Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) is an enrichment of conventional bus operations
that combine the quality of rail transit with the flexibility of
buses. BRT provides a potentially lower cost alternative to Light
Rail Transit. In its ideal form, bus rapid transit would be separated
from general purpose traffic with its own right-of-way, have high
levels of intelligent technology including the latest in BRT vehicles,
operate at higher speeds and shorter headways, and be accessed through
platform level station stops. All of these are attributes of light
rail transit replicated on rubber tires.
Development of BRT systems is currently in its infancy, and only
some features of an ideal system are available to the American public.
BRT projects include the busways in Pittsburgh implemented by the
Port Authority of Allegheny County, a three mile dedicated bus lane
through downtown Orlando, Florida, and 8.2 miles of exclusive express
bus operation in South Miami-Dade County. However, these systems
are more appropriately termed "express bus".
Cleveland, Nashville, Boston, Las Vegas and the Dulles Corridor
Rapid Transit Project are planning BRT systems as either a substitute
for Light Rail Transit or as a demonstration of transit potential
utilizing buses. These projects are intended to emphasize lower
infrastructure cost and technological advances to bus operation
using the features of optical guidance, global positioning, docking
systems, passenger information systems, and reconfiguration of the
bus for wider doorways, and platform level floors. The model system
for Bus Rapid Transit is located in Curitiba, Brazil where the entire
urban area is planned for land use in concert with its rapid bus
system. Headways are 90 seconds in some routes, traffic signals
and other vehicle congestion do not impede operating speeds, and
passengers ingress and egress quickly through especially designed
vehicles where bus doors are located on the left side of the vehicle
to facilitate center platform loading. Fares are collected at station
facilities.
Application of the BRT principles in American cities where the
infrastructure of roads, utilities and land use are already in place
will present many challenges. The concrete pavements, bridges, and
tunnels needed to achieve target operating speeds in congested rights-of-way
will continue to be an essential component to successful outcomes
for these projects.