[JACKinBeantown]

I can definitely see your point about BRT. But if there's a rail it could eventually connect to the overall rail network without the need for passengers to get on and off the bus. Trains can carry far more passengers than buses and the SA/Austin metro-grande will hit 5 million in the not too distant future. If designed properly, a BRT lane could be converted to rail at some future date. In any case, a dedicated lane in each direction for rail or BRT would be nice. There would, of course, be people (and oil companies) who would argue against it.