How rapid bus transit, light rail transit work in other cities
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 16, 2008)
Rapid transit is coming to Hamilton. There are two options for a new transportation system; rapid bus transit (RBT) and light rail transit (LRT).
Some North American cities have already been using these systems for years. Here's how it works for them.
Minneapolis
Population: 3.2 million
LRT since 2004
* 26.4 kilometres of track
* In 2007, 9.1 million people rode the LRT system compared to 7.9 million in 2005, according to a survey by Metro Transit.
* 27,000 people ride the train on a weekday.
* 80 per cent of people riding the train are car owners.
* 34 per cent of riders make approximately $70,000 a year.
* 49 per cent of weekday riders take the train five days a week.
* 45 per cent of the riders are between 35 and 54 years old.
According to Bob Gibbons, director of customer services at Metro Transit, the light rail system in Minneapolis cost $715.3 million to build.
Operating costs are projected at $24.3 million for 2008. $9.2 million comes from fares, $5.3 million from the state, $5.3 million from the county, $3.7 million from car sales tax and the remaining $800,000 from advertising.
Portland, Ore.
Population: 2 million
MAX LRS
The first light rail system opened in 1985. There is now almost 100 kilometres of track.
* 34 million people rode the light rail system in 2007.
* 104,200 people ride the light rail system on a weekday.
* A two-car light rail vehicle carries 266 people.
Since the 1980s when the rail was first built, there has been more than $6 billion in development within walking distance of the LRT stations.
"Developers like the permanence of a rail when investing millions into a building," said Peggy LaPoint, a transit public information officer.
Calgary
Population: 1.1 million
Rapid bus transit since 2003
Light rail transit since 1981
* 36 stations along 42.1 kilometres of track.
* 270,000 people take the Calgary LRT system on a weekday.
* Ridership on the LRT has doubled in the past 10 years.
According to Rob Collins, spokesperson for Calgary Transit, more than 90 million people used the Calgary public transit system last year.
The rapid bus system was a cheaper way to boost transit in the city, but Calgary is replacing the buses with light rail service as it receives the funding for it.
Ottawa
Population: 1.2 million
Transitway rapid bus transit
* 240,000 people ride the Transit bus system on a weekday.
* 175 buses run per hour.
* During peak hours, as many as 10,000 people will ride the bus.
* 95.6 million people used the public transit system in Ottawa last year.
Ottawa has eight kilometres of light rail track and plans to expand, said Vincent Patterson, manager of performance at OC Transpo, which runs the transit system.
http://thespec.com/article/355158