Public Comment

Peter Allen’s assertion in these pages that “The bus rapid transit proposal is an expensive compromise...” is inaccurate. 

In discussing the Orange Line, a bus rapid transit (BRT) line which opened on Oct. 29 of last year in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky pointed out: 

“This project (14 miles long) cost us $330 million. That is what it would cost to build about one mile of subway. And for every mile of light rail, we could build about 2.5 miles of busway, including the acquisition costs if we don’t already own the right of way.” (Metro Investment Report, October 2006.) 

“Opened just last November, the North Hollywood-to-Warner Center line became an unexpected hit.” (L.A. Daily News, Aug. 14, 2006.) 

Furthermore, according to the Oct. 24, 2006 L.A. Daily News: “The line (Orange Line), which debuted on Oct. 29, 2005, has averaged about 21,000 riders each weekday—more than the MTA’s Gold Line, a light-rail system that cost more than triple that of the $330 million, 14-mile-long busway.” 

In regards to the lack of discussion of greenhouse gas emissions in the environmental impact report, it should be pointed out that neither the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) nor the federal government’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that AC Transit discuss carbon dioxide emissions, and in fact, AC Transit cannot discuss these emissions in order to comply with these laws. As anyone following the global warming issue will understand, environmental laws with regard to reporting and regulating greenhouse gas emissions are in a state of flux, and the automobile and fossil fuel lobbies are fighting desperately to avoid regulating these gases. 

However, according to the American Public Transportation Association, if you travel to your destination using public transit instead of by car, you will on average produce half as much carbon dioxide in getting there. With auto use being the biggest contributor to GHG’s in our region, leaving our cars at home and taking a faster BRT that is convenient and reliable is the biggest, most immediate and most effective step Berkeley residents can take in reducing GHG’s. 

Len Conly is co-chair of Friends of BRT.