How will BRT change Yichang?
The BRT project and the transformation of Dongshan Avenue will be officially launched on Feb. 25, and which is the biggest municipal engineering and “Top Livelihood Project” in Yichang this year. It has attracted great attention from the Yichang Municipal Committee, the government, and the general public.
What is BRT? What it will be like? How to take the BRT bus? How much is a ticket? How fast it will be? How to arrange the lines? Where are the underground passages? Whether the traffic jam can be improved or not after the completion of BRT project? On Feb. 23, a reporter interviewed the director of the BRT Project.
Q1: What is BRT?
A: BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), based on a dedicated road lanes, is a rapid bus transportation system. It integrates the features of rail system service and the flexibility of regular buses, providing passengers with fast and reliable services.
The BRT system uses advanced automotive technology and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technology and improves the transport capacity, comfort, environmental performance and visual effects of buses, which makes the traditional buses become a modernized and moderate public traffic transportation. It’s an urban public transport system with low construction cost, short construction period and full sustainable development.
Q2: What are the components of BRT?
A: BRT, in general, includes the following aspects:
Exclusive right of road: the designated, fully closed bus lanes will be set to improve the speed, punctuality and safety of BRT operation.
Advanced buses: the BRT buses with large capacity, high performance, low emissions will ensure the large capacity and comfortable, efficient and intelligent services.
Well equipped stops: the stops which is equipped with landscape features, horizontal embarkation, vehicle fare collection, real-time information monitoring system, will provide passengers with safe, convenient and comfortable experiences.
Passenger-demand-oriented bus line organization: the flexible operating organization of direct lines, major stop express ways, regular lines and feeder lines is to better meet the needs of passengers.
Intelligent operation management system: automatic vehicle location, real-time operating information, traffic signal priority and advanced vehicle scheduling will be applied to improve operating level of BRT.
Q3: What benefits will BRT bring to the city?
A: the BRT system can solve the problems of crowdedness of buses, delays within the bus lane, and it has very important economic and social benefits to Yichang. (A) It can improve the image of a modern urban city. (B) It can greatly improve the comfort of passengers, provide services similar to the subway. (C) The BRT system can also improve the traffic of other motor vehicles, especially in the BRT lanes. (D) It’s good to improve the air quality. Air pollution levels of many cities, especially in the BRT lanes, dropped significantly after the construction of BRT projects. (E) BRT can also save fuel and energy consumption.
Q4: Will the urban roads be more crowded after the construction of BRT?
A: Urban road resources should be allocated in accordance with the "people" carried by vehicles. A vehicle carrying more people, should enjoy more road resources. If a lane is only used by cars, a maximum of 700 vehicles with 2,000 people can pass through it per hour, while if it is used exclusively by BRT buses, although only 100 vehicles can pass through per hour, but around 15,000 people can be transported. So, BRT can effectively use less road resources to provide transport for more people. Therefore, it’s not fair to vehicles but it’s fair to people that the BRT lane is unimpeded while the ordinary lanes may be crowded. One enjoys the comfort and freedom when driving a private car or taking a taxi, but one will have to face possible road congestions; If one chooses the BRT buses, the traveling environment may be less free and comfortable than cars, but one can avoid the road congestion.
Q5: What benefits will the citizens get after the construction of BRT?
A: The focus of the citizens is on the convenience, price and service quality. (1) For the convenience of the citizens, the first BRT line is based on full analysis of the road conditions and traffic demands. The relevant departments have also adjusted and optimized the existing bus lines to facilitate the transport of the citizens. (2) Low ticket price will be implemented on BRT. BRT will also enjoy public transport policy and financial subsidies. (3) BRT buses will apply low floors (which are even with the station), which will help the passengers easily get on/off the buses. The buses will be equipped with air-condition to ensure it is warm in winter and cool in summer and they will be equipped with information display screen, which can realize scroll display of the names of the stops, roads, service terms and other information and automatically broadcast the name of the stops through remote control with GPS devices on the buses.
Q6: What are the objectives of building BRT in Yichang?
A: The urban landscape and public space will be improved by enhancing public transport capacity, service levels, and by integrating pedestrian, bicycle and other green modes of transport after the completion of BRT. The quality of public transport will be effectively improved; the increase and use of cars will be restrained; pressure on urban traffic congestion will be eased; urban quality and status will be promoted; and a harmonious image will be established. The speed of rail transit will be extended into the city center by effective connection with Yichang East Railway Station. The convenient transportation will shorten the distance, attract investment, promote the construction of new districts, distance the city layout, extend urban functions, drive sustainable development and improve the comprehensive competitiveness of Yichang.
Q7: Why is BRT built on the ground, not overhead as Xiamen?
A: The decision was made due to the following reasons. The first reason is low cost and short construction time. Typically, the investment in building 1 km of high standard BRT is between 50 to 70 million yuan, the cost of light rail is 150 to 300 million yuan / km, subway is 500 to 6oo million yuan / km. Compared with the light rail, the investments in BRT generally can be reduced by 60-80%; the construction time can be shortened by 50% to 70%; the operation and maintenance costs can be reduced by 80-90%. It only takes 1-2 years to build a BRT line, 4-6 years for a light system and 8-10 years for a subway system. In short, the obvious advantages of BRT are lower investment, shorter construction time, and fast in effectively solving the traffic problems.
The second reason is the mature management mode. Although the management of BRT system is slightly different from traditional buses, but the operation and management of the lines, drivers and sales clerks, operation scheduling and vehicle maintenance modes etc. are substantially similar with the ordinary buses management models. Therefore, bus operators can take full advantage of the existing bus operations management experience. The operation management method is simple, and the method of operation and control technology are much more simplified than rail transport. The trial operation of a new rapid transit system often requires only a week or so, but a trial operation of rail transit usually takes 3-6 months. In contrast, BRT can greatly improve the applicable efficiency and bring social benefits immediately.
Q8: What areas will the BRT line pass through?
A: the BRT line starts from north at Yiling District Passenger Station, going along Yixing Road, Three Gorges Road, Night Pearl Road, Dongshan Avenue, Jucheng Road, and reaches south at Yichang East Railway Station, with a total length of approximately 23.5 km. It will pass through Yiling District, Xiling District and Wujiagang District, and will be one of the busiest lines with most passengers.
Q9: What projects are included in the construction of BRT?
A: The construction of BRT include: construction of the BRT road, the road extension of the stops, the migration of ancillary facilities, acquisition and integration of operation equipments and station intelligent scheduling systems, the purchase of BRT buses, and the transformation of BRT bus lanes along the road, bike lanes and sidewalks. Construction projects are: road transformation project, BRT lanes and stop engineering, landscape engineering, the construction of public bicycle stops, the construction of operation systems and the purchase of equipments etc. 37 stops will be built, including 29 Roadside stops, 8 Road island stops, with an average distance of 620 meters between two stations; 4 new footbridges will be built, and one footbridge will be converted, 3 new underground passages and 1 bridge will be built. 3 new underground passages will be located at the International Trade, Yunji Tunnel and Guoyuan No.1 Road respectively. The Wanshou Bridge will be reconstructed at the intersection of Gangyao Road and Dongshan Avenue, which will be 40 meters long and 40 meters wide. The newly built 4 pedestrian bridges will be located at No, 22 Middle School, Shengli No.4 Road, Beishanpo and Stadium Road separately. The pedestrian bridge at Lvluo Road will be reconstructed.
Q10: How many lanes will there be after the transformation of Dongshan Avenue? Will they be brushed black or not?
A: After the transformation, the Dongshan Avenue will be widened by removing the medial strips and non-motorized vehicle lanes. The road will be brushed black and will be converted into 6-lane double-way from 4-lane double-way. There will be 2 BRT lanes in the middle of the road and two social lanes on both sides of the road.
Q11: When will BRT open to traffic?
A: The whole construction project include the plan of the early stage, engineering design and construction, equipment procurement and installation and trail operation, and last putting into operation etc. The trial operation is scheduled in June 2015.
Q12: How much is a BRT bus ticket?
A：The "One Ticket System"(free bus transfer between buses going the same direction) will be applied for BRT buses, and the fare is temporarily set at 2 yuan. There will be two charging methods: one is cash payment (the ticket price is 2 yuan), another is payment with IC card (which will enjoy some discount).
Q 13: What are the stops along the BRT line?
A: There are 38 stops along the BRT line, namely, Yichang East Railway Station Stop, Jucheng Road Stop, Xiangshan Stop, Wujiagang Stop, Shuzhichang Stop, Hengtong Road Stop, Wangjiahe Stop, Aijiazui Stop, Baotahe Stop, Zhongnan Road Stop, Yangcha Road Stop, Wanshouqiao Stop, Gongchengju Stop, Jinqiao Market Stop, Changhang Hospital Stop, Beishanpo Stop, Shengli NO.4 Road Stop, Railway Stop, the International Trading Builidng Stop, Zhenggu Hospital Stop, Yangtze River Hospital Stop, NO.22 Middle School Stop, Gezhouba Stop, Qingshaoniangong Stop, Wangzhougang Stop, Xiaoxia Stop, Yemingzhu Stop, Pinghu Stop, Three Gorges Tea City Stop, Three Gorges Road Stop, Shenxianwan Stop, Jinxiuxingcheng Stop, Wanfu Stop, Yiling District Government Stop, Gymnasium Stop, Xiaoxita Stop, Water Company Stop, and Yiling Passengers Station Stop.
Q14: How can the passengers get to the platform?
A: First, when passengers arrive at the stop entrance from a crosswalk or a flyover, they should swipe bus IC card or insert coins (no change served) to get to the waiting area, and then get on through the security gate when a bus reaches. The same boarding method is adopted when BRT branch buses are on the BRT road while traditional boarding method is adopted (front door to get on, back door to get off) when they are off the BRT road.
Q15: How can pedestrians and non-motor vehicles cross the road?
A: Crosswalks with lights are designed at appropriate distances if the BRT sections are isolated. For those sections which are not isolated, pedestrian islands are designed to ensure their crossing. Flyovers and underpasses are designed to be constructed at busy sections.
Q 16: How can it ensure the safety of passengers when the BRT lane is in the middle of the road?
A: Passengers can get on the buses along the zebra from the sidewalk. The stops are designed right door opening. The pedestrian islands are designed at some stops. And also, crossing lights are to be installed at stops to ensure the safety of passengers. Passengers, pedestrians and drivers can cross the road by following the instructions of traffic lights.
Q17: How should passengers choose the right line at a BRT stop?
A: First, after entering a BRT stop, passengers select the right sub-stops according to guidelines. Then, get on the bus from the front and back doors when it stops and others getting off.
Q18: How do passengers know where the next coming bus is?
A: From the intelligent electronic screen at each BRT stop, passengers will get the information of how far away the next coming bus is.
Q19: How will the BRT road be used exclusively?
A: Two strategies have been arranged by the traffic police department to ensure this: first, monitoring cameras installed at crossing as well as policemen on duty will take photos of those illegal motor vehicles. Second, no left turning for other motor vehicles at most crossings aims to reduce the lateral interference.
Q20: What kind of vehicles can use the BRT lanes?
A: Other Vehicles, except for on-duty fire engines, rescue vehicles, police cars, ambulances, road sweepers and sprinklers, are not allowed to use BRT lanes. No use, waiting or idling in the BRT lanes in case of traffic jam or congestion, and any violation will be subjected to fines or points deduction by traffic police department.
Q21: How long does the whole journey take?
A: When it opens to traffic, the total number of the existing buses can be reduced by more than 50 and the current average speed can be doubled. It only takes 59 minutes from the first Stop Yiling Passengers Station Stop to its terminal Yichang East Railway Stop, compared to present 92 minutes. The average travel time can be shortened from 30 minutes at present to 20 minutes then.
Q22: What are the three underpasses to be constructed like?
A: In order to improve traffic condition and ensure a smooth flow of traffic, three underpasses are to be constructed at Xiling No.1 Road and Guoyuan No.1 Road, namely, the International Trading Building Underpass, the Yunji Road Underpass and Guoyuan No.1 Road Underpass. Yunji Road Underpass is “□”shaped and the others are “I” shaped;. All the main Tunnels of three underpasses are under roadway.
Additionally, the main tunnel of the International Trading Building Underpass is 5 meters wide and 3.5 meters tall (including 0.2 meters for ground decoration and 0.4 meters for ceiling decoration). 5 exits are to be constructed along Dongshan Avenue and the BRT stops, one of which is connected with a BRT stop. The lateral exit along bicycle lane on Dongshan Avenue is 3.2 meters wide and the exit to BRT stop is 4 meters wide.
The main tunnel of the Yunji Road Underpass is 5.5 meters wide and 3.5 meters tall (including 0.2 meters for ground decoration and 0.4 meters for ceiling decoration). 6 exits are to be constructed at the corner of Dongshan Avenue and Yunji Road and all these exits are 3.5 meters wide. A 5.5-meter wide branch tunnel by Zhuoyue Plaza is designed to connect with main tunnel of its underpass.
The main tunnel of Guoyuan No.1 Road Underpass is 5 meters wide and 3.5 meters tall (including 0.2 meters for ground decoration and 0.4 meters for ceiling decoration). 6 exits are to be constructed along Dongshan Avenue and BRT stops, 2 of which are connected with BRT stops. The lateral exit along bicycle lane at Dongshan Avenue is 3.2 meters wide and the exits to BRT stops are 4 meters wide.
Q23: When is the first phase of the project expected to be completed and which section is the next phase?
A: The first phase of the project is the main tunnels construction of underpasses, which is expected to be completed in May 2014. The next phase is the transformation of Dongshan Avenue from Xiling No.2 Road to Gangyao Road and the construction of BRT project.
Q 24: Will buses still need to wait for traffic lights after the completion of BRT?
A: Buses still need to wait for traffic lights, but the waiting time is expected to be shortened according to bus priority principle to improve bus traffic efficiency.