Utah County eyeing system of zippy futuristic buses
The futuristic system — called "Bus Rapid Transit" — isn't the first of its kind, but the program could be a pioneer for mass transportation in Utah. Be- cause of the close proximity between Brigham Young University and Utah Valley State College, the valley's transportation system could be a good model for the rest of the nation, too, according to Mountainland Association of Gov- ernments transportation planners.
"My vision of (BRT) is that it will be the most advanced system in Utah when it's built," said Chad Eccles, transportation planner for MAG, Utah County's metropolitan planning organization.
Salt Lake, Weber and Davis counties also are planning to add BRT lines to their transportation plan, but Eccles wants Utah County's to be more progressive.
MAG is looking at finding a way to add a rapid bus system to Provo and Orem as a step to mitigate traffic concerns in the area before commuter rail is built. The estimated $80 million system would feature 12-15 new buses that can carry up to 90 people and travel between south Provo and Orem. The BRT would also connect to the commuter rail at major "intermodal" hubs that would include the regular bus service.
Concept sketches of the BRT in Utah County feature a futuristic-looking bus with big windows and an aerodynamic nose, but Eccles is quick to point out that BRT is more than an ordinary bus line with a fancy exterior. Those other features are what could set the BRT in Utah County apart from the rest of Utah.
For one thing, the bus, which could be an electric hybrid vehicle, could run frequently, on a smaller route, than the normal bus service. The BRT's "super stops" could be glorified bus stops with canopies and a signal that indicates when the next bus will arrive. Passengers could buy boarding tickets at the station, as with TRAX, to speed up entry and exit of the BRT.
The platforms at BRT stations could line up with the buses' doors, which would all open simultaneously, so passengers wouldn't have to wait to enter in one door by the driver.
The BRT could also use infrared beams to control traffic signals in its favor. In some cities where BRT systems are functional, the BRT occupies its own lane, which is separated from other lanes by a concrete guard. Transportation planners also have talked about building a "queue jumper" lane whereby the bus can bypass long lines of cars at stoplights and start ahead of the rest of traffic.
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