1. Please provide a brief introduction to your proposed idea in the space provided below. (Limit of 300 characters)
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Dramatically accelerate deployment of CBTC -- by dramatically improving bus service.

Increasing the speed and reliability of buses would allow redirecting passengers from subway during low usage (nights, weekends), thereby gaining time for installing CBTC.


2. Please provide a detailed explanation of your proposed idea, including its key features, technical value, originality, and stage of development of your solution. (Limit of 3,000 characters)
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The process of deploying CBTC will require -- among many other things -- time to physically install the equipment in tunnels and stations. During this time, the subway service must be suspended and alternative service provided. And this alternative could only be a bus.

The capacity of a subway line is about 10 times higher than a bus route. It means that it is hard to replace peak subway service, but it is feasible to replace service during the periods of low usage.

If bus service improves, it will be accepted as an adequate alternative for the subway. By closing a subway line for one night, one gains about 4 hours of time for work. If a full weekend closure would be possible, about 52 hours can be gained.

Improved bus service could also make some passengers to prefer other routes than the affected subway line, further helping to reduce the demand.

The basics of the improvement plan are:

1. Increase distance between stops to 1/4 mile (400 meters)
2. Implement all door boarding

on all routes, all times.

For the fare collection, it is proposed that riders with Unlimited cards or transferring customers will use any door, those who need to validate or purchase their ticket will use the front door. Fare inspectors will check directly the cards (i.e. not the receipts) using their portable equipment.

The positive effect can be increased by directing more people to Unlimited cards by lowering their price in relation to pay-per-ride. Another way to decrease the need for validating is allowing subway-to-bus transfers on single ride tickets, or by offering day tickets from the vending machines.

In effect, the speed of a local bus will increase to the current speed of a limited bus. The reliability will also improve, as there will be less pulling out and back into the traffic.

Some answers for the most common it-can't-be-dones:

1. It will be a hardship for elderly and disabled citizens. -- i: This proposal will indeed make them to walk about 350 feet (100 meters) more, but it will be offset by a shorter ride and maybe a bench at the stop. ii: It is working this way in Europe and Asia, without problems. iii: There is a good paratransit in NY.

2. It would require advanced fare payment technology. -- i: Current MetroCard has all the features needed for the proposed system. Information about card validity or last usage on the card (or in the back-office) can be accessed by the roving fare inspectors. ii: Even no new equipment is needed, as back door will be reserved for customers with tickets not needing validation (as e.g. on the 99-B line in Vancouver).

3. It will increase fare evasion. -- i: Some surveys suggest otherwise (e.g. San Francisco), all depends on the enforcement. ii: Part of the missed fare will come back in savings due to faster service, reducing the number of buses needed.

4. It will still be slower than subways. -- Yes, it will. But if the delay is small and predictable, the customers will accept it.


3. Please describe your experience and qualifications relative to your proposed idea. (Limit of 1,500 characters)
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I have no qualifications in transit planning nor operation. All my experience is based only on frequent transit usage in cities across Europe.


4. Please describe how your proposed idea meets the Core Objectives associated with your selected Challenge Issue Category, as set forth on our website. (Limit of 3,000 characters)
   MTA Genius Transit Challenge Website: http://www.mtageniustransitchallenge.ny.gov/
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This proposal meets the objective 1.1 "Dramatically accelerate deployment of CBTC or similar technology" by offering a solution for gaining the time needed to physically install the equipment.

Using the night time to modernize the signalling in Paris is mentioned in "June 29 Conference Presentation by International Panelists", on page 21, on the Challenge's website. It took 4 years of night-time work to upgrade signals on the line 1, 10 miles (16.6 km) long.

The solution used in Paris scales well: several teams can work at the same time on different sections. It means that speed of installation will most likely be limited by allocated resources and available funds.

Therefore, in optimal case the installation on all lines can be completed within similar time as it has been done in Paris -- within 4 to 6 years.


5. Is your proposed idea in commercial use currently? Select YES or NO
   a. If YES, where is it in use and by whom? (Limit of 300 characters)
   b. If NO, would it be available for a demonstration in the subway system, and in what timeframe?
   (Limit of 300 characters)
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YES

Using the night time to modernize the subway signaling was used (at least) in Paris.

Closing subway during nights is done in many European cities (Paris - all; London, Berlin - weekdays).

Stop spacing of 1/4 mile and proof-of-payment is widely used in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Austria).


6. Given the urgent need to effect near-term change, please provide your estimated timeline for deployment of your proposed idea on an expedited basis throughout the subway system, including an overall completion date, key milestones, and milestone completion dates. Please describe your capability to implement your proposed idea and/or identify any partners required for such implementation. (Limit of 1,500 characters)
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This proposal focuses on providing sufficient time for deployment, not on accelerating the deployment itself. As mentioned in previous parts, Paris succeeded to modernize its line 1 in about 4 years.

Given that:
1. various parts of the subway system can be worked on in parallel,
2. the CBTC system is already available and used in revenue service,
3. all stakeholders are willing to provide support and funding
it can be possible to finish the modernization within 4 to 6 years after this proposal is implemented.

As the proposal consists mainly of organizational changes, the total time needed for its implementation can be very short, under one year. The biggest obstacle is to explain the changes to the public. Other tasks include:
1. determining which bus stops to keep or move;
3. designing subway replacement services;
2. adjusting timetables to the new speeds.

All of those tasks are fully within the capacity of the MTA and its teams.


7. Please estimate the cost of implementing your proposed idea on a system-wide basis. (Limit of 150 characters)
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No new capital costs beyond those for the CBTC system itself.

Change in operating expenses and revenues depends on fare structure and evasion level.