With the opening of the 35th South MAX route in the near future, it's planned right now for July 14th, UTA has also indicated they want to build more MAX routes as well as they get the equipment (buses and stop amenities) to do so.
Here's what is needed in a MAX system. I've included Provo/Orem as there is a second line that could be done that is a no-brainer to anyone there.
33rd South MAX. Run from Millcreek TRAX to the current EOL for Route 33. Would have to operate in mixed traffic (Type 1 BRT).
54th South MAX. Runs 53rd/54th South out to 56th West (further once development west of that is done). East of Murray Central TRAX it would take a route over to 62nd South and end near Knudsen's Corner.
7th/13th East MAX. From Downtown take 7th East to 9th East to/through Union Park, that becomes 13th East. Go all the way down to 123rd South, take that west to Draper TRAX. Meets up with Redwood MAX there.
Redwood MAX. From Downtown go to Redwood Road and take that completely to 125th South, then east to the Draper TRAX station. Crosses 35th, 54th, Mid-Jordan TRAX, and 90th South MAX.
90th South MAX. From 96th South near the Canyon mouth all the way out to either Bangerter or past it, then down to Daybreak, provide local service to Daybreak, if there is no local route in Daybreak yet.
Highland MAX. From 21st South TRAX, take 21st South to Highland Drive, then down Highland Drive the entire length, ending at 90th South presently with the possibility of expanding it further, this would replace the 'east side' MAX proposal on the UTA website.
There are others planned for other counties, that will be in a later post.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
First came TRAX, then FrontRunner, now meet MAX!
I always said I would talk about the good that UTA is doing. Here's the latest development, and it is sure a good one too.
First we had TRAX built, and more lines are now in the planning stages or under construction, now we have FrontRunner opening this year with the Provo extension in the planning stages, and now as of July 14th, MAX will be on the prowl.
MAX, if you haven't heard, is the new system of Bus Rapid Transit' or 'BRT' routes that UTA is starting up. Only one is to be run so far, the rest are in planning and depend on various funding and other needs before they can start them up. That first one is to be on 3500 South starting at Millcreek (3300 South) TRAX and go all the way out to Magna, with stops roughly every half mile.
I've just learned that this will not completely supplant the Route 35, but that route is so heavily used that this is the perfect relief system for that route. It's also immediately expandable, all they have to do if that is needed, and it will be, is add more buses and adjust the schedule. TRAX is more complicated, but setting up a MAX route and timetables and making needed adjustments will be much easier.
MAX will operate the same hours that TRAX does, and have a 15 minute headway (meaning it runs that often, every 15 minutes). The new buses for the line have three doors, you board anywhere, and buy a ticket at a TVM at each MAX station, which also have the unique variation on the 'striper' pattern that the MAX buses have, except it's a glass etching that is seen on the MAX buses, 'MAX' is in blue letters on the side panel of the station framework, and there are other informational things that will be installed, and special stop signage will be set up as well.
This is only one of about eight MAX routes being planned. The second one, the Provo Orem Colleges MAX line, had a hearing this week, it could likely be the next one opened.
More on the other plans in another post.
This is one of the great innovations that is what makes UTA work well. The real problem after all though is the misuse of ISO 9001.2000 and the abuse of that standard to second-guess the needs and wishes of the ridership that relies on UTA.
First we had TRAX built, and more lines are now in the planning stages or under construction, now we have FrontRunner opening this year with the Provo extension in the planning stages, and now as of July 14th, MAX will be on the prowl.
MAX, if you haven't heard, is the new system of Bus Rapid Transit' or 'BRT' routes that UTA is starting up. Only one is to be run so far, the rest are in planning and depend on various funding and other needs before they can start them up. That first one is to be on 3500 South starting at Millcreek (3300 South) TRAX and go all the way out to Magna, with stops roughly every half mile.
I've just learned that this will not completely supplant the Route 35, but that route is so heavily used that this is the perfect relief system for that route. It's also immediately expandable, all they have to do if that is needed, and it will be, is add more buses and adjust the schedule. TRAX is more complicated, but setting up a MAX route and timetables and making needed adjustments will be much easier.
MAX will operate the same hours that TRAX does, and have a 15 minute headway (meaning it runs that often, every 15 minutes). The new buses for the line have three doors, you board anywhere, and buy a ticket at a TVM at each MAX station, which also have the unique variation on the 'striper' pattern that the MAX buses have, except it's a glass etching that is seen on the MAX buses, 'MAX' is in blue letters on the side panel of the station framework, and there are other informational things that will be installed, and special stop signage will be set up as well.
This is only one of about eight MAX routes being planned. The second one, the Provo Orem Colleges MAX line, had a hearing this week, it could likely be the next one opened.
More on the other plans in another post.
This is one of the great innovations that is what makes UTA work well. The real problem after all though is the misuse of ISO 9001.2000 and the abuse of that standard to second-guess the needs and wishes of the ridership that relies on UTA.
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