Description
Implementing transit-supportive roadway treatments improves transit speed and reliability. Transit priority lanes are dedicated or restricted lanes for transit vehicles preferential use on roadways. Transit signal prioritization extend green lights or shorten red phases for approaching transit vehicles at intersections. Both examples of transit-supportive roadways treatments intend to improve the reliability and speed of transit, which improves competitiveness of public transportation relative to single occupancy vehicles.
Implementation Details
- Install bus-only lanes and queue jumps on congested corridors to improve service reliability and efficiency.
- Apply re-striping treatments and peak-hour restrictions at intersections near commercial centers and transit hubs.
- Coordinate design and implementation with transit agencies within Marin County to align with frequent service corridors.
- Focus treatments on arterials in cities where transit demand is already high.
Mitigation Potential
Continued investments in transit will improve travel time, reliability, convenience to make it an attractive option for daily travel. This can encourage more users to shift from Single Occupancy Vehicle, which reduces VMT.
For more details, see CAPCOA, T-27. Implement Transit-Supportive Roadway Treatments, pg. 193-196 and CALTRANS SB743 Program Mitigation Playbook, Transit service improvement, pg. 25-27 for VMT reduction quantification.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Transit-priority improvements should focus on corridors with high ridership potential in disadvantaged communities. Bus-only lanes and transit signal priority can reduce travel time for transit users, many of whom lack access to a car. Careful community engagement is needed to avoid unintended displacement due to improved access and infrastructure investment.
Funding Sources
Requires initial funding to construct, plus ongoing funding for maintenance and operations. Grants and other one-time sources are available (though competitive), and a new regional transit sales tax may provide additional sources of ongoing funding. Funding sources include the Bus Programs – Buses and Bus Facilities Competitive Grants – Low or No Emissions Bus Grants (Federal Transit Administration), the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (California Department of Housing and Community Development), the Multifamily Finance Super NOFA (California Department of Housing and Community Development), the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (Caltrans), the Solutions for Congested Corridors Program (California Transportation Commission), the Capital Investment Grants– Small Starts, New Starts, and Core Capacity (Federal Transit Administration), the Surface Transportation Block Grant (Metropolitan Transportation Commission), and the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (Caltrans).
Implemented in TAM Area
Current TDM Implementation
The Transit Priority Corridor Project is a current planning effort from Marin Transit to make improvements to high ridership corridors, including bus stop improvements, transit priority treatments, and enhanced passenger information. TAM is currently progressing the project for a peak-period bus-only lane on the US-101, as well as widespread transit priority efforts like traffic signalization and roadway improvements.
TDM Benefit Locations
Transit-supportive roadway treatments are especially beneficial in high congestion areas, like 4th Street and Lincoln Avenue in San Rafael, along South Novato Boulevard, and along the US-101.