Cincinnati Metro has launched a study to determine future bus rapid transit (BRT) corridors that will form a regional BRT network.
This study is part of the transit agency’s Reinventing Metro plan that will improve public transport in Hamilton County and Greater Cincinnati, Ohio.
Metro has identified four potential BRT corridors and will start service on two of them as the initial step in creating a regional BRT network.
The agency’s nine-month study will now determine which two corridors will be launched first.
Khaled Shammout, Chief Strategic Planning, Development and Innovation Officer for Metro said:BRT is a high-quality, bus-based transit option that combines the fast and efficient characteristics of rail transit with the flexibility of traditional bus service. It’s fast and comfortable, cost-effective, and reliable and will be transformative for those who rely on transit to get to work, school and other activities and opportunities. It can also benefit the communities it serves – not only as a new transportation option but as a catalyst for revitalisation and growth.
The BRT services will provide faster services and significantly reduced travel times to the region’s primary travel corridors by providing more frequent service, limited bus stops, smart traffic signals and dedicated bus lanes.
The BRT stations will offer same-level entry to improve accessibility for all riders and pay-in-advance fare systems to reduce wait times when boarding.
This improved reliability aims to increase the appeal of Metro’s services in order to help reduce local congestion and vehicle emissions.
Additionally, Metro believes that the BRT systems will support economic growth by encouraging equitable transit-oriented development around BRT stations.
Metro CEO and General Manager Darryl Haley said:Reinventing Metro isn’t just about improving bus service in our region; it’s also about lifting up the communities we serve. By boosting the level of transit access along these travel corridors, we won’t just reduce travel times. We’ll also transform these communities and drive their growth for decades to come.
The four proposed BRT corridors have been identified as Metro’s most heavily used transit corridors, each connecting to downtown Cincinnati.
The BRT study will now analyse each corridor in terms of its ability to attract riders, improve transit speeds and reliability, enhance transportation network connectivity, provide equitable access, support the construction of BRT infrastructure, and potential to support economic development opportunities.
