Photo by Annie Weinstock, ITDP
An Emerald Express vehicle, stopped at a station in Eugene, Oregon
MPC is highlighting true BRT practices in the United States with a series of case studies based on the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy report, Recapturing Global Leadership in Bus Rapid Transit. On Aug. 17, 2011, MPC will release its own report Bus Rapid Transit: Chicago’s New Route to Opportunity. Register for the event today.
MPC Research Assistant James Szczybor contributed to this post.
Eugene, Oregon
Name: Emerald Express ( EmX )
Managing Entity: Lane Transit District ( LTD )
Opening Year: 2007
System Length: 4 miles / 1.6 miles with dedicated running way
Key characteristics:
Off-board fare collection, near-level boarding,
dedicated bus only lanes along 1.6 miles of system
Average bus speeds along corridor before:
11.5 mph
Average bus speeds along corridor after:
15 mph
Speed increase: 30.4 percent
Ridership increases:
74 percent (2,700 to 4,700daily riders )
Project Cost: $24 million
Cost per mile: $12 million / mile (for dedicated trunk line only, includes planning, engineering, and rolling stock costs)
Weekday Ridership: 9470
Experiencing implementation barriers, the EmX line in Eugene still plays a role in reducing congestion and providing efficient transportation for downtown commuting. Transit planners showed innovation when dealing with existing city ordinances that limited BRT’s potential. Nonetheless, EmX has decreased travel time while steadily increasing ridership.