R esidents of the Spokane Transit area may vote this year on a light rail plan. The proposal is only for a line from Liberty Lake through the Spokane Valley to downtown Spokane, and the cost is reported to be $300 million. It would take eight years to build.

A no vote may allow for an alternative – bus rapid transit – which would cost less, be implemented more quickly and would benefit a larger percentage of Spokane Transit patrons.

The Federal Transit Administration describes bus rapid transit as combining the quality of rail transit with the flexibility of buses. Officials in Brisbane, Australia, began a BRT system because they wanted to bring transit to the people rather than requiring that the people come to transit.

Because of its flexibility, bus rapid transit can operate in a number of ways. The most efficient type is a system that can operate on a dedicated roadway such as is planned for the light rail in Spokane Valley. Some cities use tracks or other guidance systems, but the buses can still travel normally on streets as well.

New technology for buses increases the length to 80 feet, comparable to a diesel light rail vehicle like the one proposed for Spokane. Long buses can still operate on regular streets.

There is also a simpler BRT system that operates on regular streets with special lanes; priority signaling, fewer stops and various passenger amenities have special advantages. It is still flexible, but can be established at minimum cost.

Any BRT system would most likely not involve any increased tax, which is important to understand.

The Los Angeles Orange Line, a bus rapid transit line that opened last fall, uses a dedicated road with rail-like stations and special modern buses. It is attracting more riders each day than the city’s light rail line, which opened four years ago and cost approximately three times more than the Orange Line.

Eugene, Ore., will open its bus rapid transit line at the end of this year at a cost of less than $6 million a mile.

In comparison, similar high standard bus rapid transit service along the Spokane Valley/Liberty Lake corridor would cost approximately $84 million, the same as the Eugene bus rapid transit.

There are many other benefits. Bus rapid transit can offer “seamless” service – that is, no change of vehicles, even from outlying neighborhoods, operating on local streets before entering the bus rapid transit corridor. This flexibility is important. Buses used on the service can operate on regular streets and also use the existing maintenance facilities, drivers, supervisors and other staff. Seamless service could be implemented through the city center and beyond, therefore servicing most of the Spokane Transit area.

Bus rapid transit is another tool in the transportation toolbox. Such considerations as features of the corridor, how many passengers now and in the future and how much money is available should determine the technology, not the other way around.

Bus rapid transit operates in large, medium and small metropolitan areas throughout the world, and many of them have received high marks.

Oakland’s bus rapid transit began in 2004. A survey indicated that 45 percent of the riders had not traveled by bus before and most had used automobiles. The Leeds, England, Superbus, which operates on guided busway sections, achieved 75 percent greater ridership in the two and a half years of operation.

The York Region Transit in Ontario predicts a 30 percent increase in bus rapid transit riders, moving 7,000 car trips a day off the highway system. Brisbane’s Inner Northern Busway brought 84,000 new passengers in the first six months.

There has been substantial economic development and appreciation of land values along bus rapid transit routes. Technology for buses and infrastructure for bus rapid transit systems has been progressing rapidly. Established and new systems can take advantage of the technology changes quickly.

Light rail at a cost of $300 million is not feasible and would not serve such areas as south Spokane, north Spokane, Cheney, Medical Lake, Airway Heights and Northwest Terrace. It would tax these areas while providing zero benefits.

Given all the options, bus rapid transit should be the way to go, today and into the future for Spokane. Spokane needs to join important world and U.S. cities that have chosen effective and efficient bus rapid transit systems.