LA Times on Albuquerque's electric bus disaster

[strictures]

The LA Times has a long article on Albuquerque's mess by buying Chinese electric buses that don't work & wrecking a street by turning it into what the loons wanted to do to Ashland Ave.

Albuquerque’s $133-million electric bus system is going nowhere fast

[Pace831]

1 hour ago, strictures said:

The LA Times has a long article on Albuquerque's mess by buying Chinese electric buses that don't work & wrecking a street by turning it into what the loons wanted to do to Ashland Ave.

Albuquerque’s $133-million electric bus system is going nowhere fast

It's funny how the opponents are now saying "I told you so!" based on unforeseen problems that they probably hadn't predicted.

[rvwnsd]

Central Avenue in Albuquerque is different than Ashland. For starters, it is narrower. So narrow that the platforms were not built to be ADA compliant so they would fit and in some places there is one ART lane shared by both east- and westbound buses. Then there is the small matter of the Central and Rapid Ride buses running half-full. That said, BRT down Ashland was a dumb idea. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

14 hours ago, rvwnsd said:

Central Avenue in Albuquerque is different than Ashland. For starters, it is narrower. So narrow that the platforms were not built to be ADA compliant so they would fit and in some places there is one ART lane shared by both east- and westbound buses. Then there is the small matter of the Central and Rapid Ride buses running half-full. That said, BRT down Ashland was a dumb idea. 

What's the status on Ashland Jump anyway?

[Tcmetro]

Nothing official has been discussed since the meetings in 2013. The X9 was revived and the TOD zoning has been expanded to Ashland however.

Planning efforts have shifted to 79th St and Chicago Ave, where bus lanes, technology improvements, and stop removals/relocations will be strategically placed. 

[NewFlyerMCI]

56 minutes ago, Tcmetro said:

Nothing official has been discussed since the meetings in 2013. The X9 was revived and the TOD zoning has been expanded to Ashland however.

Planning efforts have shifted to 79th St and Chicago Ave, where bus lanes, technology improvements, and stop removals/relocations will be strategically placed. 

No idea about Chicago, but I imagine the one place where the bus lanes would be most of use, on the narrowest section of 79th, between the Ryan & Lakefront will be the place with the most resistance. Rush-only peak direction bus lanes in the parking lane?

[Tcmetro]

I believe the concept is spot improvements at major intersections on 79th. 

I can't remember if the bus lane concept for Chicago is spot improvements or a continuous segment. 

The reports (exhibits for 79th missing unfortunately) are posted here:

http://www.rtams.org/rtams/planningStudy.jsp?id=3164

[MetroShadow]

On 2/19/2019 at 9:54 PM, rvwnsd said:

Central Avenue in Albuquerque is different than Ashland. For starters, it is narrower. So narrow that the platforms were not built to be ADA compliant so they would fit and in some places there is one ART lane shared by both east- and westbound buses. Then there is the small matter of the Central and Rapid Ride buses running half-full. That said, BRT down Ashland was a dumb idea. 

I’ll vouch for Central. Movements on that stretch...the entire stretch...aren’t traffic friendly. I never really looked into 766/777/66 ridership to really break it down efficiently. 

But Ashland ≠ Central.