Mass Transit

BKI provided their services to the Regional Planning Commission for examination of the initial feasibility of providing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service between St. Tammany Parish and specific locations in Jefferson Parish and City of New Orleans. 

The feasibility study examined the physical requirements for such a system, including identification of initial route network, timetables and capital improvement needs. Locations for stations were evaluated and costs developed for implementation of park and ride station strategy in St. Tammany Parish. 

Coordination issues were also identified to address potential for interface with existing transit operations serving New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. The project’s technical advisory committee was facilitated by BKI to review concept definitions, identify issues, concerns and review implementation strategy. Cost estimates prepared by the project team and reviewed by BKI identified initial facility capital costs to implement the identified park and ride strategy. In addition, BKI developed an initial order of magnitude cost estimate for operations based upon existing area costs for transit operations. 

Operational scenarios defined by BKI and the project team and its Technical Advisory Committee were evaluated for ridership potential by the Regional Planning Commission through its transit travel demand model. Study identified two concepts which held potential to attract ridership, as well as steps required to refine these concepts within an FTA acceptable project development process.

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BKI was contracted by the Coast Transit Authority (CTA) and the Gulf Regional Planning Commission (GRPC) to aid them in developing a solution to the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s growing population.

BKI’s solution was a transit development plan that started with a review of the local operational environment and completion of a comprehensive passenger and household survey to gauge overall knowledge and support of transit in the service area. BKI also assisted CTA staff in development of a strategic plan for use in guiding short- and long-term decisions.

This same plan supported efforts by CTA to develop a system of proposed Multimodal Transportation Centers in their primary hub areas of Downtown Gulfport and Downtown Biloxi. A final element consisting of an on-call planning assistance feature allowed BKI to assess route specific operational elements and recommend routing solutions aimed at increasing passenger ridership and transit service exposure in the community.

Recognizing that a cohesive system of routes and stops is critical to the building ridership, BKI developed a system of color coded route markers and information posting standards to elevate transit stop awareness and information available to the area’s workers, full-time residents as well as the growing military, tourist and seasonal resident population groups.

BKI was retained along with SWLEADER, Inc. to complete a Phase 2 report based upon the outcome of the Five-Year Ferry Ridership Study for the Regional Planning Commission.

The primary task in this phase was to work with a group of identified stakeholders to identify potentially feasible actions which could be taken within the region to address development of a Waterborne Public Transit System. One outcome was the identification of an action plan identifying those elements which would need to be addressed over the next 5-10 year period to improve existing waterborne public transit services offered through the Crescent City Connection Division (CCCD) of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

BKI worked to identify main issues, summarize findings and develop the project report. In addition, BKI completed an initial planning assessment of existing landings and terminals along the Mississippi River corridor between Jefferson Parish and St. Bernard Parish, as well as completed a planning evaluation of a potential water taxi route.