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Title: The First Fleet of “Specialized” BRT Vehicles in the United States
Accession Number: 01157097
Record Type: Component
Availability: American Public Transportation Association 1666 K Street, NW, Suite 1100 Abstract: The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) in Las Vegas, Nevada currently operates the only “Specialized” Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle in the United States. The MAX “Civis” is a European styled BRT operating with station platforms that match the low-floor vehicle design. Revenue service began July 2004. This Federal Transit Administration (FTA) demonstration project was immediately successful with a 280% increase in ridership in the first year of implementation. New BRT corridors are being developed to start operation in 2009. RTC is currently working on building a rapid transit system, ACE, that will connect downtown Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Strip, Henderson and North Las Vegas. One goal of RTC’s corridor development and vehicle procurement is to raise the standard of investment in the bus modal choice. The key strategy used by RTC in achieving this goal is to transfer attributes and technologies of rail service to bus service. The most important of these attributes are appearance and branding that will identify the service as high quality by calling attention to vehicle style and design. Achieving this goal will make this BRT vehicle a legitimate consideration for any city looking to improve transit, ridership and market share. To support these new BRT corridors, the RTC has selected the Wright Bus “Streetcar” as their new “Specialized” Rapid Transit Vehicle (RTV). RTC prefers the use of the term RTV for the BRT vehicle. The use of this term exemplifies RTC’s strong desire to distinguish this service from the existing local bus operations. Based upon the obvious needs and the tremendous success of the MAX demonstration project RTC is now in the process of deploying the next generation of “Specialized” RTVs, the Wright Bus “Streetcar” on various ACE routes. The RTC “Streetcar” continues many of the popular features found in the current MAX “Civis” bus. In addition, some of the new technologies incorporated will include, among others, the first application of the ISE diesel-hybrid propulsion system in an articulated bus offering regeneration of the energy storage system, a fully enclosed “rail-like” operator’s cabin, roof mounted engine cooling system, and an air conditioned energy storage compartment that will result in extended battery life in the Las Vegas operating environment. The ACE rapid transit system will be the RTC's showcase transportation initiative for the Las Vegas Valley and will utilize the Wright Streetcar vehicle. Every aspect of ACE’s function and design will challenge what riders think about mass transit and redefine Las Vegas and define the future of transit for the RTC. The first phase of the ACE Downtown Connector is 3.8 miles with 8 stations that will connect the North end of the Las Vegas Monorail, at Sahara, to downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street. This segment will have 60% dedicated “transit-only lanes and will operate 40% of the time in mixed traffic lanes. Pushing the market place to produce this appealing new RTV was necessary but the complexities of transferring this European technology while maintaining a planned schedule has been challenging. The procurement of these advanced technologies required well developed specifications, diligent design reviews, and good proof of design and contract compliance testing. It also required good overall contract management of these elements. The “rail-like” RTVs envisioned by the RTC will lead the United States transit industry in demonstrating that a newly branded alternative transit mode will attract transit riders and establish itself as a new and distinct transit mode. This paper will explore the key issues involved in RTC’s procurement and technology transfer and the strategies that have resulted in a successful, cost effective and timely procurement of these “Specialized” RTVs.
Monograph Title: Monograph Accession #: 01157862
Language: English
Corporate Authors: American Public Transportation Association 1666 K Street, NW, Suite 1100 Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Authors: Stanko, SandraHighfill, Robert CPagination: 10p
Publication Date: 2009
Conference:
Bus & Paratransit Conference & International Bus Roadeo/Bus Rapid Transit Conference
Location:
Seattle WA, United States Media Type: CD-ROM
Features: Figures; Maps; References
(8)
TRT Terms: Identifier Terms: Geographic Terms: Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: May 11 2010 10:36AM
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