1. December 4, 2008 Preserving the American Dream 1 1 Faster by Bus By Gabriel Roth

2. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream2 Comparing travel by rail and bus  Comparisons should be of like-with-like  Exclusive rights-of-way should be assumed for both modes  The median of the Dulles Airport Access Road can accommodate a busway as easily as a railway

3. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream3 Speed  Express Buses can offer faster door-to- door service than rail if every train has to stop at every station. For example:  Reston-to-Pentagon:  By Fairfax Connector 40 minutes;  By planned Dulles rail 57 minutes.  Buses offer higher frequencies than rail — reducing passenger waiting time.

4. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream4  Bus service more flexible than rail, so requires fewer changes at stations  Passengers with luggage can travel by bus or minibus without having to change modes or negotiate Metro stations Convenience:

5. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream5 Busways offer higher capacity  Lincoln Tunnel express bus lanes carry 32,000 seated passengers per hour  WMATA Red Line carrying 17,760 passengers in peak hour — many standing — is running at 94 percent of its capacity

6. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream6 Easier access to premises in urban centers  Tyson's Corner, Reston, and other urban centers need to be served by circulating buses  Such buses could be given direct access the busway, without requiring passengers to change travel modes at stations

7. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream7 No injustice to toll road users  Travelers on the Dulles Toll Road would not have their tolls raised to finance a facility few would use

8. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream8 Bus competition can improve service and lower costs  Rail service to Dulles would be monopolistic  Bus services can be provided competitively  Competition and flexibility can improve service and lower costs

9. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream9 More effective use of right-of-way  Space between rail trains is wasted  Space between buses can be used by other vehicles

10. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream10 Virtual Exclusive Busways Right-of-way dedicated to buses, with other fee-paying vehicles using the available remaining capacity, is more effectively used and can raise funds to pay for the busway  Fees set to ensure free flow, and collected electronically, as on California’s SR-91 Express Lanes  As proposed by Bob Poole and Ken Orski in rps.305  As proposed by Bob Poole and Ted Balaker in rps.337

11. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream11 Lower costs  Bus system-costs are typically a third of rail system’s  while providing superior service for most trips

12. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream12 Cost Per Person-Mile of Travel  Source: John Semmens, Arizona Transportation Institute ModePrivate costs TaxesTotal Roads$0.32$0.04$0.36 Buses$0.15$0.94$1.09 Commuter rail $0.22$1.28$1.50 Light rail$0.15$2.75$2.90

13. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream13 Can we help Peter Orszag, the new budget director?  The President-Elect requires Peter Orszag to review federal spending programs,  "eliminating those programs we don't need and insisting that those we do need operate in a cost-effective way.”  (Barack Obama, Nov. 25, 2008)

14. December 4, 2008Preserving the American Dream14 Mr. President-Elect: YES WE CAN ! ! !  We can show your budget director how to provide superior transit service in the National Capital region at lower cost  Connect Dulles airport by BUS!