Scuttling bus rapid transit plans, Pierce Transit is moving ahead with a scaled back express bus shadowing Route 1.
Bus rapid transit (BRT) along Pacific Avenue/State Route 7 in Pierce County is no longer feasible, according to Pierce Transit. The agency’s board met on August 14th and voted to effectively end the project as it was proposed and planned, promising “Enhanced Bus Service” along a stretch of the original BRT route instead.
“Delivering fast, reliable service remains the Board’s priority and enhanced bus service along Pacific Avenue can be delivered quickly. With the Board’s decision at its August 14 study session, staff can get to work to deliver the service this community deserves at a cost that is within budget,” said Pierce Transit Board Chair Kristina Walker in a statement. “Our long-term vision remains implementation of a full-service Bus Rapid Transit project that can address the needs of our rapidly growing community, but we know riders deserve high-quality transit now.”
Bus rapid transit vision
The first of several proposed BRT lines comprising Pierce Transit “Stream” BRT network, the “Community Line” would have brought high-capacity, frequent, and efficient bus service to a 14.4-mile stretch of SR 7 between Spanaway and downtown Tacoma. At its best, BRT resembles light rail in how it prioritizes buses by giving them signal priority and dedicated transit lanes that help them avoid traffic congestion.
As Ryan Packer reported in July, it was becoming clear high-quality BRT was no longer what was in the works after the Pierce Transit Board advanced a value engineering proposal to try to salvage the troubled, overbudget project by cutting several elements.
