Earlier today, Project Connect released a methodology memo (PDF version) providing an overview of their approach to estimating ridership. The memo raises three major concerns, which I describe below.
1. Ridership estimates use population growth assumptions unbound from empirical reality
The Project Connect team continues to based on where our …
[MORE]Yesterday, I joined an enthusiastic group of solution-minded Austinites at a CodeNEXT community input session. There were many great pro-reform speakers. Here's the presentation I delivered. Let's turn to the main points of the presentation and some additional ideas generated from discussion with defenders of the status quo.
1. Recent …
[MORE]The proposed urban rail route’s operational costs are too high. This will undermine the overall transit system by slowing down frequency increases for productive bus routes; it could potentially also lead to outright future cuts to system coverage. The likelihood that there could be an improvement in the outlook …
[MORE]Project Connect’s staff and consultants recommended against using Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in large part because of its inability to meet peak time needs as the Austin of 2030 and beyond keeps growing. However, upon closer inspection, BRT seems to have plenty of capacity to meet system needs.
Here …
[MORE]The initial ridership and cost estimates are in for the proposed Grove-Highland Rail (GHR) route. And they are thoroughly disappointing. Simply put, GHR will consume an enormous amount of our transit borrowing capacity without providing mobility at a meaningfully lower rider subsidy than regular bus service.
Previously, I’ve argued …
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