Study Purpose & Focus

In late 2021, NCTD launched the BREEZE Speed and Reliability Study to improve service on ten high-priority bus routes. The study’s primary goal is to identify and prioritize opportunities to improve the speed and reliability of these ten BREEZE routes through the implementation of transit-supportive infrastructure, technology, and policies. 

This study builds upon the previous Land Use and Transit Integration Study and Strategic Multimodal Transit Implementation Plan. It will identify specific locations where the use of transit-supportive infrastructure, technology, and/or policies can improve: 

• Bus Speed: How quickly a bus reaches its destinations 
• Bus Reliability: The on-time performance and predictability of bus arrivals 

The study supports NCTD’s five-year plan to increase frequency on its core BREEZE bus network to provide fast, frequent, and reliable service on its highest-ridership routes. 

This page will be updated periodically with information on the study’s progress and ways to get involved. For more information, please contact NCTD at planning@nctd.org.  

Study Schedule

The roughly 18-month study is divided into three phases, with each phase featuring engagement with local cities and other stakeholders. 

• Late 2021-Spring 2022: Existing Conditions & Problem Identification  

Key tasks include data analysis; infrastructure review; operator interviews 

• Spring 2022-Summer 2022: Toolbox & Strategy Recommendations 

Key tasks include transit best practices toolbox; strategy recommendations; analysis of community impacts 

• Fall 2022-Early 2023: Prioritization & Implementation 

Key tasks include prioritization of strategies; implementation plan; funding plan 

City & Stakeholder Engagement

As these bus corridors cross jurisdictional boundaries and serve a diverse range of passengers, the study’s engagement component focuses on working with city staffs and key stakeholders to understand local conditions, share solutions across corridors, and develop strategies that are sensitive to community needs. This process will help refine the strategies for implementation as future projects.  

The study’s engagement includes: 

• Technical Working Group: Input from city planners and engineers about local context, priorities, and the technical details of strategy recommendations. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Input from key stakeholder groups such as about the wide range of travel needs, especially in regard to disadvantaged communities and transit-dependent populations. 

As the strategy recommendations advance beyond this study toward design and implementation, additional engagement activities are expected that will move beyond the technical focus of this study into opportunities for broader public involvement.