The Cadillac of American BRT Systems Failing Already?
Not yet. Not that I know of. But I’m absolutely dying for more info on that contraption. Anybody know where I can find it? I was minute-by-minute info on every single failure of that system. 
OK - seriously, though - I am very hungry for more information on it. Aren’t there any transportation bloggers in Cleveland? The BRT-instead-of-LRT debate is the single most important urban development topic of the next 100 years, and BRT’s signature system has just started operation in Cleveland. Surely someone over there must be interested in writing about it? Of course, they keep changing the name of it - good marketing there, y’all - so maybe Google just hasn’t caught up with it, yet?
The RTA Healthline/Euclid Corridor/Cleveland BRT has been rolled out as the showcase of American BRT systems - it’s had heavy government funding, lots of government (not private) investment along the route, etc. - if this thing fails, BRT fails in America - it’s that simple. If it does not fail spectacularly, and quickly, then many more American cities will have bus rapid transit inflicted on them - BRT just has that much momentum right now.
The ‘Cadillac’ description came from this suburban Chicago newspaper, which goes on to tell us how we can build more ‘urban highways’ within our fair city:
BRT mainly puts bus transit on a par with trains — without the tracks, of course.
Instead, a bus with a series of cars uses a dedicated lane along a road or highway that is for buses only.
…
It is a natural for Randall Road, which is largely a straight north-south highway stretching almost the length of the county. Right now, the road is filled mostly with businesses. But as it fills in with residential and becomes a more urban highway, BRT is a natural for the route.
Substitute ‘Geary’ or ‘Van Ness’ or ‘Telegraph’ for ‘Randall Road,’ the author of this article could have been writing about BRTs planned for the Bay Area. Right now these Bay Area roads are highway-like, but there must be some pedestrians and bikers still hanging around. When will they ever learn?
…Green City Blue Lake is part of the Livable Streets Blog Network, and they’re based in Cleveland, and have some coverage of the BRT.
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