Montgomery County MD Council Committee recommends BRT system for CCT

[WMAveteran]

On January 20, 2012 THE WASHINGTON POST reported that the Montgomery County Council Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy & Environment Committee (T&E) recommended building the Corridor Cities Transitway (15 mile line between Shady Grove and Clarksburg via Gaithersburg and Germantown) as a BRT system rather than LRT as the council recommended in 2009.  "Although the council previously endorsed light rail, members of the transportation committee said they were swayed by a recent state analysis showing that a busway would provide significantly higher economic benefits because it could be built 10 to12 years earlier than the more costly light rail.  State transit planners have said they are leaning toward the bus rapid transit system as the better option because of its lower cost and ability to better serve the more spread-out upcounty."  "If the full council endorses a bus rapid transit system Tuesday (1/24/2012), the recommendation would go to Maryland Gov, Martin O'Malley (D), who would choose a mode and route for a Corridor Cities Transitway" (CCT). 

[WMAveteran]

From the January 25, 2012 edition of THE GAZETTE: "A unanimous vote Tuesday (January 24, 2012) highlights a shift among council members to go with a system it previously rejected in an effort (to) expedite the CCT and research-oriented growth near Gaithersburg and Rockville.  In 2009, the council voted 6 to 3 to recommend to the state light rail as its choice for the project.  Tuesday, no member objected to the proposal to change the preference from light rail to a bus system." 

[Tritransit Area]

Oh wow!  I'm a little disappointed that we won't see light rail along the so-called Purple Line but it may work out to be better for the region.  I just hope that the CCT is built with multiple access points (similar to the busways in Pittsburgh) so that they have the maximum flexibility with planning routes to serve the region.

[WMAveteran]

Oh wow!  I'm a little disappointed that we won't see light rail along the so-called Purple Line but it may work out to be better for the region.  I just hope that the CCT is built with multiple access points (similar to the busways in Pittsburgh) so that they have the maximum flexibility with planning routes to serve the region.

Actually the Purple Line is still on track for a light rail system as I recall.  It's just the CCT that is recommended to have a BRT system.  We still have to wait for the State to make the final selection but it has leaned toward BRT all along for the CCT. 

[Tritransit Area]

Oh!  I was confused by the corridors, lol - that's for clearing that up for me!