Texas State Capitol
Innovative Transportation Ideas Should Be Tried
RECEIVED Tue., April 22, 2008
Dear Editor,
As a follow-up to Skip Cameron's letter [“Postmarks,” April 18], I would like to note that the website he referred to (www.cmt4austin.org) mentions Curitiba, Brazil, but does not elaborate on a key component of Curitiba's success – bus boarding platforms. Paying at the bus door, as is done in Austin, forces passengers to enter through one narrow door – a process that takes several seconds per passenger. When the bus is full, these several seconds translate into substantial delays.
The boarding platform involves people paying to get onto a raised platform. The bus then arrives, and four wide doors open, as on a subway car, to allow large numbers of people to enter and leave in a few seconds.
Transport systems such as Curitiba's can be installed in stages, as Mexico City did. If large numbers of people are moving along one route, as from North and South Austin to Downtown, the Capitol, and the University of Texas, a single bus line with dedicated bus-only lanes can enormously relieve congestion and cut travel time. In Mexico City, the single line was so successful that cross routes are now being installed, fleshing out the system, as was done in Curitiba and in Richard Schultz's model.
Before spending millions of dollars on sleek buses on Lamar, which will be little used because they will be stuck in traffic, I would like to extend an invitation to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and Cap Metro members and their staffs – I will accompany you to Mexico City and set up an interview with their transit authority so you can witness a proven, cost-effective method for urban transport. After that, you can make an informed choice on spending our tax money.
As a follow-up to Skip Cameron's letter [“Postmarks,” April 18], I would like to note that the website he referred to (www.cmt4austin.org) mentions Curitiba, Brazil, but does not elaborate on a key component of Curitiba's success – bus boarding platforms. Paying at the bus door, as is done in Austin, forces passengers to enter through one narrow door – a process that takes several seconds per passenger. When the bus is full, these several seconds translate into substantial delays.
The boarding platform involves people paying to get onto a raised platform. The bus then arrives, and four wide doors open, as on a subway car, to allow large numbers of people to enter and leave in a few seconds.
Transport systems such as Curitiba's can be installed in stages, as Mexico City did. If large numbers of people are moving along one route, as from North and South Austin to Downtown, the Capitol, and the University of Texas, a single bus line with dedicated bus-only lanes can enormously relieve congestion and cut travel time. In Mexico City, the single line was so successful that cross routes are now being installed, fleshing out the system, as was done in Curitiba and in Richard Schultz's model.
Before spending millions of dollars on sleek buses on Lamar, which will be little used because they will be stuck in traffic, I would like to extend an invitation to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and Cap Metro members and their staffs – I will accompany you to Mexico City and set up an interview with their transit authority so you can witness a proven, cost-effective method for urban transport. After that, you can make an informed choice on spending our tax money.
Philip Russell