Madison BRT Comes into Focus
SDOT dropped the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) for Madison BRT on Friday. The outreach phase, which included surveys and public comment, showed that the public valued transit reliability and pedestrian safety. Speed of autos and parking were low on the list, so good on everyone who showed up and commented.
There's nothing too surprising in the report for those who've been paying attention. This tracks with what we've heard in the open houses. More dedicated lanes East of 18th would have been useful. Alas, it was not to be. Parking spaces will remain East of 22nd (despite ample parking underneath Safeway and presumably the other new developments as well).
Here are the highlights:
- A western terminal at 1st Avenue, shared with the Center City Connector
- Eastbound operation on Spring between 1st Avenue and 9th Avenue
- Stations near I-5 at both 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue
- Center-running transit-only lanes from 9th Avenue to 15th Avenue
- An eastern terminal at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
BAT lanes will be provided from 15th to 18th.
The LPA will be submitted to council in 2016. Design will happen in 2016 and 2017, and, pending federal grant funding, the line will open in 2019.