Bus / Rail Interface

As the Metro Rail system expands, adjustments are made to the bus system to improve access to rail stations, take advantage of new transfer facilities, and reduce bus and rail service duplication. The following guidelines provide direction to routing and scheduling changes that will be necessary as the Metro Rail system is expanded:

Cancellation of Parallel Limited and Express Service
Competing limited stop and express service that parallel the rail corridor will be discontinued when duplication exists.

Diverting Service
Bus routes that run parallel to a rail line may be diverted to a station when:

• The walk time from the nearest station is greater than 3 minutes.
• The diversion time in one direction is 5 minutes or less.
• The average three-hour peak load factor is less than 50 percent.
• There is a net travel time benefit for connecting and through traveling riders.

Intersecting bus lines or bus lines that travel in a perpendicular direction to a rail line will be diverted to serve the closest rail station when:

• The diversion time in one direction is 5 minutes or less.
• The average three-hour peak load factor is less than 75 percent.
• There is a net travel time benefit for connecting and through traveling riders.

Extending Terminating Lines
Bus routes that end within one mile of a rail station will be extended to terminate at the station. Routes that terminate at distances greater than one mile may be extended if the rerouting will create a valuable link to the rail system or will result in a reduction in travel time for a significant number of riders.

New Bus Routes
New rail feeder service will be considered as part of the service change process if a need is demonstrated and if funding is available as part of the service change process.

Scheduling Bus Interface

• During peak travel periods, bus arrival and departure times should be governed by the rail arrival and departure times when predominant movement is from bus to rail.
• During off-peak times, bus routes with frequencies of 20 minutes or greater ending at a rail station should be scheduled to arrive 2-5 minutes before the rail departure time.
• When the predominant movement is from rail to bus, terminal buses should be scheduled to depart 2-5 minutes after the scheduled rail arrival time.