June 24, 2010

Contacts:
Emily Fishkin (ITS America), This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(202) 721-4204 office or (202) 407-1384 cell

Gerry Carpenter (Utah Transit Authority), This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(801) 287-2070 office

Taking Bus Transit to the MAX in Salt Lake City

Conventional bus lines weren't meeting the needs of Utah's largest metropolitan area. So the Utah Transit Authority turned to a bold new approach-bus rapid transit-to revolutionize the region's buses and integrate bus lines with Utah's TRAX light-rail system.

A Smart Solution: Salt Lake City's MAX 3500 South Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Line

Washington, D.C - Salt Lake City's MAX Bus Rapid Transit was presented a Smart Solution Spotlight award by ITS America today for pioneering a new model for bus transit that replicates the speed and efficiency of rail and makes use of the latest in transportation technology and infrastructure improvements. The award recognizes the best and most innovative uses of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to create a safe, clean, efficient and sustainable transportation system.

Salt Lake City's bus rapid transit takes bus transportation to the next level by deploying new technologies, infrastructure improvements, and common-sense practical changes to provide commuters a fast, dependable, and convenient alternative to car travel. Using bus-only lanes, transit signal priority, and a streamlined route, MAX BRT has increased ridership by a third, reduced travel times by 15%, and linked MAX to TRAX to provide passengers an efficient bus to rail connection.

"Bus rapid transit is a creative solution to common problem-moving passengers in an urban environment," said Scott Belcher, President and CEO of ITS America. "By making buses faster and more efficient, Salt Lake City offers a model of integration and environmental sustainability that will radically change the way people think about bus transit."

Unveiled in July 2008, the MAX 3500 South BRT is a 10.8 mile bus route running from Magna, a town southwest of Salt Lake City, to the 3300 South TRAX station. Part of UTA's ambitious plan to connect every city in the Salt Lake City region to a TRAX light rail station within the next 20 years, the line features a dedicated bus lane that opened in April 2010. MAX 3500 South BRT operates every 15 minutes to channel passengers through 29 stops and boasts 4200 riders each day.

The MAX 3500 line uses transit signal priority, which allows buses to have a right-of-way at intersections where signaling devices synthesize real-time traffic information to give buses the green light. This technology reduces round-trip bus travel times, decreases fuel costs and vehicle wear, and makes life easier for bus operators and more convenient for riders. Object detection and collision avoidance systems round out the array of intelligent transportation devices that make bus rapid transit safer and more reliable than conventional buses.

"The ITS components of the MAX service are key to the success of the system," said John Inglish, CEO of the Utah Transit Authority, who explained that signal priority helps keep the buses on schedule, fare collection and tap card systems give customers payment options that speed the boarding process, and the vehicle design makes boarding simpler and easier for all customers. "Customers have recognized the value of the system improvements," added Inglish, noting that surveys have shown that 70 percent of customers would recommend MAX to their friends and neighbors.

A faster alternative
The numbers are in: average time traveled in the bus-exclusive lane for a MAX bus is 1.5 minutes faster than travel along the same stretch by car. Situated along the most congested portion of the bus route, the 1-mile long separated-lane bus corridor positions buses in central lanes that run in both directions and gives buses a speedy advantage over mainline traffic. In its first day of operation, buses in the dedicated lane achieved a 97% on-time reliability.

The MAX 3500 line's higher frequency and pared-down 29 stop route also make it on average 20 minutes faster than the equivalent conventional bus line.

Convenience is key
Off-board fare collection and a three-door bus design free passengers from frustrating waits at the front of the bus and eliminate wasteful emissions when buses dwell in place. 'Tap on - tap off,' a fare collection mechanism implemented in January 2009, allows passengers to pay fares electronically by scanning credit cards.

The MAX BRT line also made using the bus service easy for passengers by charging the same fare as equivalent local buses or TRAX lines and by allowing MAX tickets to act as a transfer to a TRAX rail line or a conventional bus line.

By billing buses as an upscale and more convenient alternative to car travel, the MAX BRT line has enticed a new passenger demographic to move from car to bus, reducing carbon emissions in the process.

Speeding into the future
Future plans for the UTA's MAX Bus Rapid Transit system are ambitious. The UTA wants to implement a full range of routes along up to 80 miles of corridors and to employ more hybrid diesel-electric vehicles in its fleet. BRT is slated to be deployed on routes between Provo and Orem and along the Mountain View Corridor on 5600 W. MAX BRT will also increase its integration with the region's TRAX rail line when a 5 mile West Valley MAX line linking bus passengers to a West Valley light rail connection is completed in 2012.

About the Intelligent Transportation Society of America
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is the leading advocate for ITS development and deployment in the United States. ITS America was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization to foster the use of advanced technologies in surface transportation systems. Members include corporations, public interest groups, universities and research laboratories, and government agencies at all levels. For more information, visit www.itsa.org.

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