3A Public Hearing 2010 0517 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Livermore, Kathleen From: Roy Nakadegawa P.E., Former BART Director [rnakadegawa@myfastmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 1:33 AM To: Livermore, Kathleen Subject: BRT, Yes! Planning Commissioner Please support the continued efforts of planning staff to find a viable, BUILT "Locally Preferred Alternative" (or "LPA") for BRT . To really address any anticipated impacts, we need to understand how the project would be implemented in detail, on a block by block level. Developing an LPA would be the next necessary step to help us all better understand what specific issues need to be addressed before going forward with BRT, or not. We also need an LPA in place so that, if the city approves of BRT in the future, funding can be sought out and directed toward the project. I have mentioned in the past that a single two-way busway on Telegraph between Bancroft and Dwight Way is possible but have not heard any response to this idea. This will minimize the impact of other vehicle use of Telegraph Ave. It takes about a minute for a bus even traveling at 12 mph to traverse this section and if the peak headway during peak periods is 5 minutes, I believe it is possible. One may be concerned with buses bunching but if AC has good GPS system that locates where the buses are, by controlling the dwell time at each stop along the route at a minimum specific seconds which is a few seconds longer than all the passengers boarding, bunching could be minimized. With each stop held few seconds beyond the time all passengers board at most stops, then in cases where a stop needs more time for all to board at one stop, dwell time at subsequent stops can be made shorter, making up for the stop that took longer dwell time. This will keep the buses on schedule. Therefore, at 5 minute headway, with 1 minute for a bus to drive through this section between Bancroft to Dwight Way, the opposing bus will have a 4 minute window to enter this section in the opposite direction. There may be occasions where the opposing bus is considerably off schedule but with the Bancroft/Telegraph stop a major stop where dwell time will be longer, it is also near the beginning of this run, thereby, one could easily adjust to any developing system irregularity of schedule. As part of a BRT system, dedicated lanes will make transit service fast, frequent, and (most importantly) reliable. BRT with proof-of-payment systems, level all-door boarding and taking full advantage of signal priority could all work together to make transit a viable alternative that will be comparable to driving. It will transport more than three times the riders than the adjoining mixed-flow traffic will carry during peak periods relieving some of the congestion. However, BRT may also create congestion on the corridor but we will experience congestion in the near future since Telegraph is near capacity plus Cities are building to meet ABAG?s requirements of infilling and Caltrans is building the 4th Caldecott tunnel. With increased traffic parking will also increase the demand for parking but there is a question of addressing parking for we need to consider the reduction of the use of the car because of its emission and effect on Climate Change. We need to do a closer study of a full-build LPA, including dedicated lanes and stations which has the potential to address this GHG emission rather than maintaining status quo. 1