10-27-2014, 09:54 AM
(10-26-2014, 11:35 AM)Spokes Wrote: Looks like it could be similar to Ottawa's current BRT system. My guess is they decided that given transit usage there LRT wasn't worth the money.
It's not much like Ottawa's system at all, actually!
Yes, VIVA is building a BRT corridor along Highway 7, but the differences are significant.
York region considered LRT, but decided that BRT would be more cost efficient. They have a lot of kilometres to cover, and have focused on making sure they can afford to build it out. Highway 7 has been getting very congested, so something had to be built, but they've been struggling with ensuring strong ridership in a traditionally car-centric region of the GTA. They've made the hard choice of going with BRT to ensure that there is rapid transit, while dealing with the realities of budget and ridership.
Comparing it to Ottawa, they each have pieces of of the BRT puzzle, but each focuses on different things:
Ottawa's BRT is largely grade separated, except at the periphery, and a few blocks downtown. VIVA's is just a centre median corridor, without any grade separation.
Ottawa's frequently has stops at bus-malls, where multiple routes hub-and-spoke from. VIVA's is more about providing an excellent (future-proofed) service along Highway 7, instead of having routes converging on hubs.
VIVA has off-board fare payment quite universally. Ottawa still requires anyone without at pass to enter at the front door to pay.
All-door loading is only used in Ottawa at rush hours, in busy locations. I'm not sure of VIVA's policy on that.
VIVA's buses sure look a lot more swank than Ottawa's!