1. : Research Question: Would ridership needs in the area of the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project be better Served by the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit system or an expansion of the trolley System? Abstract: On July 23 rd, 2010, SANDAG reconfirmed the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project. It will extend the already existing LRT system from Old Town Transit Center to University City. The purpose of this research is to examine if the BRT system is a better alternative form of public transportation than the proposed LRT solution. By comparing the operation and capital costs, fare, ridership and economic development of the LRT and BRT system, I found that not only is the BRT system more economically feasible, it is also easier to implement and more flexible than the LRT system. Through these findings, it shows that the BRT system is indeed a better alternative method for this region than the trolley extension. Conclusion : BRT is flexible, easy to implement and more economically feasible to build than an LRT system. With BRT’s flexibility, services could be added and routes could be changed based on regional growth and demand. Expansion of the trolley to UCSD will allow efficient transit from UCSD to downtown, however it fails to link to other parts of the San Diego region that desperately needs public transit, such as areas with a high percentage of households without a vehicle and areas with an excess amount of low income households. Although for SANDAG’s proposed route expansion, the trolley is less expansive than the BRT system, what San Diego needs is an entire efficient system of public transit. If SANDAG had investigated the proposed region as a whole instead of the one single route, I believe the BRT system would be the better alternative method for this region. Research Methods: Case studies – BRT in Brisbane, Australia. BRT vs. LRT in Los Angeles, California. Census Data American FactFinder Database – San Diego County Median Age, San Diego County Percentages of House Holds without a Vehicle, Average Population Income in San Diego Region SANDAG, MTS, GAO, TransNet, i-15 BRT Plan, BRT Guideline - Operation & Capital Cost, Ridership, Fare, Economic Development LIGHT RAIL TRANSITBUS RAPID TRANSIT OPERATION & CAPITAL COST Capital Cost on average is $34.79 million. Operation Cost on average is $13.25 million. Capital Cost on average is $13.49 million for Busways, $8.97 million for Bus on HOV Lanes, $0.68 million for Bus on Arterial. Operation Cost on average is $3.96 million. RIDERSHIP Elderly and youth are more likely to use Light Rail Transit. People without private vehicles and people with low income are also more likely to use Light Rail Transit. From the survey, Light Rail Transit is seemed to be more comfortable and user-friendly by local residents. Elderly and youth are more likely to use Bus Rapid Transit. People without private vehicles and people with low income are also more likely to use Bus Rapid Transit. In comparison to LRT, BRT is seemed to be the lesser of the two choices from the respondents of the survey. FARE One way: $2.50 Day Pass: $5.00 Senior: $1.25 One way: $2.50 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTEconomic development increases significantly with the addition of a Light Rail Transit station. Light Rail stations are more permanent in comparison to Bus Rapid stations, therefore businesses are more likely to bloom. Because Bus Rapid Transit are flexible and can be changed more easily, economic development along Bus Rapid stations are less significant than Light Rail stations. Businesses like consistency. Evaluating BRT and LRT in the San Diego’s Mid-Coast Corridor Region Jennifer W. Chang, University of California, San Diego, Urban Studies and Planning Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project Trolley Extension Line Findings: BRT has been very successful in the two case studies of Brisbane, Australia and Los Angeles, California. Because of the similarities between these two cities and San Diego, BRT should also be a successful form of public transit in SD. San Diego County Percentage of House Holds without a vehicle Average Population Income in San Diego County References: Maps – SANDAG, GIS Charts – GAO 03/08/2011