The Across Latitudes and Cultures BRT Centre of Excellence invites to its monthly webinar series to share timely public transit research and encourage ongoing collaboration. Our October Webinar will be:
“BRT Station Design in the Urban Context”
Presented by Chris Van Eyken on October 24th, 8:00 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC -4:00). Chris is Senior Planner at Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
For future webinars, you can register here to be noticed. Below you can find the Video and Slides from this webinar, and here from previous meetings.
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Summary:
In Boston, ITDP US has been working to make the case for building a gold standard BRT network. This historic city has fallen behind in expanding its rapid transit system to provide all its citizens with a reliable and timely commute. The existing metro system struggles to meet the needs of a growing population and its local bus service is slow and unreliable. The construction of a bus rapid transit system would provide a cost effective means of expanding the capacity of the existing rapid transit system and extending its reach into underserved neighborhoods.
A key challenge to constructing BRT in Boston is the city’s narrow streets. The historic center was constructed before the invention of the automobile, and therefore, the city does not possess the generous rights-of-way seen in many American cities. The corridors where BRT would prove most useful, however, are found on these narrow streets. As is true in many cities around the world, the places where demand is highest are the places where street space is most limited. How can Boston accommodate bus rapid transit on its narrowest streets? How can planners make the case for taking road space away from cars to better public transport systems?
To solve this problem, we have looked to examples provided abroad. Transmilenio’s Eje Ambiental has proven a strong example of how Boston can accommodate BRT while providing new public space. Metrobus Line 4 has shown how bus improvements can be made to complement historic preservation. How can we take the lessons learned from these systems and others and apply them in Boston?
Bio:
Chris joined ITDP’s US and Africa programs in February 2013. As a member of the US & Africa programs, he has provided technical assistance for bus rapid transit projects in the United States, Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda. In addition to his work on BRT projects, he has contributed to non-motorized transport projects in the United States and East Africa. He holds a master’s degree in urban planning from Hunter College and a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from The George Washington University.
