Great vid! I have some cautious excitement about the lines themselves. My only real gripe has to be the fact they'll end service at 12am. I get thats late, but Raleigh is growing big enough to where there are a considerable amount of people working at night, and also has a big night life during the weekends. Still, I hope it'll be fine. I hope the transit oriented development gets implemented to its fullest extent. Huge sections of the Northern, Western and Southern corridors are car-oriented strip mall/fast food chain/gas station hell, that I'll be glad to see changed to something better. I do worry how the New Bern Avenue line and its zoning will be handled though, as this has to be the one with the most homes near it.
Thank you! I agree -- in fact, I wish many routes would go until 3-4am but on limited service, a la Wolfline. This is especially true for the BRT routes. Fortunately, though, this isn't something set in stone, and maybe with good ridership numbers we can all advocate for later service. I actually go out to Glenwood pretty often on the weekends and my friends and I all really appreciate taking the bus there, but not so much paying for the Uber back. You're absolutely right about the nightlife scene on the weekends. For a city of this size with this little density, it honestly isn't bad at all. In fact, I find it much better than Charlotte's. Yes, it is not a pretty sight down Western/Capital/S Wilmington. Very much looking forward to some infill development here! New Bern will be tricky, but the current city council has done right by me for the most part. We'll see!
BRT really needs to be the default transit mode in all cities. I used to be against BRT systems, but mainly because I felt that cities were using BRT as a crutch to avoid having to put in actual rail lines, but as I learned more about it, I realized that BRT should be the standard baseline system, and that LRT is the next stage of the corridor is heavily trafficked.
@@GenericUrbanism You can definitely look at it that way, but I think even if a city isn't planning on putting a more expanded rapid transit network in, a BRT is necessary, because not everyone in a city will have a car, and the city should do its best to accommodate all citizens, not just those with cars.
Unfortunately, BRT is just a fad. BRT, if it's actual BRT rather than an express bus that they call "BRT", is about as expensive as light rail. At the same time, any meaningful capacity means a proportional increase in vehicles and bus drivers. This means that if your line is ever successful, you end up paying a lot more than you would for light rail. And if your line fails to be successful then it doesn't really matter what you build. BRT was invented in low wage areas of South America as a hack to get light rail for 30-40% lower. In the US BRT (again, actual BRT) costs about 70-80% of the cost of light rail. And those construction savings quickly get eaten up by driver wages. In fact, light rail is actually cheaper than BRT over a 10 year lifespan. And 15-20 years is the replacement age for a BRT system. You have to redo the pavement after that and replace all the busses. Light rail has almost double the lifespan. In other words, you need to look into the actual costs of BRT. It just doesn't work in high wage areas, which most US cities that could even take advantage of BRT-like capacity always are.
I think BRT is the best 1st step for most North American cities trying to improve transit. While LRT is better overall, being able to dish out larger amounts of connectivity will benefit more people faster than LRT can. I hope they continue to make their bus network more connected
Quantity is not equal to quality, an LRT will last a lifetime, a bus system has many logistical, operational and operating cost deficiencies that in the end will need state subsidies, an expensive shoe that lasts for years is better than a three-month imitation, A citizen of Bogotá tells you that he sees a bus network with shortcomings and few solutions.
I always lived in areas with extensive transit and I completely believe in making use of it. So when I was being offered transfers to the Triangle, and they were promotions I turned them down over the years, The lack of transit and a few other things in an obviously growing area, were my reasons for saying Thanks but No Thanks. I just am not impressed how the Southern USA, A highly populated area looks down its nose at transit and has for decades. I'm glad to hear that something is being done, or being planned that will be a step forward. However it will be 2023 in just a few months and this transit issue with the Raleigh area, should have been addressed years ago. Such as lines that goes to its airport and major employment centers, schools, downtown and suburban areas. This should all be in operation now. The area is no further advanced on this subject than when buses first started running in the area. I wish them well but I"m sorry I don't have much faith, in how the Southern USA behaves towards transit and people that use it. I've heard far to many nasty comments made when travelling in the regions. We don't need it and we don't want it. I'm not paying for it I will never use it. Only low class people use transit. I've heard it all. I would literally have to bite my tongue with some of these people. I was shocked when I heard Charlotte managed to get themselves at least one Light Rail Line. Best of Luck I hope this BRT system does become reality. Excellent video by the way.
Very good video! I’ve been commuting to Raleigh via Highway 70 and I-40 for about four years now for work, and boy does it suck. I’m hoping to move into the city soon with some friends and if we can snag a place close to a future transit route it could mean we don’t have to solely rely on our cars all the time! BRT seems like it’d be a good first step in the right direction, but we’ll all have to see how they execute and support it first before we get our hopes up. I heard several months back about the commuter rail proposal and got all excited that they might send some down existing tracks towards Clayton/Smithfield, then reality set in, lmao. I work right off of New Bern Avenue at the moment and am looking forward to seeing it implemented in the area. Here’s hoping the NIMBYs around here aren’t too hard to fight. Keep up the good work - would love to see a vid about the rail proposals for the area as well!
Very excited about the BRT lines coming to Raleigh! I just wish that the Northern Line wasn't so short. I work near Triangle Town Center and was hoping that one day I could take transit to commute but I guess I will have to wait a bit longer...
I live in Durham. The future is looking bright for here and in the Triangle. For us, we don't have BRT but the changes to service are looking good. I highly support Raleigh's BRT service. I do visit Raleigh often and we need improvement to GoRaleigh service to adapt people to public transit.
Great overview video. Wish we could get BRT here in Charlotte! To me the main advantage of BRT over rail is that it is so much quicker and cheaper to implement. Here we currently only really have one mass transit corridor along the Blue Line, and it may be 20 years until we finish the next one with the Silver Line. Meanwhile you guys are going to have multiple corridors built in a much shorter time frame
I definitely agree. I love the Blue Line (and wish Raleigh could have squeezed in some rail in at least one corridor) but it sucks that it's the only one. Where would you place a BRT line in Charlotte if you had the choice?
If I may answer, I think the proposed Silver Line should be BRT in the interim because funding for lightrail is currently uncertain, but the need for rapid transit along that corridor can't wait any longer. It is especially important to get that connection to the airport, and it could extend all the way to Gastonia, which is further than the current lightrail proposal. On the other end, perhaps it could extend all the way to Monroe instead of just Matthews. A second corridor already being considered for BRT is the proposed Red Line. That was initially being considered for rail transit but obtaining right of way as well as buy-in from the northern Mecklenburg communities have created difficulties in making that happen. I would make the Red Line priority #2.
And upgrading BRT to LRT is a lot easier if you already have protected your corridor with exclusive lanes. The LA Orange Line, the busiest BRT in the nation, is going to be converted to LRT. It has exclusive lanes, and often bridges, throughout.
I love the sixth section and I'd like to point that consider the mount of money US manage compared to third world countries (where BRT got very popular) the first option cities should choice is LRT, because BRT is meant to work like a subway system but of course it's meant to be a lot cheaper, and this works perfectly in Latam cities but maybe USA can aim to better option. But of course is city budget is not so big or population is low (i personally think BRT system are perfect for cities with 500k or less inhabitants) BRTs can be a great option, and if well designed thay can really improve and make its sorrounding more atractive. Nice video
Your system looks alot like the one we have in Eugene, Oregon. I expect it to be just as good as ours. Unfortunately the one they are opening here in Portland next month looks like it will be a case of BRT creep rather then actual BRT. Great video man!
was definitely worried about the gentrification issue especially with the new bern corridor. i think they’ll have to be aggressively progressive with policy along that corridor. new housing that is truly affordable is obviously essential on every corridor, the hope is obviously that citizens can save money by ditching their car to use the bus and i think it’ll happen. in youre most impoverished areas you may even need to implement rent control once you’ve added a surplus of housing, the city may have to take a loss for the first few years or so but in my opinion that’s okay as long as the housing, brt, and pedestrian planning is sustainable. community engagement is absolutely essential. also i agree capital blvd is absolutely atrocious, used to live right around the corner from capital and it suuucked lol
You were talking about transit available for low income people without cars and that is Great but also people of all incomes need transit for various reasons. Such as elderly people that shouldn’t be driving anymore because of various reasons taking medication etc. and people of all ages that can’t be driving for various reasons such as not a good driver, stressed in high traffic on medication even though they’re younger or disabled.
maybe Raleigh could adopt a system similar to Brisbane's new Metro. Brisbane's new Metro pilot test vehicle is also a good example of combined Rubber tyred Tram/Train and Bus Rapid Transit system. And it is battery-powered, so it is Eco-Friendly. Once the project is fully complete and all the vehicles are rolled out, there will even be flash chargers at the end of every route/line that can charge one whole unit in under 5 minutes. Its design allows it to be expanded anywhere at a lower cost, as it can run on any road, ranging from Bus lanes along a busy road to brand new fully dedicated Transitways and even de-clog existing Transitways by using their right of way. In Brisbane, once complete, the Metro will use existing Transitways (or Busways, as locals refer to them) will focus on going into the city and getting buses out of the city, making more space for pedestrians and Bike infrastructure. In addition, this allows for brand new Circular Bus routes radiating around the city between different suburbs, allowing better connections to both major Bus Station, the existing Queensland Rail System and even the new metro. I think many U.S. cities can adopt systems similar to Brisbane's new metro, as it is very cheap and easy to convert car based infrastructure and the vehicles can even run on Roads which only require bus priority upgrades.
Can you do a video on the proposed commuter rail in Raleigh. Also talking about the new use of the CSX S line through wake forest. There was also a very recent conversation of a train between Raleigh And Fayetteville.
i really hope these brt projects spur extensions and new routes after being completed. quite frankly we should have had brt on glenwood up to rdu and going from downtown to northhills already. those should be projects that get in the works while these four lines start to near completion
I am very hopeful for BRT but I definitely feel a light rail is also needed, especially now that the current projection for finishing the entire BRT project is 2035. Once this is done, we'll be dealing with more issues from an even larger population overall.
As someone who loves and follows transit and transit project in the US and abroad, it is VERY disappointing seeing the Raleigh Durham area squander on it's chance for light rail. I followed the project since it gained some steam, and thought it'd come to fruition with how hard they were gunning for it. Well fast forward to now, and sadly the light rail plan has been shelved. Now it's commuter rail or this brt system, complete rip-off.
But BRT can be rolled out so much more quickly. I generally think any city that doesn't have a metro should have BRT right away. Create a rider base, let the municipality run rapid transit without leaving its comfort zone, upzone the route, and then upgrade that to LRT in the future.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 how many BRT's have been converted to LRT?? Very few, none in the US I can think of. Ottawa is the best and possibly only example for North America. I feel like that conversion stuff these agencies tout
@@TheLIRRFrenchie... How many North American BRTs are +20 years old? And how many are at capacity? How many have been upzoned along the corridor? If we have limited funding (which is what is claimed whenever I say services should be free, at least off peak), then BRT lets us build far more transit reach. It also lets transit agencies use technology they understand and have procurement processes for. It can also be rolled out fast enough to build support for more projects, vs the ten year headway for LRT. Twin cities has BRT, Detroit has LRT. You can out perform LRT and build a riderbase with BRT, because you don't have to fight for as much funding and you can show quick results. It's really the only practical solution for midsized cities or Suburbs.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 dude, there are far too many videos that show how much better LRT is to BRT. Expensive to build at first, but worth it in the overall. And Detroit DOES NOT have LRT, it has a streetcar. There are very FEW successful BRT's in America. Let's not also forget, there's no standard definition of BRT in America since many agencies do/see BRT in their own way. Clayton BRT in Atlanta for example. They're calling it "BRT", yet only part of it will have dedicated bus lanes. Again, there are videos about our conversation, but I'm not about to go back and forth with you about what's already been proven wether it's been 20+ years of BRT service in America or not. They fit where they need too when done right, same goes for light rail most DEFINITELY, but we won't sit up here and make it seem like it's the BEST option for the triangle. The only reason Durham didn't get the light rail is because of funding, that's it. It wasn't because BRT was seen as a better option, but again funding especially during the trump administration years when transit funding wasn't at it's finest. Also, the twin cities started with light rail FIRST before any of their BRT's. Have a good day sir. This is my last reply.
@@TheLIRRFrenchie... Wow you tripped me out for a second, I live in Durham Ontario and we are getting a BRT. Anyway, obviously I disagree with you that a few youtubers like Alan Fisher saying "Steel on steel" is any real evidence that LRT is inherently better. They both have services levels/densities where one is superior, but the reality is most of the US has low ridership amd low density, making BRT generally better. I'm definitely not going to fight tooth and nail about whats best for the triangle, idk the area. I do think its an unreasonable standard for you to deny Detroit has LRT, but then use knock off BRTs without dedicated lane as a comparison. A street car is LRT without dedicated ROW. The Twin city has LRT, but BRT has been how they have expanded service range quickly (in unison with Bike networks). Thats my point, you can put out BRT fundementally faster than LRT and transit growth is more important than mode, because any transit is that much more effective than people driving.
That would be a great addition to the Triangle area! Do you have any knowledge on the happenings in the Triad area at all? I know it's a bit smaller and not growing as fast but with WS and GSO being such close proximity surely there has to be something going on.
BRT is a good tool for smaller cities and areas where the density just doesn't make sense for a metro line. We use light rail wrong in north America as we try and force it to be both a streetcar and a metro on most systems. If you want a grade separated high frequency metro just do that. it doesn't cost much more than good light rail with way more capacity.
I personally like what Ottawa has done in builting a "Light S-bahn". It's light rail, with a few underground stations through the city center, but then a "regional" line through the suburbs.
I think BRT would be great. I feel like the one going down to Garner could be extended down to Fuquay (past wake tech). There is a lot of commuters that go up 401 in the morning into Raleigh.
I heard the BRT system goes all the way to why don’t shopping center all the way to Clayton Because I live in Jackson County which would be a bid benefits for me as a veterinarian blind person which I actually did go to the Gms go for the blind
People insisting on light rail in my area have just about killed any reasonable transit. Rail is horribly expensive so simply not enough rail ever gets built. The thing about Buss Rapid Transit is that it can be built at a resonable cost and can be expanded enough so if it is faster and more convenient people will actually start using it. Yeah, once enough people are using the BRT light rail also becomes feasible.
I can’t help but think that today’s mess came from yesterday’s politicians and government workers who also thought they knew what was best for everyone.
The operating costs are very high, although the train infrastructure costs more, it will last a lifetime. Bogotá has excellent coverage, but with inhumane frequencies and saturation and in other small cities these systems are going bankrupt because it is unsustainable. These systems are used by politicians who want to cut the ribbon in the shortest possible time, without caring about the future of their citizens.
The Western Blvd. corridor will get the closest, but it will be too far away to be practical. Unfortunately, PNC Arena was just very poorly placed in one of the least dense and most car-dependent areas between Raleigh and Cary. Now, the planned Wake County Commuter Rail (future video planned on that) *will* have a stop at Blue Ridge Rd. which is arguably in walking distance to PNC and Carter Finley. That will also stop at Union Station. More info at readyforrailnc.com. That said, if I was King of Raleigh for a day, I'd immediately move PNC either: (1) downtown; (2) closer to NC State; or (3) "Downtown South," which is the big new mixed-use development planned around the I-40 interchange at S. Wilmington St. One other thing to note, my recollection is that PNC Arena wasn't supposed to really be a long-term facility -- that is, it has (and will continue to) require some structural renovations to stay functional. The Hurricanes, by NHL standards anyway, just did an unusually small lease renewal on PNC thru 2028 so that they, the city council, NC State, etc. can decide whether to build up new development around the PNC area or build a new stadium somewhere else, likely downtown. I'd prefer the latter, but we'll see. Apologies for my small manifesto, that was probably way more than you asked for. I like PNC itself but getting there is a deeply unpleasant experience.
Nope. It will sadly fail because Raleigh is a high wage area. BRT only works where you have cheap labor. The whole point of BRT = rubber tire light rail is to trade construction cost for bus driver wages. If you don't have a cost advantage then how can it be successful?
Great vid! I have some cautious excitement about the lines themselves. My only real gripe has to be the fact they'll end service at 12am. I get thats late, but Raleigh is growing big enough to where there are a considerable amount of people working at night, and also has a big night life during the weekends. Still, I hope it'll be fine.
I hope the transit oriented development gets implemented to its fullest extent. Huge sections of the Northern, Western and Southern corridors are car-oriented strip mall/fast food chain/gas station hell, that I'll be glad to see changed to something better. I do worry how the New Bern Avenue line and its zoning will be handled though, as this has to be the one with the most homes near it.
Thank you! I agree -- in fact, I wish many routes would go until 3-4am but on limited service, a la Wolfline. This is especially true for the BRT routes. Fortunately, though, this isn't something set in stone, and maybe with good ridership numbers we can all advocate for later service.
I actually go out to Glenwood pretty often on the weekends and my friends and I all really appreciate taking the bus there, but not so much paying for the Uber back. You're absolutely right about the nightlife scene on the weekends. For a city of this size with this little density, it honestly isn't bad at all. In fact, I find it much better than Charlotte's.
Yes, it is not a pretty sight down Western/Capital/S Wilmington. Very much looking forward to some infill development here! New Bern will be tricky, but the current city council has done right by me for the most part. We'll see!
Super optimistic about BRT in Raleigh. Really hoping New Bern is a success out the gate so we don’t run into opposition with the other three routes.
This is very exciting to see in the works. Even if I don't directly benefit in my day to day I love the idea of more people having this opportunity
BRT really needs to be the default transit mode in all cities. I used to be against BRT systems, but mainly because I felt that cities were using BRT as a crutch to avoid having to put in actual rail lines, but as I learned more about it, I realized that BRT should be the standard baseline system, and that LRT is the next stage of the corridor is heavily trafficked.
So BRT should be the starter to gain ridership for rapid transit.
@@GenericUrbanism You can definitely look at it that way, but I think even if a city isn't planning on putting a more expanded rapid transit network in, a BRT is necessary, because not everyone in a city will have a car, and the city should do its best to accommodate all citizens, not just those with cars.
@@jamalgibson8139 BRT is good for extending transit acces.
I mean it is still a crutch, but it is what it is. At least they will have the right of way when someone has the political will to build LRT.
Unfortunately, BRT is just a fad. BRT, if it's actual BRT rather than an express bus that they call "BRT", is about as expensive as light rail. At the same time, any meaningful capacity means a proportional increase in vehicles and bus drivers. This means that if your line is ever successful, you end up paying a lot more than you would for light rail.
And if your line fails to be successful then it doesn't really matter what you build.
BRT was invented in low wage areas of South America as a hack to get light rail for 30-40% lower. In the US BRT (again, actual BRT) costs about 70-80% of the cost of light rail. And those construction savings quickly get eaten up by driver wages. In fact, light rail is actually cheaper than BRT over a 10 year lifespan. And 15-20 years is the replacement age for a BRT system. You have to redo the pavement after that and replace all the busses. Light rail has almost double the lifespan.
In other words, you need to look into the actual costs of BRT. It just doesn't work in high wage areas, which most US cities that could even take advantage of BRT-like capacity always are.
I think BRT is the best 1st step for most North American cities trying to improve transit. While LRT is better overall, being able to dish out larger amounts of connectivity will benefit more people faster than LRT can. I hope they continue to make their bus network more connected
Quantity is not equal to quality, an LRT will last a lifetime, a bus system has many logistical, operational and operating cost deficiencies that in the end will need state subsidies, an expensive shoe that lasts for years is better than a three-month imitation, A citizen of Bogotá tells you that he sees a bus network with shortcomings and few solutions.
@@yaguchiqa324 that’s a fair point, can’t really argue there
Great overview! Super interesting to see how they’re implementing some core rapid transit lines.
I always lived in areas with extensive transit and I completely believe in making use of it. So when I was being offered transfers to the Triangle, and they were promotions I turned them down over the years, The lack of transit and a few other things in an obviously growing area, were my reasons for saying Thanks but No Thanks. I just am not impressed how the Southern USA, A highly populated area looks down its nose at transit and has for decades. I'm glad to hear that something is being done, or being planned that will be a step forward. However it will be 2023 in just a few months and this transit issue with the Raleigh area, should have been addressed years ago. Such as lines that goes to its airport and major employment centers, schools, downtown and suburban areas. This should all be in operation now. The area is no further advanced on this subject than when buses first started running in the area. I wish them well but I"m sorry I don't have much faith, in how the Southern USA behaves towards transit and people that use it. I've heard far to many nasty comments made when travelling in the regions. We don't need it and we don't want it. I'm not paying for it I will never use it. Only low class people use transit. I've heard it all. I would literally have to bite my tongue with some of these people. I was shocked when I heard Charlotte managed to get themselves at least one Light Rail Line. Best of Luck I hope this BRT system does become reality. Excellent video by the way.
Very good video! I’ve been commuting to Raleigh via Highway 70 and I-40 for about four years now for work, and boy does it suck. I’m hoping to move into the city soon with some friends and if we can snag a place close to a future transit route it could mean we don’t have to solely rely on our cars all the time! BRT seems like it’d be a good first step in the right direction, but we’ll all have to see how they execute and support it first before we get our hopes up. I heard several months back about the commuter rail proposal and got all excited that they might send some down existing tracks towards Clayton/Smithfield, then reality set in, lmao. I work right off of New Bern Avenue at the moment and am looking forward to seeing it implemented in the area. Here’s hoping the NIMBYs around here aren’t too hard to fight.
Keep up the good work - would love to see a vid about the rail proposals for the area as well!
Im from Charlotte, and I can think of many roads I'd love to see a BRT on!
In Sydney, if your within 800m radius of a railway station the usual planning rules are over-riden for more dense housing.
Very excited about the BRT lines coming to Raleigh! I just wish that the Northern Line wasn't so short. I work near Triangle Town Center and was hoping that one day I could take transit to commute but I guess I will have to wait a bit longer...
I live in Durham. The future is looking bright for here and in the Triangle. For us, we don't have BRT but the changes to service are looking good. I highly support Raleigh's BRT service. I do visit Raleigh often and we need improvement to GoRaleigh service to adapt people to public transit.
Great overview video. Wish we could get BRT here in Charlotte! To me the main advantage of BRT over rail is that it is so much quicker and cheaper to implement. Here we currently only really have one mass transit corridor along the Blue Line, and it may be 20 years until we finish the next one with the Silver Line. Meanwhile you guys are going to have multiple corridors built in a much shorter time frame
I definitely agree. I love the Blue Line (and wish Raleigh could have squeezed in some rail in at least one corridor) but it sucks that it's the only one. Where would you place a BRT line in Charlotte if you had the choice?
If I may answer, I think the proposed Silver Line should be BRT in the interim because funding for lightrail is currently uncertain, but the need for rapid transit along that corridor can't wait any longer. It is especially important to get that connection to the airport, and it could extend all the way to Gastonia, which is further than the current lightrail proposal. On the other end, perhaps it could extend all the way to Monroe instead of just Matthews.
A second corridor already being considered for BRT is the proposed Red Line. That was initially being considered for rail transit but obtaining right of way as well as buy-in from the northern Mecklenburg communities have created difficulties in making that happen. I would make the Red Line priority #2.
And upgrading BRT to LRT is a lot easier if you already have protected your corridor with exclusive lanes. The LA Orange Line, the busiest BRT in the nation, is going to be converted to LRT. It has exclusive lanes, and often bridges, throughout.
I love the sixth section and I'd like to point that consider the mount of money US manage compared to third world countries (where BRT got very popular) the first option cities should choice is LRT, because BRT is meant to work like a subway system but of course it's meant to be a lot cheaper, and this works perfectly in Latam cities but maybe USA can aim to better option.
But of course is city budget is not so big or population is low (i personally think BRT system are perfect for cities with 500k or less inhabitants) BRTs can be a great option, and if well designed thay can really improve and make its sorrounding more atractive.
Nice video
Your system looks alot like the one we have in Eugene, Oregon. I expect it to be just as good as ours. Unfortunately the one they are opening here in Portland next month looks like it will be a case of BRT creep rather then actual BRT. Great video man!
was definitely worried about the gentrification issue especially with the new bern corridor. i think they’ll have to be aggressively progressive with policy along that corridor. new housing that is truly affordable is obviously essential on every corridor, the hope is obviously that citizens can save money by ditching their car to use the bus and i think it’ll happen. in youre most impoverished areas you may even need to implement rent control once you’ve added a surplus of housing, the city may have to take a loss for the first few years or so but in my opinion that’s okay as long as the housing, brt, and pedestrian planning is sustainable. community engagement is absolutely essential. also i agree capital blvd is absolutely atrocious, used to live right around the corner from capital and it suuucked lol
You were talking about transit available for low income people without cars and that is Great but also people of all incomes need transit for various reasons. Such as elderly people that shouldn’t be driving anymore because of various reasons taking medication etc. and people of all ages that can’t be driving for various reasons such as not a good driver, stressed in high traffic on medication even though they’re younger or disabled.
maybe Raleigh could adopt a system similar to Brisbane's new Metro.
Brisbane's new Metro pilot test vehicle is also a good example of combined Rubber tyred Tram/Train and Bus Rapid Transit system. And it is battery-powered, so it is Eco-Friendly. Once the project is fully complete and all the vehicles are rolled out, there will even be flash chargers at the end of every route/line that can charge one whole unit in under 5 minutes. Its design allows it to be expanded anywhere at a lower cost, as it can run on any road, ranging from Bus lanes along a busy road to brand new fully dedicated Transitways and even de-clog existing Transitways by using their right of way. In Brisbane, once complete, the Metro will use existing Transitways (or Busways, as locals refer to them) will focus on going into the city and getting buses out of the city, making more space for pedestrians and Bike infrastructure. In addition, this allows for brand new Circular Bus routes radiating around the city between different suburbs, allowing better connections to both major Bus Station, the existing Queensland Rail System and even the new metro.
I think many U.S. cities can adopt systems similar to Brisbane's new metro, as it is very cheap and easy to convert car based infrastructure and the vehicles can even run on Roads which only require bus priority upgrades.
Can you do a video on the proposed commuter rail in Raleigh. Also talking about the new use of the CSX S line through wake forest. There was also a very recent conversation of a train between Raleigh And Fayetteville.
i really hope these brt projects spur extensions and new routes after being completed. quite frankly we should have had brt on glenwood up to rdu and going from downtown to northhills already. those should be projects that get in the works while these four lines start to near completion
Wonderful video when brt come to Raleigh I'll be there to ride it but I was also thinking a light rail would be awesome also in Raleigh too
Awesome breakdown!
I am very hopeful for BRT but I definitely feel a light rail is also needed, especially now that the current projection for finishing the entire BRT project is 2035. Once this is done, we'll be dealing with more issues from an even larger population overall.
As someone who loves and follows transit and transit project in the US and abroad, it is VERY disappointing seeing the Raleigh Durham area squander on it's chance for light rail. I followed the project since it gained some steam, and thought it'd come to fruition with how hard they were gunning for it. Well fast forward to now, and sadly the light rail plan has been shelved. Now it's commuter rail or this brt system, complete rip-off.
But BRT can be rolled out so much more quickly. I generally think any city that doesn't have a metro should have BRT right away. Create a rider base, let the municipality run rapid transit without leaving its comfort zone, upzone the route, and then upgrade that to LRT in the future.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 how many BRT's have been converted to LRT?? Very few, none in the US I can think of. Ottawa is the best and possibly only example for North America. I feel like that conversion stuff these agencies tout
@@TheLIRRFrenchie... How many North American BRTs are +20 years old? And how many are at capacity? How many have been upzoned along the corridor?
If we have limited funding (which is what is claimed whenever I say services should be free, at least off peak), then BRT lets us build far more transit reach. It also lets transit agencies use technology they understand and have procurement processes for. It can also be rolled out fast enough to build support for more projects, vs the ten year headway for LRT.
Twin cities has BRT, Detroit has LRT. You can out perform LRT and build a riderbase with BRT, because you don't have to fight for as much funding and you can show quick results. It's really the only practical solution for midsized cities or Suburbs.
@@neolithictransitrevolution427 dude, there are far too many videos that show how much better LRT is to BRT. Expensive to build at first, but worth it in the overall. And Detroit DOES NOT have LRT, it has a streetcar. There are very FEW successful BRT's in America. Let's not also forget, there's no standard definition of BRT in America since many agencies do/see BRT in their own way. Clayton BRT in Atlanta for example. They're calling it "BRT", yet only part of it will have dedicated bus lanes. Again, there are videos about our conversation, but I'm not about to go back and forth with you about what's already been proven wether it's been 20+ years of BRT service in America or not. They fit where they need too when done right, same goes for light rail most DEFINITELY, but we won't sit up here and make it seem like it's the BEST option for the triangle. The only reason Durham didn't get the light rail is because of funding, that's it. It wasn't because BRT was seen as a better option, but again funding especially during the trump administration years when transit funding wasn't at it's finest. Also, the twin cities started with light rail FIRST before any of their BRT's. Have a good day sir. This is my last reply.
@@TheLIRRFrenchie... Wow you tripped me out for a second, I live in Durham Ontario and we are getting a BRT.
Anyway, obviously I disagree with you that a few youtubers like Alan Fisher saying "Steel on steel" is any real evidence that LRT is inherently better. They both have services levels/densities where one is superior, but the reality is most of the US has low ridership amd low density, making BRT generally better.
I'm definitely not going to fight tooth and nail about whats best for the triangle, idk the area.
I do think its an unreasonable standard for you to deny Detroit has LRT, but then use knock off BRTs without dedicated lane as a comparison. A street car is LRT without dedicated ROW.
The Twin city has LRT, but BRT has been how they have expanded service range quickly (in unison with Bike networks). Thats my point, you can put out BRT fundementally faster than LRT and transit growth is more important than mode, because any transit is that much more effective than people driving.
That would be a great addition to the Triangle area! Do you have any knowledge on the happenings in the Triad area at all? I know it's a bit smaller and not growing as fast but with WS and GSO being such close proximity surely there has to be something going on.
Great video. It sounds like a step in the right direction. Is there any update to this BRT project?
It works here in San Francisco!
BRT is a good tool for smaller cities and areas where the density just doesn't make sense for a metro line.
We use light rail wrong in north America as we try and force it to be both a streetcar and a metro on most systems. If you want a grade separated high frequency metro just do that. it doesn't cost much more than good light rail with way more capacity.
I personally like what Ottawa has done in builting a "Light S-bahn". It's light rail, with a few underground stations through the city center, but then a "regional" line through the suburbs.
I think BRT would be great. I feel like the one going down to Garner could be extended down to Fuquay (past wake tech). There is a lot of commuters that go up 401 in the morning into Raleigh.
I heard the BRT certain go toline that goes all the way to Wyandotte and Clayton
We need to do something about Capital
I heard the BRT system goes all the way to why don’t shopping center all the way to Clayton Because I live in Jackson County which would be a bid benefits for me as a veterinarian blind person which I actually did go to the Gms go for the blind
Omg? Why? We need light rail. I’m a Morrisville resident.
1:14 is that cycle lane in raleigh? Ive never seen it before (or any cycle lane that is protected by more then just plastic posts)
People insisting on light rail in my area have just about killed any reasonable transit. Rail is horribly expensive so simply not enough rail ever gets built. The thing about Buss Rapid Transit is that it can be built at a resonable cost and can be expanded enough so if it is faster and more convenient people will actually start using it. Yeah, once enough people are using the BRT light rail also becomes feasible.
Will the bus ever go all the way to Key West?
I can’t help but think that today’s mess came from yesterday’s politicians and government workers who also thought they knew what was best for everyone.
The operating costs are very high, although the train infrastructure costs more, it will last a lifetime. Bogotá has excellent coverage, but with inhumane frequencies and saturation and in other small cities these systems are going bankrupt because it is unsustainable. These systems are used by politicians who want to cut the ribbon in the shortest possible time, without caring about the future of their citizens.
are any of these BRT lines going to connect Union Station to PNC Arena?
The Western Blvd. corridor will get the closest, but it will be too far away to be practical. Unfortunately, PNC Arena was just very poorly placed in one of the least dense and most car-dependent areas between Raleigh and Cary. Now, the planned Wake County Commuter Rail (future video planned on that) *will* have a stop at Blue Ridge Rd. which is arguably in walking distance to PNC and Carter Finley. That will also stop at Union Station. More info at readyforrailnc.com.
That said, if I was King of Raleigh for a day, I'd immediately move PNC either: (1) downtown; (2) closer to NC State; or (3) "Downtown South," which is the big new mixed-use development planned around the I-40 interchange at S. Wilmington St.
One other thing to note, my recollection is that PNC Arena wasn't supposed to really be a long-term facility -- that is, it has (and will continue to) require some structural renovations to stay functional. The Hurricanes, by NHL standards anyway, just did an unusually small lease renewal on PNC thru 2028 so that they, the city council, NC State, etc. can decide whether to build up new development around the PNC area or build a new stadium somewhere else, likely downtown. I'd prefer the latter, but we'll see.
Apologies for my small manifesto, that was probably way more than you asked for. I like PNC itself but getting there is a deeply unpleasant experience.
I like it
Need everybody that supports BRT to support the necessary zoning and TOD'S on Jan 30th city council meeting it stands a chance of failing
I'm more of a rail advocate but I would much rather have BRT than Cars
Nope. It will sadly fail because Raleigh is a high wage area. BRT only works where you have cheap labor. The whole point of BRT = rubber tire light rail is to trade construction cost for bus driver wages. If you don't have a cost advantage then how can it be successful?
go lightrail,, a bus is a bus.
I agree with the second half, nothing wrong with a bus.
No!