REGIONAL TRANSIT SYSTEM

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National Bus Rapid Transit Institute
Center for Urban Transportation Research - 4202
East Fowler Ave, CUT 100 Tampa, Florida
33620-5375
What is Bus Rapid Transit Related Issues?
Presented by Cheryl Thole, Research
Associate Michael R. Baltes, Senior Research
Associate Transpo2004 - December 6-9,
2004 Jacksonville, Florida
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The National BRT Institute
is a collaborative effort of the Center for
Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the
University of South Florida, and the Institute of
Transportation Studies (ITS) program at the
University of California at Berkeley. The
mission of the NBRTI is to facilitate the sharing
of knowledge and innovation for increasing the
speed, efficiency and reliability of high
capacity bus service through the implementation
of Bus Rapid Transit systems in the United
States.
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What is BRT? TCRP Report 90 defines Bus Rapid
Transit as A flexible, rubber tired rapid
transit mode that combines stations, vehicles,
services, running ways, and Intelligent
Transportation System (ITS) elements into an
integrated system with a strong positive identity
that evokes a unique image. BRT applications are
designed to be appropriate to the market they
serve and their physical surroundings, and they
can be incrementally implemented in a variety of
environments.
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BRT Systems (partial list)

• United States
• Alameda, CA
• Albany, NY
• Boston, MA
• Charlotte, NC
• Cleveland, OH
• Chicago, IL
• Denver, CO
• Eugene, OR
• Orlando, FL
• World

• Honolulu, HI
• Louisville, KY
• Miami, FL
• Montgomery County, MD
• San Juan, PR
• Pittsburgh, PA
• Santa Clara County, CA
• Los Angeles, CA
• Las Vegas, NV

• Curitiba, Brazil
• Brisbane, Australia
• Adelaide, Australia
• Ottawa, Canada
• Leeds, England
• Rouen, France

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BRTs Key Attributes

• Speed
• Reliability
• Comfort/safety
• Unique identity and premium image
• Contextual design of BRT infrastructure

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BRT System Elements

• Running way (dedicated preferred)
• Stations, stop, and terminals
• Vehicles (configured for specific market or
  other)
• Frequent, limited-stop, all-day service
• Simple route structure (linear in design)
• Simple and efficient fare collection
• ITS/advanced technologies
• Identity and branding

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Running Ways Various Types

• Mixed traffic
• At-grade busways ( can use railroad
  right-of-way)
• Freeway busways and bus lanes
• Arterial median busways
• Arterial curb interior bus lanes
• Elevated busways
• Tunnel busways

Note Some BRT systems will operate service over
a variety of running way types
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Los Angeles, CA
Mixed traffic
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Miami, FL
At-grade busway rail ROW
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Bogota, Colombia
Arterial median busway
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Tunnels
Brisbane SE Busway
Seattle CBD Bus Tunnel
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In Leeds/Bradford BRT has bus lanes, signal
priority, and guided busways
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Interior, Arterial Curb Bus Lanes
London Priority Bus Corridor
Boston Silver Line
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Running Way Materials, Color, Markings
Paris
Denver
Auckland
Sao Paulo
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BRT Stations General Characteristics

• Differentiated from regular bus stops
• convey identity and image
• Enhanced shelters and/or transit center design
• integrated with surroundings
• Designated passenger platform, possibly raised
• facilitate boarding and alighting to make rapid
• Customer information (real-time bus arrival)
• Joint-development/multi-use TOD supportive
• Usually 0.5 to 1 mile spacing outside of CBD
• Precision docking
• ADA accessible
• Sense of permanence
• Other facilities (taxi stands, parking, bike
  racks, etc.)

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Curitiba, Brazil
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Brisbane, Australia
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Los Angeles, CA
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MAX BRT, Vegas Station Construction
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Small scale stations are used in Vancouver Leeds
Leeds
Vancouver
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BRT Vehicles

• Rubber-tired, steered and/or guided
• Variety of sizes through 80 feet
• Conventional buses or special BRT vehicles
• Environmentally friendly
• Low emissions
• Quiet

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Curitiba, Brazil
Bi-Articulated - Volvo
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Las Vegas, NV
Civis - IrisBus
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MAX Civis BRT Vehicle
Regional Transportation Commission of
Southern Nevada
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Los Angeles, CA
Current Conventional
Future Special BRT
45-foot Compo Bus
NABI 60-BRT
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Specialized BRT Vehicles High Capacity
(110), 83 Ft. Long

Van Hool AGG300
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Service Plan

• All-day, Frequent Service
• 8-10 Minutes Or Better In Peaks
• No Schedule Needed
• Simple Route Structure
• Direct, Easy To Understand
• Use BRT Flexibility
• Maximize Directness, Minimize Transfers

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Honolulu, Hawaii
Very direct and easy to understand
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Las Vegas Blvd. North -Project Corridor
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(No Transcript)
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Just how important is frequency?
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All else being equal, frequency trumps mode!
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ITS

• Automatic vehicle location
• Passenger information
• Safety, security
• Signal priority
• Communications
• Fare collection
• Vehicle guidance and control

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BRT Fare Collection

• Fast, efficient to speed boarding/alighting
• Simple to understand
• Minimal on-vehicle transactions
• Off-board (preferred) or multi-point on-board
  payment, e.g., Smart Cards
• Integrated with rest of transit system, but not
  required to be the same technology

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Fare Collection Can Have a Significant Impact on
Transit Service Quality
Congestion
Moving
Turn Delays
Traffic
Signal Delay
PASSENGER STOPS
Dwell Time Comprises Roughly ¼ of Time that
Passengers Spend in On-Road Transit. Fare
Collection Drives the Dwell Time Length
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Bogota, Colombia
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Real-Time Bus Arrival Information
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Rouen, France
Optical guidance
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BRT Identity and Image

• Vehicles
• Design, colors, graphics/livery, signage
• Stops, stations, and terminals
• Design, colors, graphics, signage, materials
• Running ways
• Barriers, pavement markings/materials/colors,
  graphics, signage, landscaping
• Marketing information
• Schedules, brochures, maps

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Image-Branding to Identity with Frequent,
Reliable Service Increases Ridership
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Consistent, Unique Graphics
Corporate Identity
Brisbane S.E. Busway
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Creating a Positive Customer Experience
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Related Issues for BRT

• Plan For BRT As For Any Rapid Transit Mode (i.
  e., Use Rail Criteria)
• Use transportation planning process to sort out
  alternatives
• Serve demonstrated markets
• Match service plans, running ways, vehicles,
  stations and markets
• Begin integration with land use planning early

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Related Issues for BRT (cont.)

• Recognize that there is no single BRT system
  prescription
• Work hard to inform public and decision-makers
  that BRT is a high quality, high performance RT
  option
• Focus on system integration and identity
• Find a champion, committed community
  leader/politician
• Be willing to spend money on BRT
• Maintain system integrity
• Resist de-construction

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Does it Work BRT is Attractive to Customers
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THE END