tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post1799417551728587906..comments2023-06-16T08:50:11.916-07:00Comments on Stop and Move: No one noticed, but Fresno killed its proposed BRT systemJames Sinclairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-25500625749117434212014-06-07T19:35:47.211-07:002014-06-07T19:35:47.211-07:00Thats the old design. The new plan is the same cra...Thats the old design. The new plan is the same crap they have today James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-74403656508445831242014-06-07T14:29:06.332-07:002014-06-07T14:29:06.332-07:00What do you think of this artist's impression ...What do you think of this artist's impression of a bus stop? <br /><br />http://fresnoalliance.com/wordpress/?p=9079The Independenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16278044025254450142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-75319936159002253672014-06-02T18:42:01.864-07:002014-06-02T18:42:01.864-07:00That second one is really sad. And yes, no audio a...That second one is really sad. And yes, no audio announcement is an ADA violation. James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-56751902490314787152014-05-30T13:35:42.272-07:002014-05-30T13:35:42.272-07:00Oh, have a look at this and its description...
ht...Oh, have a look at this and its description...<br /><br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/88203216@N02/14120982388/<br /><br />I know how much you like pictures. This stop is supposed to be for Bus 45, but look at what happened.<br /><br />https://www.flickr.com/photos/88203216@N02/12626330725/<br /><br />What do you think of this?The Independenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16278044025254450142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-59856951210034629842014-05-06T20:09:48.410-07:002014-05-06T20:09:48.410-07:00The "hardly anyone rides the buses" argu...The "hardly anyone rides the buses" argument is such a sham that it's not even funny. The same argument can logically be made about any of the vast expanses of highway that are empty at any given time, yet money continues to be poured into making those bigger too. We heard those very arguments in many various forms as the sbX Green Line was developed. Fortunately, level heads prevailed, and we're now blessed with only the sixth ITDP-certified BRT system in the country to get Bronze or better (https://go.itdp.org/display/live/San+Bernardino's+New+sbX+Green+Line+is+Latest+Example+of+True+BRT+in+the+US). This is accompanied by transit-oriented zoning near the stations that allow for lower parking minimums and more importantly, mixed-use development.<br /><br />I've not studied Fresno or Nashville in depth since I don't live in either, but I have visited both and made some observations off what I did see. The "empty road" argument can certainly be made in both cities. Even if it isn't for BRT, some space needs to be taken from those roads that are far overbuilt. Current land use patterns cannot support the infrastructure going forward and will come back to take out a nasty bite in the future.<br /><br />Furthermore, local bus service is often completely unappealing to the vast majority of people, even those who really can't afford to drive a car. Improving the service goes a long way toward keeping those who can't afford to drive from doing so. More importantly, it provides a service that is a viable alternative to driving, which serves to coax some drivers out of their cars. When coupled with TOD zoning, this can really help revitalize a city. Value, revenue, and tax receipts for a given parcel of land will be far better for developments that are compact than they are for those spread far and wide.<br /><br />Also, tourists are who you really want using your BRT (or anything else, for that matter). Here at home, I buy a monthly pass. After 30 uses, I've saved money by doing so. Or in other words, just a single ride per day. A tourist won't buy a monthly pass, they'll pay each ride. Money is made off of the tourists, not the residents.marvenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16353100816207270847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-27797569679189841612014-05-04T16:26:39.878-07:002014-05-04T16:26:39.878-07:00Did you read the first line of this post?
Fact: N...Did you read the first line of this post? <br />Fact: Nashvilles BRT fight made headlines nationwide<br />Fact: Fresnos did not<br />Point: This article was intended to raise awareness of a similar issue elsewhere by reminding the reader of a story they probably did see. <br /><br />Its highly amusing how you took that one line to mean anything more than a connection between two similar stories (the fight against BRT). Trash talking Nasvhille? You've quite the fertile imagination there. With that kind of imagination, its no wonder no one buys your "facts". James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-51580028358504611182014-05-04T14:50:23.798-07:002014-05-04T14:50:23.798-07:00James Sinclair and Neil: You first mentioned Nashv...James Sinclair and Neil: You first mentioned Nashville BRT in your post, but do not consider THAT 'trolling'? You receive a response from someone who lives along the Nashville BRT route and dismiss it...because YOU believe THEY "troll" or create 'stories'? A few facts: The proposed Nashville BRT project has very little local public support (either among riders in the corridor, or from the businesses along the route). The local bus company did not perform a Likely Daily Ridership Survey. No Feasibility Study. No Alternatives Analysis (or most of the required Environmental Studies within an AA). Basically: they bypassed citizen "buy in" - even citizen notification. Now they are paying the price for that 'mistake'. The proposed BRT project in Nashville has a lot of hyped support from those who don't live here, and from those who will personally profit if such a project is built (land near the proposed passenger stations have been rezoned for "friends" of the local land use department). The Chamber of Commerce is primarily pushing this project to serve tourists (and asks that it be funded by those who live here). Regular buses on this corridor ARE nearly completely empty (that is NOT a myth). According to local government stats, 2% of citizens in the whole county use any type of "transit" here. We do not benefit from accurate transit Ridership numbers, either! Ask our local bus company. That would be same group of unelected city officials who operate the regional transit system (which got in trouble a few years ago, over low ridership and lack of dedicated operating funds). Tennessee is a state which does not have ANY dedicated funds for ANY type of "transit", much less gold standard BRT. The local bus company bypassed the approval process of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, because they could. The local bus company proposed to build within the existing road Right Of Way, and thought adding 16 traffic lights (for the MIDBLOCK stations) within a 7 mile route and prohibiting left turns along most of the route was not an adverse impact to the 4 highways the route crosses over. The local bus company performed a second round of traffic studies (after initial bus company study revealed a 100% increase in auto trip times --- due to lane capacity reduction!). The second round of traffic studies reported zero impact to autos on the route as well as discounting any impact to side street travel. Our MTA CEO recently resigned and took a job in Fort Worth TX (told Texans he exited Nashville over the lack of dedicated funds for transit). The Feds are now analyzing all of the shoddy engineering "work" already submitted to them (certified, BTW, by that ex-MTA CEO, as conforming to FTA standards). Before you start trash talking those in Nashville who do not support the BRT project: know that we've had a push to find ways to fund transit for more than 8 years and come up with NO ANSWERS. Portland OR, Eugene OR, Chicago IL, Nashville TN, Bethesda MD, Berkley and now Fresno, CA are communities trying to figure out whether to pay for a very poor transit design which carries few people and hurts businesses along the route. Let's agree to focus on realistic solutions to resolve "infrastructure" problems. The gold standard BRT has exhausted it's initial support here in Nashville, TN.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-66964824202647617722014-05-02T22:25:51.114-07:002014-05-02T22:25:51.114-07:00I love the "bus is empty" myth. It shows...I love the "bus is empty" myth. It shows absolutely no knowledge of how bus systems work. I also find it interesting that youre trolling the internet to spread said myths. James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-38463096134866720342014-05-02T12:32:21.795-07:002014-05-02T12:32:21.795-07:00Having killed the project, yet still trolling a Fr...Having killed the project, yet still trolling a Fresno based blog? Methinks the lady doth protest too much...Neilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-62236342069595084122014-04-30T07:51:01.806-07:002014-04-30T07:51:01.806-07:00I'm not sure why you should feel such an affin...I'm not sure why you should feel such an affinity towards Nashville's BRT fight - you're not here and you don't know the details, nor have you apparently taken the time to really read the objections. We already HAVE plenty of buses going down the West End/Broadway corridor that are EMPTY. There is no need for an AMP/BRT when the existing public transportation is barely being used. The StopAMP group is not opposed to mass transit -- we just want to be judicious in spending our limited funds and believe that these monies should be used to provide transportation where NONE exists, not to duplicate a route already served in the name of being progressive.Lisa Kinakinhttp://www.stopamp.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-62606496705660395162014-04-25T20:13:28.827-07:002014-04-25T20:13:28.827-07:00No bus lanes and no stations w/ level boarding? Th...No bus lanes and no stations w/ level boarding? That's not BRT at all, that's just a set of new buses. Rally the forces, I don't think it'll be hard to find any number of willing plaintiffs to bring the lawsuits against the City that are about to stack up. Which the City WILL lose and which will almost certainly end up costing taxpayers far more in (losing) legal fees than it would've cost to implement the original BRT in the first place. To say nothing of the lost grants. While they're at it, sue the developer of that evaporation pond.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-62195027050858188672014-04-25T15:45:17.476-07:002014-04-25T15:45:17.476-07:00A small-town mentality without any of the actual n...A small-town mentality without any of the actual nice attributes of an actual small town... ><<br /><br />How on earth did the U.S. manage to screw itself up so comprehensively...?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12341201158832109978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-82935305806883998762014-04-23T19:20:23.551-07:002014-04-23T19:20:23.551-07:00As much as it hurts, you guys should definitely wr...As much as it hurts, you guys should definitely write all funders to pull their funding unless true BRT features return to the design. Perhaps the recency is the reason they've yet to make it known to the City that the proposed changes would disqualify the eligibility of the project for the funds? After all, they made sure that Cincinnati know under no uncertain terms that their streetcar money wasn't able to be redirected however the City felt like if the streetcar project was cancelled. It seems that the Fresno BRT project is also cancelled since it lacks any actual BRT, so the funding sources should send the same message to Fresno. Which will be interesting to see considering the latest CalEnviroScreen results showing Fresno as having some of the worst communities in the state.marvenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16353100816207270847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-20309770408260445032014-04-23T10:20:53.856-07:002014-04-23T10:20:53.856-07:00I agree. I dont see why the funders would agree to...I agree. I dont see why the funders would agree to these changes James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-76343392940063668642014-04-23T07:34:44.793-07:002014-04-23T07:34:44.793-07:00Wow, seeing the hoops and hurdles other cities are...Wow, seeing the hoops and hurdles other cities are going through with their BRT projects makes me thankful that the sbX Green Line ("E St. Corridor"), which is set to officially open on Monday, actually got approved and built. Even if it has a few flaws (I'm not sure it'd even make Bronze on the official BRT scorecard, for example), it still includes enough features of a true BRT system to make a difference. Certainly, it has seen plenty of detractors and naysayers. Misinformation abounded, with even mayoral candidates questioning center stations as "accidents waiting to happen" and beleaguered businesses all scapegoating the construction. Nonetheless, the project has continued largely intact. Dedicated lanes, actual stations, 10 minute headway, etc. are all planned for day one; all the details are here:http://www.omnitrans-sbx.org/about/index.html. Other improvements will come over time as this is planned to be the first of an entire regional system of BRT (summary here: http://www.omnitrans.org/blog/2013/01/07/interest-grows-in-future-sbx-projects/). Good luck to you guys, though the Feds, AQMD, etc. should step in and demand that there be actually be more BRT features or they're going to pull out their funds from the project.marvenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16353100816207270847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-21267670262668108382014-04-21T23:00:39.993-07:002014-04-21T23:00:39.993-07:00I wouldnt hold up Bakersfield, and their plan to p...I wouldnt hold up Bakersfield, and their plan to push a new freeway through an existing neighborhood to encourage sprawl, as a model.<br /><br />Fresno already did that with the 180. James Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00948509061118072998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-44725491337136730012014-04-21T21:19:59.547-07:002014-04-21T21:19:59.547-07:00I was at the City Coucli meetting when they voted ...I was at the City Coucli meetting when they voted on this issue. The outcome totally doesn't surprise me. This city has a small town mentality and thats y Fresno will never progress as other citys will. Bakersfield is KILLInG us in terms of prgressive thinking and planning for the future. Fresnos' BRT will be a JOKE.Biracialbrothahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00476568075384570505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7280277691673459003.post-46483778395018951552014-04-21T13:09:41.218-07:002014-04-21T13:09:41.218-07:00Thanks for the intelligent insight on the Fresno B...Thanks for the intelligent insight on the Fresno BRT. I am disgusted at the lack of foresight and understanding Fresno elected officials have shown here with their decision to kill BRT. I hope there are political consequences for their elitist short-sighted mindset.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com