Finding DC's Best BRT

[@JJRol.]

Thanks for some positive transit videos on the day after election day. As for the actual video, I'd say Flash is maybe better, just with connectivity, but it does lack that infrastructure. What I do think we need is BRT (or even better, metro) along Georgia Ave or 16th St in DC to Silver Spring (I might be a little biased as someone who visits Silver Spring often), but these routes are super busy. Also, one along the OR/SV corridor from Rosslyn-WFC, not necessarily along but perpendicular? While they do that, also some to PGC!

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah, glad I finished editing this yesterday. I couldn’t really do much today 😢

[@JJRol.]

@@Thom-TRA Best of luck. Keep up the DC tradition of having miserable weather on inauguration and having no one show up. And don't let Trump keep it taxation without representation.

[@lylelanley18]

@@Thom-TRA nor could I… 😢

[@mrvwbug4423]

Ironically my only experience with BRT was an actual BRT system, the LA Metro G line. I always got a chuckle out of that one as it was actually built along the ROW of a former Pacific Electric Red Car line. But it runs on a fully dedicated busway that even has gated level crossings like a rail line.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’ve been on the J line but would like to ride the G line someday

[@sprint113]

If I remember correctly, a lot of the existing infrastructure for Metroway was originally going to be for a streetcar system run by Arlington and then possibly extending into Alexandria. The first part was going to be along Columbia Pike but those plans lacked dedicated ROW or any other benefits over standard bus. Cost overruns, lack of obvious benefits and other things and the project got nixed in 2014, taking down the entire streetcar plan.

[@Thom-TRA]

I remember reading about the Columbia pike light rail (what a game changer that would have been if that had actually been planned right)

[@jyutzler]

​@@Thom-TRA Planners did not do their due-diligence. They should have realized that due to VDOT's car-brain, removing a travel lane was never going to get approval. A decade later, VDOT still hasn't changed and that is why Rt. 1 is being widened to support BRT.

[@chief1b]

Having lived in the White Oak area in the 90's, Flash is a good idea. But I agree that they should have a dedicated bus lane ESPECIALLY during rush hours. Route 29 can be a real BEAR!

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah I was surprised how fast it went outside of rush hour so I guess that’s good at least

[@Kishanth.J]

I live in Ottawa, which had the original Transitway in NA. I also had a fascination with BRT systems. These system look so cool.

[@gdrriley420]

I’m happy AC transit in the SF bay has strict standards for what they call rapid bus and BRT with more modest improvements labeled enhanced bus. We’ve got 1 BRT line along with a few rapid buses.

[@rileyburnett720]

Not everywhere in California. Monterey Salinas Transit was originally referring to the Jazz Lines as BRT. But it’s doesn’t have any features of BRTs. It’s basically just a limited stop bus. Yes there a few places that the bus can go before traffic but the city turned one off (not sure why) I also heard that the buses can change the lights if running late though not sure if that true. But there are no dedicated bus lanes (no room for them, without going into private business property or taking away the parking lane) However they are going to do a full BRT in the next few year. That should have dedicated bus ways and better stations.

[@gdrriley420]

@ I was specifically referring to ACT. Surf in its current form is frustrating we should be seeing bus+rail+train and instead CCC is forcing bus to cover the rail line. Looked like new ties, ballasts and fix the bridge and limited service could resume

[@michaelb9629]

I just heard that CARTA in Chattanooga is proposing a BRT line that would connect Brainerd Rd and the Lee Hwy Corridor. That would be exciting alright!

[@bareth_]

I go to silver spring every week and i never knew that the "cooler + longer" flash buses were actually a brt service, comes to show the lack of infrastructure. Route 71 in shanghai is a "true" brt service.

[@rikkichunn8856]

A great video, Thom! As usual, you described the pluses and minuses, very accurately and concisely. Way to go!

[@mxhe9457]

My favourite BRT is the Mississauga Transitway west of Toronto. The stations are super high quality, mostly grade separated, decent service.

[@Kishanth.J]

Love the Milway, wish it had more bus service.

[@MrBusDriver804]

Honestly yes MetorWay is the first BRT line in Virginia. But a true BRT is in Richmond,Va with plans of expanding its current line west of its existing service. Also planing on doing a North South BRT line. And they are revamping thier fleet to XN60s in a few months

[@brucearthur5108]

I was living near the Braddock Road Metro station when Metroway launched. It was a convenient way of getting to Potomac Yard before the Potomac Yard metro station opened. Nobody rides it and at this point it is something of an embarrassment. I haven't tried lobbying the government to build more BRT in Virginia, but if I did I imagine somebody would quickly pull up statistics on low Metroway ridership and financial losses on Metroway service and that would be the end of that.

[@jyutzler]

I wouldn't say no one, but it's never busy either.

[@jbirzer]

There are plans to have a BRT on Rt 7 from Spring Hill Metro to the Mark Center.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

Really wish we had more dedicated bus lanes in DC. The buses on 14th & 16th NW are always packed, often to standing room only, and they always seem to be off schedule. Sometimes with very long gaps between buses.

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s pretty tragic in some places. I especially hate when a bunch run really close together. It’s not even always bunching, because sometimes I see them leave simultaneously from the terminus.

[@matthewconstantine5015]

@@Thom-TRA the S2 & S9 have that problem. I think they usually run about every 20 minutes, and they typically run within a minute of each other. Even though the S9 is an "express," they rarely get separated between Silver Spring and Downtown.

[@GabrielsReviews]

20:10 Yes , I agree with that . Just call it an express bus or something

[@JoshDoesTravel]

The FLASH is an absolute joke of a BRT route. Yes it makes fewer stops, has dedicated buses, and has nicer stations, but that’s it. As you pointed out, there’s no bus lanes along the entirety of US 29, which gets absolutely jammed during rush hour There were plans to make dedicated bus lanes, however NIMBYs insisted it would make traffic worse to remove a lane for cars, and so they weren’t adopted. Instead, the FLASH buses are authorized to use the shoulder on the northern portions of its route (I believe Tech Road is the boundary), but even then it doesn’t save much time compared to driving Hopefully the county will rectify this at some point, cause it’s such a missed opportunity not having a truly efficient way to travel between Burtonsville and Silver Spring

[@Thom-TRA]

Glad to hear someone confirm my suspicions

[@pavelow235]

Deep down there is still a desire to turn 29 into a parallel I-95.

[@LFELEV]

Definitely love the Sleek-Looking Novas on the Flash. They appear in stark contrast to the Box-Like Gilligs used on the regular Ride-On Services. Now, there has to be a solution for future FLASH Lines, because not only does Nova not make an articulated Electric bus, they are also withdrawing from the US Market next year. Future orders will most likely be NFI XE60s or BYD K11Ms, unless Gillig does make an articulated bus.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m excited to see that little fleet of electric Novas that are coming to WMATA sometime in the next few years

[@AdiposeExpress]

I suspect electric New Flyer Excelsiors are most likely, considering Madison uses them on their new BRT system.

[@joannebarber4845]

Thanks for making this video. My sister came back to Alexandria for a visit and it was hard to describe the Metroway

[@Thom-TRA]

A blue bus. But not like the other blue buses. Different blue. And it’s metro. But not like the other metro buses. A different metro bus.

[@joannebarber4845]

@@Thom-TRA I use Metroway when I need to go to Potomac Yard from work. when my siste left town Potomac Yard wasn't as posh.

[@twicesaida6482]

Thank you so much, Thom, and have a good night.

[@JamaalGermaine]

That happen to Oakland ac transit tempo

[@JamaalGermaine]

Tempo is a bus rapid transit

[@nelsonramos5826]

Thanks I appreciate about metroway wm1 and flash 😊

[@nelsonramos5826]

U cope me 😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@ECDT1089-EtheLamborghini]

Fantastic video. I always did like the Metroway (A1X eventually) because of the infrastructure.

[@Thom-TRA]

It’ll take a while for me to get used to A1X

[@EddieLeindecker-re1hg]

Hey Tom, great video as always I absolutely love your explanations of BRT what you like and what you don’t like about it I live in Pittsburgh and they are in the process of building a bus, rapid transit system here called the university line The project was supposed to be completed in 2021 and cost almost $200 million now it is not scheduled to be completed until 2027 and it’s going to cost almost $300 million for that price, I think they could extend our light rail system However, we do have a really good network of bus only roadways. We have the Martin Luther King Jr. East busway which was built in 1983 the west Bus Way which was opened in the early 2000s and the original very first busway that was built in Pittsburgh the south busway which was built in 1977. I use the E. Bus Way quite frequently to visit friends and go to doctors appointment in the eastern neighborhoods of Pittsburgh and the service is frequent and very reliable

[@robertlunderwood]

The busways are proper BRT. The only things really missing are off board payment, but given the neighborhoods the East and West Busways pass through, I wouldn't recommend it.

[@swinget]

12:00 look at all those chickens

[@jmharper60]

A unique and unlikely place for a BRT line is the VelociRFTA service between Aspen, CO and Glenwood Springs, 40 miles to the northwest. It connects relatively affordable bedroom communities with the pricey resort towns of Aspen and Snowmass with fairly frequent service. The entire transit system in the area is quite impressive, with a comprehensive route system with frequent services, most of which are free.

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m going to look this up!

[@WheelchairGuyHobbyChannel]

Can’t wait until next week for another TRAINS ARE AWESOME video about BUSES.

[@NausicaaSinclair]

I love it personally

[@pavelow235]

content is content, don't hate.

[@CoasterComedy]

I love it. I don’t really care about trains but I love busses

[@R262SubwayCar1]

2:30 Gotta Hate when drivers blocking the bus

[@johndemcko8585]

The hours of operation for the FLASH Blue Line sound similar to that of Phoenix's RAPID routes. They are also enhanced commuter buses rather than a "BRT."

[@teecefamilykent]

Great video sir, rt is great, when done r.

[@PiplupJames]

Metroway: I would like to see it expand at least to King Street Metro Station and/or expand (or consolidate) the REX line and begin the northern end at Pentagon Metro. Flash: original orange/blue has no dedicated lanes rn which is personally points off for my BRT standards. Can’t wait for the other lines, which should include dedicated lanes. Btw I love Silver Spring Station because of the Penguin art🐧

[@TheGAMWolferz]

I’ve used Metroway a few times. It is nowhere near a true BRT. It feels like an enhanced bus route. I imagine I would have a similar feeling if I use Flash. There are BRT systems that are being planned in Northern Virginia. The ones for Route 7 and West End Alexandria have gone no where. Then there’s another Route 1 BRT that goes from Huntington to Fort Belvoir that’s going to replace REX. It will be mostly have a dedicated lane across Richmond highway, which is a major plus. And if it all goes well the DC area might have its first True BRT system, even though I think Light Rail or a Metro Rail would truly help that area.

[@jyutzler]

I'm glad you hammered Metroway for lack of signal priority. I've been complaining about that for 10 years.

[@Thom-TRA]

It’s insane because they have the signals. They have what they need. They just don’t do it.

[@tomo-tawa-linja]

"you don't have to request a stop, it's more like a train" **sad VTA noises**

[@Thom-TRA]

VTA is… a special case lol

[@bucketcreature]

im intrigued by the little back and forth light thingy on the top of the metroway bus

[@Thom-TRA]

All WMATA buses have it

[@dodge1515]

Yeah, that garage is the Four Mile Run bus depot. There's the Metrobus side and the ARTransit side. Been a CNG bus depot since 2005.

[@Thom-TRA]

Used to be an old amusement park back in the streetcar days!

[@dodge1515]

@Thom-TRA When did it become a bus depot? When WMATA took over in 1973?

[@paulcastillo1310]

Great video on brt

[@Thom-TRA]

Thank you!

[@paulcastillo1310]

@@Thom-TRA your welcome

[@djpetesake]

The Flash livery reminds me of a tube of toothpaste haha! I am very much in favor of a bus that lets you bring your bike onboard. I wonder if they meant that's only allowed on the articulated Novas since the Gillig ones still have bike racks on the front...?

[@Thom-TRA]

Or a box of crayons! And yes, I was wondering the same thing about the gilligs

[@michaelengelhardt5336]

I used to ride metroway all the time from Pentagon City to Potomac Yard. Now that the metro opened there i think its usefulness has definitly gone down. Really only a couple of stretches now not within walking distance of a metro station.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah I only really use it to get to del ray

[@RBMD2A]

Sarbanes Transit Center. When I moved to the area in 2009 it was a big hole. It looks like the rework has been completed.

[@toonynelson3103]

I ALL READY KNOW THIS VIDEO IS GOING TO BE GOOD I HAVENT EVEN SEEN IT YET RHAAAAA

[@Thom-TRA]

Yay!

[@toonynelson3103]

@ YAY INDEED

[@robertlunderwood]

I used to ride Metroway whenever I had to go to Potomac Yard. Then the station opened.

[@canardeur8390]

@12:12 "Full wrap over the window" ... which should be prohibited for obvious safety reasons!

[@clsumjr]

Well I live in BALTIMORE and at least THE DC areas are improving their transit system. Wishing BALTIMORE CITY would do the same. QUICKBUS back then was a good step in the right direction

[@Thom-TRA]

Alsobrooks winning the senate election in MD is probably a good thing for transit in Baltimore!

[@AddieDirectsTV]

You need to come do the Twin Cities BRT lines!

[@captainminecraft631]

I like it how the Trains are Awesome intro actually looks somewhat good, but the Buses are Awesome intro looks like something made through PowToon in 15 minutes. Btw, I think all rapid transit is great. After all, you don’t need a car.

[@Thom-TRA]

Somewhat good? Geez, what a compliment

[@DanHominem]

I haven't had a chance to try Flash yet, but Metroway is useful but disappointing. I spend a lot of time in South Arlington and find it useful to get around. The time tables are useless in my experience, the buses arrive when they feel like it

[@Thom-TRA]

Yep, I get out of class at the same time every week in DC and yet the buses are never always running at the same time

[@JoeyO_202]

I use Metroway few times a month. It’s good. 👍🏻

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah I’d say I use it about once a month. There’s a nice little Aldi in Del Ray.

[@TSSaale]

If you have extra buses for one line, you should only use them there. BTW, I think Flash's color scheme is really awesome, but I don't think the timing on both lines is very worthy of a BRT.

[@MJofLakelandX]

The only way FLASH **bang** ever becomes a true BRT is if US-29 is given dedicated lanes throughout it's entirety... and maybe the proposed connection to Columbia, but good luck getting MDOT to do anything productive since funding is becoming even more stagnant.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah Maryland transit funding is depressing

[@BlkWallSt757]

Can you make a video for the nearby Pulse BRT in Richmond?

[@Thom-TRA]

Maybe someday

[@AtlanteanAN69]

Compared to what we have here in the UK and Europe, the interiors of those buses looked very dated, possibly like something from the 19070s or '80s, and bell cords haven't been fitted on new buses over here since at least the 1960s.

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah buses in the US are of terrible quality. They rattle so much.

[@rideguide]

Why do the buses stop so far away from the curb?

[@haj8579]

I think lack of dedicated lanes in BRT systems is an universal problem. If people see a rail, they easily understand that the space is not for their cars. On the other hand, bus lanes usually does not have enough visual impact to imprint that this is for only certain vehicles. So people easily start to complain about "why can't we drive on this lane" or at "why doesn't the bus line to my home use this". That can be a possibility of a political risk for local politicians, and that would lead to lack of will to invest on more dedicated lanes. P.S. When I lived in US,I used to complain about how most high class bus or LRT stops have only roofs and are not transparent shelter style. But after I reminded that many American homelesses use to pee on places like that, I stopped thinking in that way💀

[@Thom-TRA]

Yep, paint is not infrastructure people

[@rosecitybusman129]

I would like to see a Portland Metro Area BRT Battle TriMet’s FX Vs C-Tran’s Vine

[@Thom-TRA]

If I come back to Portland maybe!

[@yansun2531]

Do a UVX vs OGX in Utah.

[@jeffh5903]

I’m certain as a transit enthusiast you’ve seen this, but I’ve been obsessed with the BRT system they have in Adelaide Australia. They call it the O-Bahn and it was crazy ahead of its time (at least by US standards). I could imagine a newer system like this where the busses drive themselves on dedicated roadways, with the little guide wheels, but the busses are battery/electric. Use battery around the city, but install overhead wires for the long guideway drives so the batteries can charge. Here’s the video I’m obsessed with. Would be an epic trip to go see it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp2Wi5d_h9x0p68si=_j6vzPg2Nrobjlqq

[@Thom-TRA]

I believe there’s a few similar systems in Germany and the UK! And of course, the Yutorito line in Japan, which is truly bizarre. So much cool stuff around the world!

[@johnfriel-uj2zs]

Outstanding Video As Usual 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 Alot. To Explain With The Systems Across Different Jurisdictions 😊😅

[@peterwarner358]

You should do a video in CHI on the J14 "Jeffrey Jump" BRT

[@stevesteffen7001]

interesting

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks

[@AMPProf]

Road trains

[@whsxc12]

I think ct fastrak in Connecticut was rated the best in the country

[@My-Opinion-Doesnt-Matter]

No bus lane = not BRT.

[@rikkichunn8856]

I had to really think about this. Because it's no criticism of you, Thom, or your wonderful team, or for that matter anyone else. There's an irony about buses, because they can go anywhere that it's paved--streets, roads, freeways, parking lots, dedicated busways--you name it. So the temptation the busway has for the local transit agency (that might well be strapped for cash) is to slap a new coat of paint on some buses, give the line a new route number, throw together some quickie shelters, and call it BRT! And who's going to say it's not--except for Thom and a few other vigilant amateurs. The pros in the next county aren't going to; they're eyeing the new "BRT" and thinking to themselves, "Hmm, we could build one too, and get millions of dollars in grant money! I would like to include myself among the vigilant amateurs, but I'm not even sure what a BRT is. If you take a first-class BRT line with dedicated right of way, and nice stations that are handicapped accessible, and so on, and then extend the bus lines beyond the end of the busway into the surrounding neighborhoods on surface streets making regular local stops, is it still BRT? The definition of BRT is too flexible! Now I see the next problem right away. Joe Rider reads about the new "BRT" and decides to take it to work, for example. And he discovers that, beyond new paint and signage, and premium fare, the "BRT" is no different than the ordinary bus he used to avoid taking except when his car was in the shop. Of course, the experience is going to sour him on BRT--and there goes ridership. And I think that had already happened to some extent. There was a wave of new BRT systems, and then after the newness wore off, the ardor cooled a little. So the answer may be for someone to copyright the term BRT (or some similar flashy new term) and write down well-thought-out rules that a system has to follow to be able to call itself a BRT. This would make sure that only systems that truly were BRTs could call themselves that. So the rider would have some idea what they were boarding, beyond the colorful brochures and glowing videos. Is it too late? I hope not. Because the BRT idea has a lot of potential.

[@Thom-TRA]

Excellent point! It’s borderline false advertising

[@johngorman6641]

def not the Flash - C.E. Elrich crippled it by removing the bus lanes. WMATA also cut service on Colesville after the Flash started so most stations have less service now.

[@nose10620]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@kirillboyko9208]

i guess if you take a regular bus, and paint it nicely, you can call it a BRT in Montgomery County... seems like more of a marketing gimmick than an actual BRT.

[@Thom-TRA]

I mean, it’s a little more than that, but yeah, it had a long ways to go

[@gregng25]

lol, “a good bus”

[@Thom-TRA]

No need for fancy terms when old fashioned words will do

[@gregng25]

@@Thom-TRA So true. Especially when there aren't dedicated lanes with signal priority, lol

[@frankrambo9430]

The election brought sad news for transit riders as the dedicated penny sales tax in Cobb County, GA was resoundingly defeated. People just didn't want a new tax for anything. So we don't get BRT, ART, countywide microtransit, or new transfer centers. It was going to be a tough sell with CobbLinc ridership way down and folks not understanding the reason behind the long time horizon for the tax. (For bonding purposes to match federal transit dollars) Nice to see some BRT efforts other places even if not perfect.

[@Thom-TRA]

The election was just sad across the board

[@frankrambo9430]

​@@Thom-TRAUnfortunately true.

[@Trainsaregreat365]

BRT

[@jdillon8360]

What do you know, the first bus you want to board is held up by an illegally parked car. Welcome to north america, right?