Bus Rapid Transit
Number 2 -- rev. September 2006
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) combines the quality of rail transit
and the flexibility of buses. It can operate on exclusive transitways, HOV lanes,
expressways, or ordinary streets. A BRT system combines intelligent transportation systems
technology, priority for transit, rapid and convenient fare collection, and integration
with land use policy in order to substantially upgrade bus system performance.
Overview
Bus Rapid Transit and Other Bus Service Innovations. US Senate, Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, June 24, 2003
Committee testimony from FTA Administrator Dorn, JayEtta Hecker, US General
Accounting Office, Gary Brosch, National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, Kenneth
Hamm, Lane Transit District, and others. Topics addressed include: funding
sources, defining BRT, and current applications of the technology.
Source: US Senate web site at: http://banking.senate.gov/03_06hrg/062403/index.htm
Bus Rapid Transit Volume 1: Case Studies. Herbert Levinson, Samuel
Zimmerman & others, 2003.
Twenty six case studies of BRT in North America and abroad demonstrate that
BRT does work. BRT systems can attract new transit riders and induce transit-oriented
land use and economic development. Report includes several tables comparing
running way characteristics, development costs, and ridership increases, etc.
Source: TCRP Report 90 v.1, Transportation Research Board,National
Research Council.
Location: http://gulliver.trb.org/publications/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_90v1.pdf
Bus Rapid Transit Volume 2: Implementation Guidelines. Herbert Levinson,
Samuel Zimmerman & others, 2003.
Provides specific technical information on running ways, signal prioritization,
stations and facilities, BRT vehicles, ITS applications, and operations. Also
includes chapters on desirable conditions for BRT, on financing and on development
of BRT systems.
Source: TCRP Report 90 v.2, Transportation Research Board,National
Research Council.
Location: http://gulliver.trb.org/publications/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_90v2.pdf
Bus Rapid Transit: An Integrated and Flexible Package of Service.
A. Kang & R. Diaz
Presents five main elements of BRT technology -- vehicles, guideways, control systems,
fare systems and passenger information systems.
Source: APTA 2000 Rail Transit Conference Proceedings paper. Click here for PDF file.
Bus Rapid Transit Shows Promise. U.S. General Accounting Office, September
2001
Provides a review of funding available for BRT, and compares capital and operating
costs for BRT and light rail systems.
Source: U.S. General Accounting Office Report #GAO-01-984.
Click here for PDF file.
Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making. R. Diaz,
editor, August 2004.
This almost 300-page report draws information from the first wave of BRT projects
to be implemented in the US, plus additional information from selected sites
worldwide. It presents performance data on BRT systems as well as case studies
on key BRT elements - running ways, stations, vehicles, fare collection, ITS,
and operating plans.
Source: : FTA Web Site: http://www.fta.dot.gov/2340_16085_ENG_HTML.htm
BRT newsLane
This bi-monthly electronic publication is funded by the FTA. It highlights
progress and activities of importance to the BRT community. A free subscription
to the publication is available via the internet at: http://www.calstart.org/programs/brt/brt_newslaneform.php
Bus Rapid Transit Policy Center
A program of the non-profit Breakthrough Technologies Institute, the site
offers an interesting collection of resources on BRT, and features a searchable
database with detailed descriptions of BRT projects world-wide. The Center
is accessible at: http://www.gobrt.org/
Examples
of BRT in Operation in the Americas
Innovative Service Design among Bus Rapid
Transit Systems in the Americas. R. Diaz & D. Schneck
Provides short case studies of BRT in Quito, Porto Alegre, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa,
and Curitiba.
Source: APTA 2000 Bus & Paratransit Conference Proceedings paper. Click here for .pdf file.
Los Angeles
Metro Rapid and Orange Line. (Los Angeles County MTA) Metro Rapid
operates nine lines, and is expected to expand to 28 lines by 2008. Metro
Rapid includes bus priority at traffic signals, "interval-based" operation,
and level boarding on new low-floor buses, all of which operate on compressed
natural gas. Buses arrive as often as every 3-10 minutes in peak hours. Metro
Rapid buses board passengers at stations spaced approximately 0.8 miles apart.
Each Metro Rapid bus is equipped with a transponder which controls traffic
signals to allow a Metro Rapid bus to continue through many intersections
without stopping.The Orange Line 14-mile long transitway connecting
the Metro Red Line subway to San Fernando Valley communities opened in October
2005. It utilizes thirty 60-foot 57-passenger NABI buses with rail-like amenities
and stations.
Web site: http://www.mta.net/projects_programs/rapid/rapid.htm
Source: : L.A. Story: An Industry Model fo Incremental BRT
Development, C. Henke. APTA 2006 Bus & Paragransit Conference proceedings
paper. Click here for PDF file.
Boston
Silver Line. (MBTA) The first section of the Silver Line began
operation in July, 2002. It combines dedicated BRT lanes above ground and
exclusive tunnels below ground. The Silver Line operates 60-foot dual-mode
CNG articulated vehicles tracked by a global positioning system, and include
smart kiosks providing real time bus arrival information at all stations.
Buses arrive at 5-6 minute intervals. The second phase, opened in Spring 2005,
includes direct service to the Boston Waterfront and Logan Airport.
Web site: http://www.allaboutsilverline.com
Pittsburgh
West Busway. (Port Authority of Allegheny County)
Complementing the South Busway (1977) and the East Busway (1983), the West Busway is a
5-mile long exclusive bus right-of-way. Constructed along an abandoned railroad
right-of-way, it has six ADA-accessible stations with 24-hour lighting, and will include
six park-and-ride lots with over 2,500 spaces. The West Busway, opened in September, 2000
and serves approximately 40,000 riders per week.
Web site: http://www.ridegold.com/ride/pgBusways.asp
Orlando
Lymmo. (Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Lynx) Lymmo
is a no-fare circulator service operating on a three-mile dedicated bus lane
through downtown Orlando. The 10 low floor Lymmo vehicles use compressed natural
gas as fuel and are capable of controlling traffic signals to minimize stops.
The buses arrive in 5-minute intervals during office hours. The 13 lighted
Lymmo stations are equipped with electronic kiosks providing next bus arrival
information.
Web site: http://www.golynx.com/?pid=1155575
Miami
South Miami-Dade Busway. (Miami-Dade Transit) Opened in 1997, this
8.5-mile stretch of road is dedicated exclusively to express bus service,
and includes free parking, landscaping, and 30 stations dotting the busway's
perimeter. The at-grade, bi-directional busway also includes a bike path along
its entire length. In 2003, the busway averaged 13,000 boardings per day,
40% of which are estimated to be "choice" riders. An 11.5 mile Busway
II will extend the existing bus-only lanes south to Homestead and Florida
City.
Web site: http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/transit/south_miamidade_busway.asp
Oakland
San Pablo Rapid. (AC Transit) AC Transit's Bus Rapid Transit service
began operations in June, 2003. New three-door forty foot buses identified
with special logos service the 16-mile run with stops spaced two thirds of
a mile apart. Bus arrival information using NextBus technology is provided
at all stops. Running time between San Pablo and Oakland is nearly 20 percent
quicker than the earlier skip-stop service, and ridership has grown 47 percent
over pre-BRT levels.
Web Site:
http://www.actransit.org/riderinfo/sanpablo.wu
Las Vegas
Las Vegas Boulevard. Las Vegas Boulevard. (RTC of Southern Nevada)
A bus rapid transit operating in a dedicated bus-only lane and utilizing traffic
signal priority began service in June, 2004. French made Civis hybrid diesel-electric
buses that can carry 120 passengers will be used for the Metropolitan Area
Express (MAX), a national FTA demonstration project. The vehicles are low-floor
and allow passenger to board through several doors using prepaid tickets.
An optical guidance system using a camera behind the windshield will read
marks on the road to automatically steer the vehicles.
Web Site: http://www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/max/index.htm
Kansas City, Missouri
MAX. (KCATA) A 6-mile BRT line, developed in partnership with the
City of Kansas City, began service in July, 2005. Features include traffic
signal coordination, exclusive lanes along some segments, unique passenger
shelters at 44 stations, ten minute frequency during peak times, and real
time arrival displays. Vehicles are based on Gillig 40-foot low-floor model.
Web Site: http://www.kcata.org/media/MAXFacts.htm
Ottawa
The Transitway. (OC Transpo) The Transitway first opened in 1983
and currently consists of 18 miles of exclusive roadway for buses in three
main corridors, plus 12 miles of exclusive bus shoulder lanes on highways.
The Transitway includes passenger information systems, traffic signal pre-emption
and automatic vehicle location. The new O-train light rail system makes connections
to the Transitway at two stations.
Web site: http://www.octranspo.com/mapscheds/transitway/transitway.htm
Vancouver, British Columbia
Bus Rapid Transit in Vancouver: A Review of Experience. B. Mills
Since 1996 TransLink has provided BRT service in the Vancouver Canada region
under the brand name B-Line. The established service is characterized by distinctly
painted low-floor articulated buses, simple routes and limited-stop operation.
TransLink reports a net benefit for B-Line operation of $2.9 million annually
and a Benfit/Cost ratio of 1.3.
Source: APTA 2004 Bus & Paratransit Conference Proceedings
Paper. Click
here for pdf file.
Examples of BRT in Planning & Development
Cleveland and Nashville
Bus Rapid Transit as a Substitute for Light Rail Transit: A Tale of Two Cities. K.
Sislak
Compares and contrasts the costs, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of the rail and bus
alternatives proposed for travel corridors in Cleveland, OH and Nashville, TN. For more
information on Cleveland's Euclid Corridor BRT line see http://euclidtransit.org/
Source: 8th APTA/TRB Joint Conference on Light Rail Transit,
November 2000. Click here for
.pdf file
Hartford
New Britain-Hartford Busway. (CT Transit) The New
Britain to Hartford Busway is a 9.4-mile two-lane exclusive BRT facility to be constructed
along abandoned and active rail lines from New Britain to Hartford CT. The Busway is
expected to be open to bus traffic in 2004 and will include 12 stations.
Web Site: http://www.ctbusway.com/nbh/
Eugene, Oregon
EmX. (Lane Transit District) Service on the first corridor, the Frankin
EmX is scheduled to begin in 2006. The service will be using main traffic
corridors and employing low floor hybrid-electric buses (60-ft articulated
New Flyer Invero models), signal priority, queue jumpers, and dedicated busways.
Web Site: http://www.ltd.org/
( & click EMX logo)
APTA Information
Center
info@apta.com
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