ION Stage I: what would you do differently?

[danbrotherston]

I actually don't recall myself, but with the extra money it would make sense we jumped on developing an LRT over BRT at the time if the region wasn't going to be paying a whole lot for it.

I’m pretty sure the funding was available for either.

That being said, BRT is only cheap if it isn’t full BRT. Full BRT is almost as expensive to build as LRT but doesn’t provide the reduction in operating expense (specifically, to staff the vehicles) at higher traffic levels. This is because full BRT basically means the same design as the LRT but with slightly wider dedicated lanes (more expense) due to the vehicles not being constrained by tracks, and with no need for rail infrastructure (less expense).

If you ever hear about BRT being way cheaper, I guarantee it’s watered down BRT, maybe with dedicated lanes only in a few areas or reserved lanes separated only by paint from the rest of traffic. This is actually one of the advantages of LRT: it’s less likely to be watered down. Still technically possible, because part of the line could be built as a streetcar, but it’s more obviously a dumb idea. Similarly, the inflexibility of tracks embedded in the pavement is part of why LRT is more attractive to property buyers: it’s pretty clear the LRT is unlikely to move. Buses are sometimes sold as more flexible because routes can be changed whenever, but this means people don’t count on them staying around, even though the important routes tend to be pretty stable. How long did Route 7 make the same trip between Fairview Mall and UW?

Also, no overhead catenary unless they are electric buses, which even further defeats the benefits of BRT since buses cannot interline with the BRT route.

But you're absolutely right...the "smart" opponents of LRT supported BRT because of their ability to slowly strip away any semblance of RT and just leave us with little old Bs.

Edit: I should note, I would support BRT in certain locations/circumstances but only in a hypothetical and probably imaginary place where everyone is actually acting in good faith to build good transit.