Description
Implementing transit-supportive roadway treatments improves transit speed and reliability. Examples include level boarding, transit signal prioritization and queue jumps, bus only lanes, and signage.
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 SunLine 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. Measures such as bus-only lanes and signal priority 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 & Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Programs (Southern California Council of Governments), the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program (Caltrans), and Measure A from the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
Examples/Case Studies
SCAG Transit Priority Toolkit
SCAG’s toolkit recommends transit signal priority, queue jumps, and dedicated bus-only lanes, with a focus on equity corridors and high-ridership potential
SunLine SRTP – Corridor Treatments
SunLine’s plan recommends shared bus-bike lanes and re-striping projects on arterials such as Highway 111 and Fred Waring Drive to improve reliability