Council Approves Plans for Bus Rapid Transit System
County residents may soon see bus designated lanes pop up on area roads following the unanimous approval of the countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan by the Montgomery County Council Tuesday.
The plan establishes routes and possible station locations of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, with 80 percent of the buses having dedicated bus lanes.
The proposal recommends a network of BRT lines that would cover about 82 miles and 110 stations, not including the Corridor Cities Transitway.
Councilmember Nancy Floreen, while supportive of the plan, said she’s not sure how successful it’s going to be.
“Eighty-five percent of our residents don’t take Metro, they drive,” she said. “How is this going to affect them? Montgomery County is suburban and I think it’s going to stay that way.”
The master plan does not recommend specific approaches on how BRT would be implemented on certain routes. Decisions on reversible lanes (one direction in the morning peak and the opposite direction in the evening peak) or bi-directional lanes are still yet to be decided.
“I am pleased to see the transit master plan earn such strong support,” said Councilmember Hans Riemer, a member of the transportation committee. “Recognizing that most people will continue driving, this plan seeks to add fewer new cars to our roads in the future by gradually building a high quality public transportation alternative.”
Find more details on the master plan here.
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