Downtowns usually represent the largest market for transit service, and often the only market that is large enough to support transit service. However, as cities grow, the amount of travel between non-downtown destinations grows as well.
In cities with grid-based road networks (for example, Phoenix and Houston), this demand is typically met by developing a grid-based transit network and growing it outward with demand. However, in most older urban areas, as well as in many newer ones, the road network is radial and not suitable for a grid-based transit network, or even a partial grid network. In these types of cities, most transit systems provide connections between non-downtown areas by developing a hub-and-spoke-type network in which service to non-downtown locations is provided through outlying transit hubs.
A Transit Hub in the central Madison area would be great. Expanding Express Bus options throughout the day to and from downtown would be great. The Gallatin Rd BRT is fine but not great for commuting since it still operates more or less like a local service route and carries a lot of students. A transit hub in central Madison would help many residents living in Madison and Old Hickory.
If you just read the text in the document it sounds great, love the parts about the outlying transit hub’s role in making connections. The supplied map falls way, way short of the mark especially in comparison to the Loops and Bows concept ( https://goo.gl/94KUml ).
Are these the transit hubs to connect RapidBus (or BRT Lite) with Express Bus and local service? No. Five Points is just the second stop on the Rivergate BRT; we are not sending the Rivergate Express bus there, are we? What connections are made at 100 Oaks Mall? It is practically unserved, though it would benefit from a crosstown route to fill in for the missing parts of Briley Parkway.
The outlying hubs are at the edge of the county. They interconnect (that is what a hub does) between the main circulation of the three loops (just one route, amazing!!) and the other transit services operated by MTA, RTA and other county systems.
Here are some key suggestions:
Connect 101 Dickerson with 56 Rivergate at a major hub in Rivergate (do it!).
Connect 105 Nolensville with 55 Murfreesboro at a major hub in Hickory Hollow (do it!). Add a hub around Nolensville/OHB to connect with the Williamson County network including Express Bus and future light rail.
Connect 108 West End to xx Charlotte in Bellevue (do it!) though some savings & service may be had with a 50% split at White Bridge as you show.
New local service in Bellevue and Goodlettsville needs to be part of the plan.
Outlying!
I’m glad to see that Music City stations are potential outlying hubs. Donelson, Hermitage and Mt. Juliet would seem to be the priority places to start.
Regards – Andy
The outlying transit hubs are a great idea and the placement on the map looks fine; but to be honest, the design provided indicates I would have to transfer 2-3 times between home and work. If it were not more convenient than that to take public transportation, I would still drive. Taking more than an hour to go 12 miles is ridiculous.