Acceleride

Acceleride (styled corporately as AcceleRide) is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system that has been proposed by Brampton Transit in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. It would be similar to the BRT system currently operated by York Region Transit's Viva system. On January 8 2008, the Government of Canada formalized its $95 million investment by signing a federal-municipal contribution agreement with the City of Brampton. $53 million is provided for the first phase, which came from the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSID), and the other $42 million will be provided for the second phase. The first phase is expected to be between 2010 and 2012, and the whole BRT system will be completed by 2021.

Brampton Transit has made arrangements to purchase 19 vehicles and build a new terminal, called Eastgate, pending provincial funding for the project. The city of Brampton hopes to connect the city with transit operators in Toronto, central Mississauga and GO Transit, as well as using Highway 7, Highway 407 and Highway 403. The system will make use of exclusive bus lanes and queue-jump lanes at major intersections (of which some have already been built).

Routes

The first two routes planned are the following:
* BY Line: Brampton - York Region BRT line, an east-west route using Highway 7 and Queen Street with connections to VIVA.
* Main Line: Hurontario/Main Street Line, running north-south along those two streets with connections to Mississauga Transit.

Other routes will be added when warranted, with Steeles Avenue, Bovaird Drive and Dixie Road identified as likely possibilities.

Brampton-Mississauga BRT line will also be using Highway 407 and 403. Future plans would eventually see the BRT converted to an LRT option in downtown Brampton.

Other possible links include:
* Airport link to Airport Corporate Centre
* Brampton-Milton BRT line using Highways 401 and 407

Terminals

Currently, there are no new terminals built, but the city is committed to build one on Highway 7 near the York Region border, tentatively called Eastgate. It is likely that the current terminal in downtown Brampton will be used.

Fares

With York Region's Viva as a precedent, it is probable that the Acceleride routes will share the same fare structure as the conventional Brampton Transit system.

The Presto card will be added to the fare system by 2010.

Vehicles

Brampton's Acceleride will likely use the same vehicles used by Viva: standard and articulated buses.

ee also

*MoveOntario 2020

References

* [http://www.city.brampton.on.ca/city_dept/plan_build/ttmp/Brochure.pdf Acceleride - Brampton Rapid Transit Initiative]
* [http://www.city.brampton.on.ca/city_dept/plan_build/ttmp/home.tml Transportation and Transit Master Plan]
* [http://www.city.brampton.on.ca/city_dept/plan_build/ttmp/AcceleRideRep.pdf Acceleride - Rapid Transit Corridor Opportunities]
* [http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/nat/2008/08-h003e.htm Government of Canada $95 million investment, January 8, 2008]

External links

* [http://www.city.brampton.on.ca/transit/acceleride/home.tml Official AcceleRide website]