FW: [svtransitusers] draft group letter: VTA El Camino Real draft env. report (DEIR)

[http://dummy.us.eu.org/robert (Robert)]

Interestingly, the 61 and 62 buses do have stellar connections with the 22
and 522 (unlike some of the other lines mentioned below).

 > From: "http://profiles.yahoo.com/eegenebradley [svtransitusers]" <http://www.yahoogroups.com/~svtransitusers>
 > Date: 11 Jan 2015 22:47:31 -0800
 >
 > Here is the draft of a letter to be sent out on our group's behalf to VTA 
 > regarding the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) report. Based on other 
 > info I've provided, what else needs
 > to be added or corrected in the letter? Please give your input to this letter 
 > by January 14 at
 > noon, when the letter will be sent out. --eugene
 > 
 > ========== LETTER ==========
 > 
 > Silicon Valley Transit Users
 > box 390069
 >  94039-0069
 > January 11, 2015
 > 
 > VTA Environmental Planning Department
 > 3331 N. First Street, Building B-2
 > where-I-live 
 > Attn: Christina Jaworski
 > 
 > Dear Ms. Jaworski:
 > 
 > Thank you for allowing public comment on the VTA's El Camino Real Bus Rapid
 > Transit (BRT) Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Environmental
 > Assessment (EA).  
 > 
 > Many group members have or currently take VTA's 22 and 522 Rapid bus lines 
 > over the years.  In fact, some older members of our group - myself included - 
 > used the 300 "Bonus Bus" up and down El Camino Real for our commutes as early 
 > as 1990.
 > 
 > While we are open to having mixed use "bus queue jumping" lanes or even 
 > dedicated 
 > lanes (preferably) along El Camino Real from where-I-live to Palo Alto, some 
 > questions 
 > have come up.
 > 
 > For starters, the ballot text of Measure A, which voters approved in 2000,
 > includes the El Camino Real BRT project:
 > 
 > "For VTA Line 22 (Palo Alto to Eastridge Center) and the Stevens Creek
 > Boulevard Corridor, purchase new low floor articulated buses. Improve 
 > bus stops and major passenger transfer points and provide bus queue jumping
 > lanes at intersections to permit buses quick access along the corridors."
 > 
 > This was NOT mentioned in any VTA public meeting presentation on the DEIR, 
 > and is only sparsely mentioned in the DEIR/EA document. This yields 
 > several questions:
 > 
 > * Why has VTA proposed dedicated bus lanes as part of the DEIR/EA assessment?
 > While a great idea, this is beyond the bounds of what voters approved in the 
 > ballot 
 > measure, which called for bus queue jumping lanes.
 > * Why has VTA not mentioned how voters approved this project as part of 2000 
 > Measure A? This would certainly clear up confusion amongst residents - some of 
 > whom did not live in Santa Clara County when the measure was approved - on 
 > needing a vote to have dedicated lanes along El Camino Real.
 > * Why has VTA taken over a decade since Measure A's passage to finally begin 
 > work on El Camino Real and the BRT project?  Per the second question, many 
 > people have forgotten that they voted to have this project as part of Measure
 > A back in 2000.
 > 
 > Another question involves VTA's claims of over 18,600 boardings on the El
 > Camino Real BRT corridor in 2018 for the dedicated lane concept.  (An increase
 > from over 12,000 in 2013.) How are these ridership projections calculated? 
 > The ridership projections in the DEIR/EA fail to note free parking in
 > shopping centers and apartment complexes along El Camino Real. Such free
 > parking helps undercut current and future ridership.  One such example: 1,029 
 > free parking spaces at the newly renovated Santa Clara Town Center on El 
 > Camino Real and Scott Blvd. in Santa Clara. Another example: 1,300 parking 
 > spaces 
 > soon to be available at a renovated San Antonio Shopping Center on El Camino
 > Real and San Antonio Rd. in Mountain View. Historically, such abundant free
 > parking at shopping centers and job sites encourages people to drive 
 > everywhere. 
 > What efforts has VTA undertaken with cities to ensure such "free" parking does 
 > not undercut current and future transit ridership along El Camino Real?
 > 
 > One thing we noticed is that heavy automobile traffic on El Camino Real delayed 
 > 
 > the buses by as much as ten minutes. From my own personal observation, over 
 > 96% of the auto traffic on El Camino Real I observed consisted of just the 
 > driver.  
 > While the El Camino Real BRT may help to speed up bus service along El Camino
 > Real, it does nothing to resolve the "last mile" issue often faced with 
 > corridor
 > projects. Some examples include VTA bus lines like the 54, 55, 57, 58, and the
 > 88. These bus lines have frequencies anywhere from 15 minutes to 60 minutes
 > and often do not connect well in terms of schedules with the 22 and 522 Rapid.
 > To that end, what is VTA doing to work with cities to ensure proper, timed 
 > transit connections with other bus lines that cross El Camino Real?  The lack
 > of coordinated connections with bus lines north or south of El Camino Real
 > serves to further undercuts current and future transit ridership along El 
 > Camino 
 > Real.
 > 
 > Final question regards the Transit Signal Priority (TSP) used in particular for
 > the 522 Rapid. What are the travel differences for the 522 Rapid with and 
 > without
 > the technology? I had trouble finding this information in the DEIR. Such 
 > information
 > is critical in the success - or failure - of the El Camino Real BRT project.
 > 
 > If it is done correctly and with honest data, El Camino Real BRT will be 
 > beneficial
 > to transit riders, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists.  Thank you once again 
 > for 
 > allowing public comment for DEIR/EA. Please contact us if you have any 
 > questions or concerns regarding our input.  Your written response to our 
 > questions and concerns is appreciated.
 > 
 > Sincerely,
 > 
 > Eugene Bradley
 > Founder, Silicon Valley Transit Users
 > 
 > ========== END LETTER ==========