Let’s explore some of the myths about bus rapid transit on
Cobb Parkway.
*Myth #1:* BRT would give suburban commuters an effective alternative
to driving.
BRT will not give Cobb commuters a faster trip time than
driving. Transportation expert Wendell Cox has clearly demonstrated that on
average, fixed guideway transit provides a station-to-station trip time that is
70 percent longer than driving. If we look at realistic door-to-door trip
times for almost anyone in Cobb, fixed guideway transit
would likely provide a trip time that is around double the time it takes to
drive, and for many, even longer. Few commuters will abandon their car for a dramatically
longer trip time.
Express buses operating in managed lanes will outperform
BRT, but still won’t match the total door-to-door trip time of driving.
A few months ago, even then-state DOT Commissioner Keith
Golden acknowledged BRT would likely serve people going short distances along
Cobb Parkway, and that longer distance commuters would be best served by
express buses.
Managed lanes on I-75 and I-575 are under construction now,
and are scheduled to open in 2018. Once these managed lanes open, express bus ridership
will likely increase substantially. Express buses operating in
managed lanes might actually succeed in getting a few
thousand commuters out of their cars and into transit, thereby helping to
reduce traffic congestion. And express buses are far more cost-effective for
taxpayers.
*Myth #2:* Millennials demand transit and want an urban
lifestyle. It appears to be true that a larger percentage of millennials prefer
a lifestyle where they don’t need a car than is true of other generations. It is
also clearly true that while they are single, a larger percentage prefer an
urban lifestyle. That does not mean that all millennials have the same
preferences. And, like any other generation, once they get
married and have kids, large percentages of millennials prefer suburban
neighborhoods near good schools as the best place for their family to live.
Recently, Robert Poole of The Reason Foundation explored
various research and statistics that show that more millennials prefer the
suburbs than an urban lifestyle. It is still likely true more millennials
prefer an urban lifestyle than other generations. However, Poole makes a strong
case more millennials prefer the suburbs over urban.
The 2010 Census showed that after a few decades of population
decline, the city of Atlanta had a significant increase in population. The
Atlanta Regional Commission claimed this proved suburbanites were
overwhelmingly
abandoning the suburbs.
The ARC ignored the following.
Less than 20 percent of the Atlanta region lives in the city
of Atlanta. Less than 20 percent of the
population growth of the Atlanta Region from 2000 to 2010 was within the city
of Atlanta. If more than 80 percent of
the region’s population growth was in the suburbs, how is that evidence of
people abandoning the suburbs?
*Myth #3:* The Braves make BRT necessary.
BRT is not only expensive to build, it is also expensive to
operate and maintain. Light rail is even more expensive.
Not only is BRT expensive to operate and maintain, but it
only serves one corridor. Look at the Braves “heat map” of where their fans
live. BRT would expensively serve a tiny percentage of Braves fans. If we
obligate so much money to “luxurifying” already existing transit in just this
one corridor,
it will obstruct our ability to fund other needed transit in
other
corridors, and other transportation needs beyond transit.
The Braves and Braves fans would be better served by more
cost-effective transit that serves many corridors.
*Myth #4:* Companies won’t move to Cobb without fixed
guideway transit.
A few companies recently made relocation decisions to be
near fixed guideway transit. That does not mean that all companies will make relocation
decisions based on fixed guideway transit.
Numerous companies have made decisions in the last few years
to move to Cobb, despite the fact that Cobb does not have fixed guideway
transit. The lack of fixed guideway transit did not prevent the Braves from
moving to Cobb.
Many people have moved to Cobb because they like our
suburban neighborhoods, the suburban lifestyle, the good schools and our low
taxes. We have 700,000 people who live here now, who have chosen Cobb’s
suburban
communities as the best place for their families to live.
Why does Cobb need to change the character of Cobb’s
suburban, low-tax communities so that we can attract a relative few who want
something else?
Why can’t we let those who prefer high taxes and expensive
taxpayer-funded services go where they can pay higher taxes?
Cobb should focus on attracting the large number of people
and companies who appreciate the benefits of Cobb’s suburban communities and
low taxes.
Ron Sifen is a member and past president of the Cobb County
Civic Coalition. His views do not
necessarily represent the views of CCCC.
Source:<http://www.mdjonline.com/bookmark/18980629-Ron_Sifen>
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