The bus lanes can be installed quickly, requiring minimal time and resources and offering a good return on investment, says a new report.
Laura Bliss reports on a new UCLA report that looks at "tactical transit lanes" in cities across the country. TTLs are dedicated bus lanes that are cheap and easy to install, often only requiring some paint or cones to separate the lane from other traffic.
"Based on interviews and surveys of dozens of city planners, [UCLA researchers] found that TTLs are often much shorter than BRT—less than a mile long, in many cases—and targeted to dense commuter corridors rather than being spread across entire regions," writes Bliss.
Some cities have put the lanes in as temporary, pilot projects to gauge their effectiveness and to garner public support. Outcome measures have shown decreased bus travel times, increased reliability, and improved traffic safety.
Enforcement is essential to the success of TTLs and cities need to get federal approval when necessary, notes Bliss. "But according to the report, even if they’re short, cheap, and a little DIY, dedicated lanes can also do a lot to smooth commutes, and brighten opinions about buses as they do."
FULL STORY: To Build a Better Bus Lane, Just Paint It
Boston Bus Lanes Improving Commute Times and Reliability
Data from the Boston area shows that dedicated bus lanes are helping to get buses moving.
Van Ness BRT Speeds Travel by 36%, Earns Silver Designation
The San Francisco rapid bus line is making transit on the corridor more reliable and reducing traffic crashes and congestion.
Bus Lanes as Traffic Calming
Dedicated bus lanes on busy arterials can act as traffic calming mechanisms to reduce speeding.
The City of Broken Sidewalks
Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?
Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks
Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.
To Build More Housing, Cities Must Be Smarter in How They Use Land
How strategic land use policy decisions can alleviate the housing crisis and limit unsustainable sprawl.
California Adds Complete Streets to Transportation Funding Guidelines
The state transportation commission previously declined to include bike and pedestrian infrastructure in its updated funding guidelines, despite a new state law requiring Complete Streets efforts in all Caltrans projects.
Omaha Streetcar Yielding $1.5 Billion in TIF Funds
The line, scheduled for completion in 2027, is bringing billions in new investment to the city’s urban core.
NYC’s Proposed Zoning Reforms Lag Behind Other Cities
Cities like Austin and Minneapolis are making major changes to their zoning codes to encourage housing construction, but New York’s proposed reforms are far less ambitious.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
_24_-_Fifth_Avenue_Bus_Lane.jpg){kind=link}
City of Prescott
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
Village of Glen Ellyn
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
CORP - COnsulting Research Projects
City of Cambridge, Maryland
Newport County Development Council: Connect Greater Newport
Rockdale County Board of Commissioners