The traffic engineers just ran a new "Vissim" traffic modeling run to determine the total travel time from one end of the line to the other. For you non-engineers (i.e., me!), a Vissim is an innovative visual language for mathematical modeling, simulation, and model-based embedded development. So it lets you simulate like a Pac-Man video game traffic flow for all users of the road and neighboring roads. Vissim is widely used in design, such as for a new Bus Rapid Transit system. The visualizations can be simplistic 2-D or highly complex in 3-D.
The newest data shows that during PM peak travel, if you rode a GRTC Pulse bus from Willow Lawn to Rocketts Landing, it would take 28-31 minutes. In a car, it would take you 20-35 minutes, based on Google traffic mapping during the PM peak travel. On our existing fixed route service, that same trip would take you about an hour and 15 minutes.
Not only will the GRTC Pulse commute be able to get you where you need to be in the same time as your car, it could even be faster than your car with perks like traffic signal prioritization and dedicated lanes.
But what about current GRTC bus riders? Taking a trip down from an hour and 15 minutes to just a half-hour is huge! That's a 40% decrease in travel time. And knowing that a bus will come pick you up every 10 minutes during peak and every 15 minutes off-peak is another huge improvement. This is good news, considering we know our current riders want more frequent and reliable service every day of the week. A BRT is better than both fixed route and express services because permanent stops spur economic growth and increase property values, as well as provide better access to local retail, restaurants, and other businesses along the corridor.
An express bus takes you from one point to another, without stopping in between the two destinations, and thus bypassing all of the businesses, restaurants, housing and healthcare options available. A fixed route takes you from one point to another, but stops a bunch in between your two destinations, which can eat up your time and make bus travel a less efficient option. This is why BRT service is better than both - you stop less often, and operate more frequently, thus providing better and more attractive access and connectivity to major employment, health care, education, retail, and housing along the route.
GRTC Pulse will move you in a frequent, reliable, safe, efficient and affordable (yep, one trip is still $1.50!) manner, making our region a better and more attractive place in which to live, work and play.
Keep your finger on the Pulse of Bus Rapid Transit in Greater RVA!
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