News
Jacksonville Invests in Dedicated Bus Lanes
Many high-tech designers push for expensive rail systems that need years of planning and building. But, many of America’s cities are strapped for cash and still need traffic solutions. Public bus transportation systems can help cut traffic at a fraction of the cost.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Florida has rolled outthe First Coast FlyerTM, “. . .a rapid bus transport system that uses dedicated bus lanes.” This approach addresses several of the problems that public bus transportation systems have been plagued with as cities grow.
The dedicated lane for buses takes them out of the way of other vehicles on the road. One of the biggest complaints about public buses is the stop and go that causes delays and adds to the congestion on the roads. The lane along the bus routes allows bus drivers to make stops safely, without the distractions of the traffic behind them.
A dedicated lane improves punctuality between stops for the buses and the bus driver is no longer restrained by a line of single-passenger vehicles.
The JTA’s new bus system includes queue jump technology that it uses during peak travel hours of 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., Monday through Friday. The queue jump is a special traffic light at specific intersections with dedicated bus routes to give preference to buses during peak hours.
An example of the queue jump technology is at the First Coast Flyer Station on Forsyth Street. When a First Coast Flyer is ready to leave the station, a signal is sent to the traffic light at the corner of Forsyth Street and Madison to turn red, allowing the bus to “jump” ahead of the traffic.
The lanes and technology come with additional benefits for school buses, emergency vehicles, and bicycles, who are always allowed to use the dedicated lanes. A dedicated bus lane with a queue jump is just another way to improve transportation safety and reduce congestion. Also, during the hours outside of peak traffic times, anyone can use the dedicated bus lane.
To learn about how Creative Bus Sales can help with your transportation needs, please contact us.
