With a plan to distribute $775 million in federal funding for urban bus projects, Next American City's Yonah Freemark suggests using it to fund projects like Cleveland's Healthline BRT.
"The Federal Transit Administration's grants, which will be announced late this summer, will be distributed to local public transportation agencies based on merit after undergoing competitive review. Cities are already lining up for the money (Baltimore, Dallas, etc). Funding will go towards new buses, equipment, and facilities, of which local agencies will be expected to pick up 20% of costs. The Healthline sets a precedent worth examining: people will respond to nice buses, frequent services, and comfortable stations. It's nice to see Washington demonstrate its support of similar projects elsewhere."
Ridership has increased by 50% since the $200 million project opened in Fall of 2008. Freemark suggests that even though the project isn't particularly "rapid", new bus facilities and vehicles are a draw.
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