Rapid bus lines are relatively inexpensive, in part because they often operate on existing roads and require less right of way. The Campbellton line will run in exclusive lanes for 92% of its route.
MARTA’s proposed Summerhill line along Capitol Avenue will operate in bus-only lanes for 85% of its route. Those exclusive lanes allow buses to bypass other vehicles stuck in the regular lanes. And they operate in bus-only lanes for much of their routes. Buses offer “level boarding” instead of stairs, making it easier for people with bikes or wheelchairs to board. Passengers board at stations with amenities such as benches, payment machines and real-time information about arrivals. MARTA officials say bus rapid transit can offer many features of rail without the expense - like a train on tires. It could cost substantially more today, given inflation. In 2020, MARTA estimated light rail costs up to $125 million a mile. Light rail is less expensive but not cheap. MARTA says it could cost $500 million per mile to extend its current heavy rail lines. They don’t get stuck in traffic, and they stop less frequently.īut rail lines serve a limited area and are expensive to build. MARTA trains are more reliable than buses. They run as often as every 10 minutes or as little as once an hour - if they’re on time. Often, the stops are little more than signposts. MARTA buses stop frequently as they crisscross the region. “Public transportation” in metro Atlanta has traditionally meant either local bus routes or MARTA rail service. Even if MARTA builds some new rail lines, bus rapid transit will be a big part of metro Atlanta’s transit future.Ī look at Indianapolis’ bus rapid transit service shows what that future might look like.Ĭredit: Miguel Martinez A train on tires? Transit officials and some transportation experts say bus rapid transit, if done well, provides the benefits of rail at a discount price. “These are intergenerational infrastructure investments,” said Matthew Rao, chair of the advocacy group Beltline Rail Now. They say it’s more reliable than bus rapid transit and more likely to spark the kind of dense urban development Atlanta needs as it adds hundreds of thousands of residents in coming years. Some transit supporters say rail is the best choice in the long run. MARTA has even cast doubt on long-sought plans for rail on the Atlanta Beltline after a study showed one segment could cost twice as much as expected. Now it’s signaling a growing interest in rapid buses for the line. The agency has long planned to build rail on the Clifton Corridor to the Emory University area. But after the Norfolk Southern railroad said it would not allow passenger trains in its corridor, MARTA is promoting bus rapid transit as an alternative - a key reason for this week’s Indianapolis trip. MARTA planned to build a commuter rail line in Clayton County. The decision didn’t sit well with some residents, who fear they’ll be stuck with buses while wealthier areas get trains. MARTA recently picked rapid buses over light rail for its Campbellton Road line in southwest Atlanta. But the momentum appears to be with bus rapid transit.
In Atlanta, Deputy Manager Josh Rowan said MARTA officials are keeping an open mind about whether light rail or rapid buses make sense for a variety of transit projects. And critics say it has hindered motorists driving along the route. “It would have been an hour driving because of traffic,” she said on a recent afternoon.īut the transit line has had setbacks that have disrupted service. It took her just 30 minutes to get to an internship this summer. Abigail Wittenmyer, a University of Indianapolis student, rides the bus a couple of times a week. Transit supporters in Indianapolis say its 3-year-old Red Line has been a boon to the community.
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