A Concept of BRT for the Mid-Atlantic Region

artist's concept of a regional rapid transit busPolicy Forum

Thursday, November 13, 2008
John M. Clayton Hall Conference Center
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware
8:00 a.m. to noon

Download the briefing paper (624KB - PDF PDF icon) titled “Mid-Atlantic Area Express (MAAX): Exploring the Feasibility of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System Within the Delaware Region.”

On November 13, 2008, invited regional transportation stakeholders from Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey attended a forum at Clayton Hall to provide input on the concept of a regional bus rapid transit (BRT) system as described in a briefing paper, based on a study by the University of Delaware’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA).

Participants included representatives from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority), the Baltimore Metro Council, TMA's (transit management agencies) from Chester and Delaware Counties in Pennsylvania and Delaware, the Delaware Transit Corporation (DTC), Wilmington Metropolitian Planning Council (WILMAPCO), and Chester County (Pa.) and New Castle County planning departments.

Topics of discussion focused on the need to obtain multi-jurisdictional support, establish a stakeholder-driven planning process, ascertain availability of future federal funding, leverage and maximize funding resources, develop strategic partnerships, and identify potential pilot route(s).  If the concept gains support, next steps may be to establish a steering committee and seek funding for future phases of planning.

BRT Rationale

A number of complex, interrelated issues point to the need for a regional BRT.

  1. Congestion along the I-95 corridor transcends Delaware into its neighboring states—Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. As a high-quality, high-capacity transit service, BRT has the potential to increase transit use by commuters during peak-demand periods. When BRT is incorporated with demand-management strategies, regional congestion chokepoints can be more effectively addressed.
  2. BRT is needed to enhance mobility, reduce driving, promote transit access to regional employment centers, and support economic growth. Express-transit bus service is already being successfully deployed in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Transit ridership data suggest this service is in high demand.
  3. There is a need to proactively build an integrated transit network. Regional transit strategies are warranted to link specific transit connections and/or transportation corridors, develop multi-modal hubs and transportation centers, and provide seamless connections between existing transportation modes.

For more information, contact Bernard Dworsky (302-831-8710).