Transitways don’t have to be ugly. They don’t even have to be paved. There are many examples around the world of grass-track transitways for light rail or BRT, and a lot of local interest in using them here. Maryland is actively considering grass tracks for the Purple Line, and the idea could theoretically be applied to the Corridor Cities and Crystal City transitways as well.

Since apparently some of the opposition to transit in King Farm is based on the absolutely incorrect misconception that all transitways must consist of massive concrete barriers, here are examples of grass transitways from around the world.

New Orleans, LA – By tinydr	Fort Collins, CO – By BeyondDC
Kenosha, WI – By kschmidt626	Concept for Purple Line – By State of Maryland
Porto, Portugal – By gradiate	Paris, France – By collilnchurcher2003
Strasbourg, France – By GEO.Hellas	Barcelona, Spain – By Daniel Sparing

Even BRT can be accommodated in a grass transitway, as Eugene, Oregon’s Emerald Express illustrates:

Eugene, OR BRT – By City of Alexandria, VA

Eugene, OR BRT – By rob_wrenn

Cross-posted at Greater Greater Washington.