Two current developments could possibly be excellent news for the way forward for regional mass transit.
The Iowa Metropolis Council voted 6-0 final month to rent a consulting agency to check the prospects for changing the prevailing Cedar Rapids & Iowa Metropolis Railway right into a bus fast system route between Iowa Metropolis and North Liberty. A bus system given its personal devoted traffic-free route could possibly be extra dependable, quicker and handy than common bus programs.
Goals of constructing CRANDIC a passenger rail route between Cedar Rapids and Iowa Metropolis have light. CRANDIC’s homeowners have made it clear that they now not need to search to revive the rail service in partnership with native governments. They’re open to different makes use of, comparable to fast transit busing, however don’t need to function the brand new system.
“The top objective of the research is to permit native stakeholders the chance to match parts of the finished passenger rail research with parts of a accomplished bus fast transit research,” mentioned Emily Bothell, senior affiliate transportation planner with the Metropolitan Planning Group of Johnson County, in line with reporting by The Gazette’s Tom Barton.
Bus fast transit, Bothell mentioned “is simply one other different type of transportation that native stakeholders needed to think about and whether or not it might operate higher or worse than passenger rail.”
Bus fast transit is a promising concept. It is smart to check all transit choices as car visitors multiplies on I-380.
The second piece of excellent information got here from the Iowa Division of Transportation, which can proceed funding 380 Categorical bus service between Cedar Rapids and Des Moines by means of 2026.
The service was created to assist commuters keep away from highway development related to rebuilding the I-80I-380 interchange. Extra development tasks are being deliberate, so the DOT goes to proceed 380 Categorical service.
The 380 Categorical stops at Kirkwood Group School in Cedar Rapids, Coralville’s Iowa River Touchdown and the College of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Since 2019, 380 Categorical’ complete ridership tops 275,000. We’d prefer to see a extra strong effort to tell commuters of the 380 Categorical choice.
Regional transit has appreciable advantages each for shoppers and the setting. Public transit cuts visitors congestion and carbon emissions. On the very least, it’s value investigating what’s attainable.
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