Peter Samuel, editor of TollRoads News (http://tolroadsnews.com) in Frederick MD says BRT is not only cheaper, it can actually carry more pasengers than heavy rail:
“Contrary to the incessant pro-rail propaganda, express buses provide greater capacity
than trains.
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“Round numbers: a freely running expressway lane running express buses can carry 800
busnes/hour (4.5 second headways); with 40 people each, that gives you 32,000 people/hour,
compared to trains at 3-minute headways, 20 per hour, with say 1,000 people in each =
20,000 people/hour.
“The Express Bus Lane from New York’s Lincoln Tunnel to the bus terminal at 41st and
8th Ave. operated by PANYNJ has been beating the volumes of most subway lines for years
and they get tolls from the buses! They spent the grand total of $3 million or something setting
it up, so it’s a real financial bonanza – kinda sidelines the NY/NJ pols. No need for rail pork on
Capitol Hill.”
Mmmmmmm. BRT is cheaper, it carries more passengers than heavy rail, can actually produce revenue instead of consuming it, and bypasses not only the local pols but also the favor factory on Capitol Hill. No wonder the
scheming powers-that-be in Northern Virginia want nothing to do with it!
