Local politicians and the public had years to review a proposal that would create dedicated lanes for bus service along El Camino as it cuts through the region. The project found very little support.
"After years of spinning its wheels, the controversial proposal to build dedicated bus lanes along El Camino Real appears to be dead," reports Mark Noack.
Valley Transportation Authority announced that they are "pulling the plug" on the $223 million bus rapid transit proposal after receiving insufficient support from local politicians. The most recent setback was a letter written by Los Altos Councilmember Jeannie Bruins, who chairs the project's advisory committee. In December, the Sunnyvale City Council also rejected the proposal. The project provoked resistance from local politicians for years due to concerns over the project's effect on travel times and spillover into surrounding neighborhoods. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority released a draft Environmental Impact Review for the project in late 2014.
"The original idea for Bus Rapid Transit called for an elaborate series of new bus stops and infrastructure that would dedicate two of El Camino's six traffic lanes primarily for bus traffic," explains Noack. "Once completed, the project would have streamlined bus service, potentially making it a viable transit option for more commuters."
According to planners, the bus rapid transit lane would have improved bus travel times by 40 minutes, though members of the public found that claim hard to believe.
FULL STORY: Plan for dedicated El Camino bus lanes fizzles out
New Bus Only Lane Overcomes Opposition in San Francisco
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Public Outcry Greets Plan to Connect L.A. to Pasadena via Bus Rapid Transit
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Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
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EV Infrastructure Booming in Suburbs, Cities Lag Behind
A lack of access to charging infrastructure is holding back EV adoption in many US cities.
Seattle Road Safety Advocates Say Transportation Levy Perpetuates Car-Centric Status Quo
Critics of a proposed $1.3 billion transportation levy say the package isn’t enough to keep up with inflation and rising costs and fails to support a shift away from car-oriented infrastructure.
Appeals Court: California Emissions Standards Upheld
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, the nation's two most powerful environmental regulatory agencies, won an important round in federal court last week. But the emissions standards battle may not be over.
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