Resistance to Loss of Parking, Cut-thru traffic concerns stall Bus Rapid Transit in Berkeley
On April 27, the Berkeley City Council could only muster enough support to study the “Reduced Impact Alternative B” option for Telegraph, which is essentially the service currently running on Telegraph, minus various upgrades. The alternative proposal includes calming the east side of Shattuck Square, making it more pedestrianized, and several features to speed up bus service while at the same time having buses share lanes with vehicles. The big problem with this proposal is its goal to minimize the loss of parking. And it’s not that bicyclists are for or against parking. But the result will be keeping many left turn pockets and eliminating boarding platforms, which both necessitate removal of parking to accommodate. The auxilliary benefit would be room for bike lanes. Alternative B could jeopardize bike lanes on Telegraph Ave. Berkeley City Council member Kris Worthington (in whose district sits Telegraph Avenue) is pushing for an employee transit pass for businesses on Telegraph, in order to gain more business support for Bus Rapid Transit. Worthington’s proposal holds much more promise for bike lanes. Additional features of the approved alternative are NextBus realtime schedules, proof of payment, priority signalization, elevated boarding platforms and queue jump lanes for buses when needed. More details coming soon on bike lanes and Telegraph Avenue.
Berkeley Daily Planet article summarizing the Council vote.
The proposal in both cities currently includes bike lanes for much of the route of Bus Rapid Transit. This is great news. Please voice your support of the staff recommendation to include a study of bike lanes with the Bus Rapid Transit project.Why are bike lanes part of Bus Rapid Transit?
The City’s “Locally Preferred Alternative” for BRT was developed by city staff and AC Transit after years of community involvement and weighing alternatives for improving transit in Oakland, Berkeley and San Leandro.