's transit operators, see the Short Range Transit Plans.
Current Challenges
Funding
With initial capital costs and annual operating costs of $78 million and $7.5 million respectively, BRT service in Placer County currently has no existing funding identified. While portions of future anticipated funding sources can be used for BRT, additional new local revenues are needed to cover the remaiming costs to implement service.
Jurisdictions in Placer County will continue to receive annual Transportation Development Act (TDA) funding for transit services. Some services are also funded with other state and federal sources. While current and future TDA funding levels are anticipated to support at least expansion of basic transit services in new growth areas of the County, new funding will need to be identified to support a significant increase in needed specialized services for senior and disabled popluations. A local transporation funding source would dedicate a portion of funding to support such needs.
Bus Rapid Transit Fact Sheet (PDF)
Public Transit Fact Sheet (PDF)
