Brio, our new rapid transit system was launched Monday, October 27, 2014.
One of the features we have been told about is the ability of the bus operator to hold an already green light green. I’m not sure this is a good idea. People will probably learn how to follow closely behind or beside the buses to take advantage of the extended green lights.
Frightening
One of our regular readers told me about a harrowing experience she had on the first day of Brio’s operation.
She was driving on Mesa in the northbound direction. She needed to turn left onto an intersecting street. She had a green light and was positioned to turn left. A Brio bus passed through the intersection in the south bound direction. When the light turned yellow on her side she proceeded in order to get out of the intersection. Her supposition was that the south bound traffic would also have a yellow light soon to be followed by a red light.
As she turned left she was almost broadsided by a south bound vehicle. She realizes that it was her responsibility to yield and that had an accident occurred it would have been her fault. Shaken, she looked up at the light from the south bound side and saw much to her surprise that the south bound lanes still had a green light. Evidently the Brio bus had succeeded in holding the south bound light green but the north bound lights were operating independently.
When I expressed disbelief and my thoughts that she might have been seeing things she was adamant that she had experienced what she had related.
Word to the wise
If she is right we are going to have some problems. They will ultimately have to fix this.
Please be careful.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
In theory other cities that have these “almost light rail” systems should have learned how to make this work safely, and El Paso could just follow their examples. In theory. Maybe Ms. Shaung can do some research on this while she’s at home.
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The Brio bus I saw about 6 p.m. last night was empty, except for the driver. I followed it for 3 miles. No one ever got on it.
A word of caution for drivers. The police have established several new radar trap locations which have been selected to catch people coming downhill, when a person is more apt to increase speed. Some of these traps are being used on almost a daily basis during morning and evening drive times, The city must really be concerned about revenue.
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Tues & Wed 6 pm Brio buses empty and stuck in traffic like the rest of us. No riders from Utep to Shadow Mountain.
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The speed limit on Mesa is 45. Try driving at 45! They can stop and fine just about anyone….meantime, whatever happened to the ordinance prohibiting use of handheld cellphones???
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The number of people using handheld cellphones while driving is really p—–g me off. No respect for the law or for the safety of others. The city created this problem by backpedaling shortly after the ordinance was passed; they decided to give violators the option to place a bumper sticker on their car rather than pay the fine. Now, the police simply don’t enforce it. I even see city and EPISD employees talking on their phones while driving.
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I noticed that the Biro buses were sitting at the stop lights today. Guess someone forgot as mentioned to make sure the lights operate right.
As to speed traps both the Sheriff and the City are running radar on Transmountain. If you get caught by the city make sure they caught you within the city limits as I’ve see them running radar outside of the city limits.
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I saw ONE person on a Brio Bus mid day.
It’s paying off !
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How is it that the developers of the View at Montecillo were able to get a Brio stop which is basically dedicated to their apartments and development? Looks like another case of the city giving preferential treatment to one developer to help increase the appeal and marketability of that one development. Coincidentally, the former city CFO now works for the property management company which represents Montecillo.
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but i thought that those monticillo residents (renters) were the neuvoux riche. why do they need buses? rent they happy with their hyundais’ mileages?
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