Metro Rapid Demonstration Program Evaluation Report - Introduction
The Metro Rapid Program was initiated in March 1999 by the MTA's Board of Directors following an initial feasibility study. Staff was directed by the Board to conduct the feasibility study in response to a visit to Curitiba, Brazil by MTA and City of Los Angeles officials.
The Curitiba urban design and public transportation model has been widely praised internationally for its success and has been a major force in the Federal Transit Administration creation of a national Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) initiative. The feasibility study recommended that MTA, in partnership with the City of Los Angeles, conduct a demonstration along two-to-three major arterials which have strong ridership and unique characteristics to provide broad actual experience regarding the feasibility of full-scale deployment of BRT within the MTA system. However, of the 12 key attributes associated with the successful Curitiba BRT (Curitiba does not have bus signal priority), only seven (highlighted) were deemed feasible for implementation during the expedited Phase I Demonstration Program. The remaining six attributes would be deployed in Phase II, system expansion, if the initial demonstration proved successful.
| Curitiba | Metro Rapid | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Attributes | Phase I Demonstration | Phase II Expanded | |
| 1 | Simple Route | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Frequent Service | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Headway-based Schedules | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Less Frequent Stops | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Level Boarding and Alighting | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Color-coded Buses and Stations | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Bus Signal Priority | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Exclusive Lanes | No | Yes |
| 9 | Higher Capacity Buses | No | Yes |
| 10 | Multiple Door Boarding & Alighting | No | Yes |
| 11 | Off-Vehicle Fare Payment | No | Yes |
| 12 | Feeder Network | No | Yes |
| 13 | Coordinated Land Use Planning | No | Yes |
Phase I demonstration implementation planning was initiated in the summer of 1999 with a Spring 2000 goal for start-up of Metro Rapid. Two lines were selected for the demonstration:
- Line 720 Wilshire/Whittier (very high passenger demand urban corridor connecting through the Los Angeles Central Business District (LACBD)
- Line 750 Ventura (high passenger demand suburban corridor serving the Metro Red Line)
The two Metro Rapid lines were implemented on June 24, 2000, coinciding with the opening of the extension of the Metro Red Line to the San Fernando Valley. All seven of the Phase I attributes were fully operational at start-up with the exception of the Metro Rapid Stations where temporary stops were utilized. The Stations with "next bus" displays are currently under construction, with completion of all sites expected in spring 2001.
The Metro Rapid program has been strikingly successful, even without the completed Stations. Operating speed, service quality, ridership, and customer response have all exceeded objectives, with very little or no negative impact on the rest of the system and other travel modes.