San Diego provides a case study for how bus rapid transit sometimes fails to meet the standards befitting its name.
Alon Levy contributes to Voice of San Diego in an article critical of San Diego, California's Rapid bus system, operated by the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System.
A summary of Levy's argument in the article: "In branding, San Diego’s Rapid bus looks as sleek as the best bus rapid transit systems. But on the ground, it falls short of the standards for good bus service."
Levy is calling out San Diego's Rapid bus system as an example of "BRT creep." According to Levy, BRT creep is defined as "when a transit agency sells an improvement to the public as BRT, but due to cost considerations or political opposition, it ends up providing something only marginally faster than a regular bus."
Using San Diego's Rapid bus as a case study, Levy is able to explore all the characteristics and ideas of optimized bus rapid transit. For more information on the best practices, as implemented (or not) by bus rapid transit systems around the world, check out the BRTdata.org platform. Planetizen has also covered the issue of BRT creep, without using that exact term, many times in the past:
FULL STORY: San Diego’s Rapid Bus System Doesn’t Meet the Standards of Regular Buses in Other Cities
Bus Rapid Transit Without Dedicated Lines—Finding Out the Hard Way
San Diego's bus rapid transit line, open for nine months, hasn't improved transit service along El Cajon Boulevard. Critics blame cuts to the original plan.
Activist and Urbanist Collaborate for San Diego's North Park
San Diego's diverse urban North Park Community, once a victim of suburban flight, is now dealing with urban remigration. Urban planner Howard Blackson and community activist Don Leichtling collaborate on community plan update recommendations.
Indianapolis Receives FTA Grant for New BRT Line
The Blue Line will be the third bus rapid transit corridor in the city.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.
Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.
Zero-Emission Bus Fleets Grow, But Federal Funding Is in Jeopardy
Transit agencies around the country have purchased over 7,000 zero-emission buses, but a federal program that funds the shift could be eliminated under the new administration.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.
Wisconsin Governor Opens Window for Regional Transit Authority
The proposed state budget includes a provision that allows local governments to establish a dedicated transit tax.
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.
Strategic Economics Inc
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service