Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a method of creating dedicated lanes and infrastructure for buses to achieve greater speed and efficiency. It is a lower-cost alternative to light rail and subway systems that have significantly higher upfront construction costs.
The elements of BRT include:
- Bus Lanes: a traffic lane on a surface street reserved for the exclusive use of buses, these can be located either at the curb or in the median
- Busways: a special roadway designed for the exclusive use of buses
- Signal Priority: the idea of giving special treatment to transit vehicles at signalized intersections
- Automatic Vehicle Location: real-time bus tracking
- Expressways: uninterrupted bus routes for long distance commuters
RATIONALE
Traditional bus systems are not equivalent to light rail or subway systems because they are slower and less predictable due to traffic variance. The major advantage of buses is that they can operate on existing road infrastructure and do not require construction of extensive tunnels or rail lines. BRT attempts to be the best of both worlds by combining rapid, dependable service with the cheaper upfront costs associated with road-based mass transit.
EFFORT REQUIRED
Implementing an effective BRT system takes time and collaboration between many stakeholders. The City of Chicago offers a good example of the effort involved in establishing a BRT. The Chicago Department of Transportation and Chicago Mass Transit Authority worked together to design a system that would build on the already existing bus system. In order to do this, the city held public hearings to gather citizen comments, and new taxes and fines were proposed to help pay for developing infrastructure.
BENEFITS
Bus Rapid Transit systems help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which can remediate peak traffic levels and car emissions.
ACTION AGENT(S)
The main actors are local transportation departments and authorities. These offices are responsible for the planning and implementation of any transportation program.
COSTS
Using the City of Chicago as an example again, through a grant the city received $153 million in federal dollars to help fund infrastructure development. But it also used other strategies such as higher on-street parking fines and rises in taxes for private parking garages. Any extensive BRT will be costly and take several years to fully develop.
Any party with an interest in an initiative.
