Bus rapid transit proposed routes unveiled by city
The future transit system is key to providing viable options for people to move around and supporting transit-oriented development along some of the city’s major corridors.
More details about the city’s bus rapid transit (BRT) lines have been revealed after much study, planning and community engagement,
“This is a major move toward the implementation of our Plan for Growth,” said Lesley Anderson, director of planning and development, in a news release issued Thursday.
“The future transit system is key to providing viable options for people to move around and supporting transit-oriented development along some of the city ’s major corridors.”
“There are notable changes to the preferred route configuration presented in November,” Anderson said. She says this includes the introduction of a “Green Line,” necessary to accommodate the split in the former “Red Line.”
The new Green Line, which was formerly the northern component of the Red Line servicing University Heights, will stretch from University Heights through downtown and end at Confederation Mall.
This third line will parallel the Red Line for much of its length, improving the frequency along 22nd Street, through downtown and along College Drive, while making the overall system easier to understand for users, the release said.
Anderson added the plan provides additional details such as how a new BRT system will function to terminal locations. She said the plan also includes a strategy for how the rest of the transit system could be reconfigured to align with BRT, provide direct, and frequent transit connections and better expand to meet the future needs of a city with a population of 500,000.
The proposed plan, along with a summary of stakeholder and public input, will be presented to city council for consideration and approval later this spring.