'Hybrid' Bus Rapid Transit Design Preferred in Tacoma, Washington

"Pierce Transit is moving ahead with a hybrid design for 14 miles of bus rapid transit (BRT) on Pacific Avenue [in Tacoma, Washington], including 3.6 miles of center-running dedicated lanes," reports Doug Trumm.

The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners recently approved the hybrid plan, highlighting the pedestrian safety benefits of the options in discussions leading uo to the vote.

Still, the hybrid also makes room for cars by not using bus-only lanes along some of the route. It might have been even more of a car-friendly design, according to Trumm. "The other remaining option was business-access transit (BAT) lanes–in which buses share the right lane with turning motorists and scofflaws–throughout. Pierce Transit’s technical advisory committee recommended the all-BAT option. However, generally, transit advocates and urbanists preferred the hybrid option, in part for the transit oriented development potential it would unlock."

The $155 million project is expected to open in 2022.