San Francisco Bay Area is among the most congested and politically diverse communities in the world. This combination creates unique challenges in implementation of multi-modal and multi-agency systems. However, Alameda County Congestion Management Agency and Alameda-Contra Costa Transit Agency have overcome these obstacles and have developed a partnership among 25 federal, state, local, and transit agencies to address congestion and mobility needs for some of the most congested arterial highways in the Bay Area. This has been accomplished through implementation of an innovative combination of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies and Emergency Management System (EMS) programs, creating the East Bay SMART Corridors Program. Historically, solutions to reducing congestion have involved roadway construction and widening. Due to the high cost of land in the Bay Area, space and zoning constraints, and environmental and traffic impacts associated with construction projects, this type of solution is no longer feasible. In contrast, BRT and ITS programs can maximize on existing resources, and can be implemented in a shorter time frame with significantly lower costs and higher impact in congestion reduction. For the covering abstract see ITRD E134653.
Samenvatting