WHAT IS BUS RAPID TRANSIT? June 18, 2018 Annie Weinstock BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Curitiba, Brazil built Photo: Tony IP Green Architects the first BRT in 1974 BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? TransMilenio (Bogota) broke all speed and capacity records of all previous BRTs, making BRT a true alternative to rail. BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? MyCiTi BRT, Cape Town, South Africa BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Photo: Annie Weinstock, ITDP EmX BRT, Eugene, BRT Planning International, 2018OR WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Photo: Far East Mobility Lanzhou BRT: BRT Planning International,China 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Source: Minasit.com.br Belo Horizonte, BRT Planning International,Brazil 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Guangzhou BRT: BRT Planning International,China 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Photo: ITDP Yichang BRT: BRT Planning International,China 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? HealthLine BRT: Cleveland,BRT PlanningOH International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Mexico City’s Line 4 BRT through the historic city center BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Photo: Annie Weinstock, ITDP Los Angeles Orange Line BRT BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT DOES BRT LOOK LIKE? Hartford-New Britain BRT BRT Planning International, 2018 AND WHAT ABOUT THESE? Photo: Mass Transit Magazine Seattle BRT RapidRidePlanning International, 2018 AND WHAT ABOUT THESE? Photo: BKLYNER Bx12 New York City SBSBRT Planning International, 2018 AND WHAT ABOUT THESE? Photo: myciti.org.za The Cape Town CBD system differs from the Table View corridor BRT Planning International, 2018 THE BRT STANDARD The BRT Standard was created by a committee of experts who designed many of the highest performing BRT systems in the world. The purpose was to create a universal definition of Bus Rapid Transit. BRT Planning International, 2018 THE BRT STANDARD After creating the BRT Standard, the Technical Committee performed 2 basic checks: Do systems meeting the criteria look and feel like BRT? Do systems meeting the criteria perform well in the absolute? Nantes, Austin, Tx France “Rapid” BRT Planning International, 2018 WHY WE NEED A UNIVERSAL DEFINITION Gives the public something to latch onto when BRT presented as an alternative BRT Planning International, 2018 WHY WE NEED A UNIVERSAL DEFINITION BRT Planning International, 2018 WHY AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD? Cities are different but the causes of bus delay are universal. BRT is a technical solution that solves the problem of buses stuck in traffic Los Angeles Manila BRT Planning International, 2018 WHY AN INTERNATIONAL STANDARD? BRT is a technical solution that solves the problem of slow boardings BRT can be scaled to address different magnitudes of the problem but basic BRT elements usually benefit any corridor where traffic is bad and boarding volumes are large. This is true anywhere in the world. Singapo New Jersey re BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT ABOUT LOCAL DEFINITIONS? • Basic BRT elements beneficial anywhere slow transit is a problem • Good to think locally about what is actually needed • If local def doesn’t meet international def, should we call it BRT? Something else? • Can cities get involved in shaping the universal BRT definition such that it can remain universal? BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT ABOUT LOCAL DEFINITIONS? Of course, cities have many constituents, including drivers. This can lead to a watering down of BRT systems. The BRT definition was designed purely from the perspective of BRT passengers. Let’s not forget that if we are to create local standards. BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT ABOUT THE FTA’S DEFINITION? FTA updated its BRT definition in MAP-21 with 2 categories: • Corridor Based • Fixed Guideway Elements in FTA def not too different from BRT Standard but: • Less specificity as to what exactly is required, e.g., o No mention of right of way alignment, o Open-ended language such as “Makes a substantial investment in a single route within a defined corridor” • Different elements emphasized e.g.: o Greater emphasis on TSP, less on turn prohibitions o No mention of off-board ticketing, all-door boarding, at-level boarding BRT Planning International, 2018 WHAT ABOUT THE FTA’S DEFINITION? This is fine for funding purposes as proof of performance is in model results. The more elements of the BRT Standard included, the better the forecast system should perform. BRT Standard is a proxy for performance and has been well tested. BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT AS A CORRIDOR BRT is far more beneficial as a corridor than as a series of route improvements San Francisco Van Ness BRT corridor will be used by 2 Muni Source: San Francisco County Transportation Authority routes & Golden Gate Transit BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT AS A CORRIDOR • > 1 bus route can use a BRT corridor • More passengers benefit from BRT infrastructure • More passengers can reach their destinations w/ one-seat ride Brisbane SE Busway BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT AS A CORRIDOR • Dedicated bus lane full more of the time Seoul, Korea Source: Diario do Transporte Jakarta, Indonesia BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT AS A CORRIDOR Fare collection system can be built into the corridor rather than for every route end to end. Requires fewer fare collection machines and no on-board inspections. Local & express routes can both use BRT corridor so passengers don’t have to choose before the bus comes BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT AS A CORRIDOR • Requires fewer (or no) costly, land-intensive transfer terminals Source: Mass Transit Magazine BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Fully Dedicated Center Running Lanes RIT BRT: Curitiba, BrazilBRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Fully Dedicated Center Running Lanes Metrobus-Q BRT: Quito, Ecuador BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Or a fully dedicated busway Source: Los Angeles Daily News Los Angeles Orange LineBRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Why not curbside bus lanes? BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Prohibiting turns across the busway SDX BRT: Las Vegas, NevadaBRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Without turn prohibitions, buses get stuck behind turning cars which are, in turn, stuck waiting for crossing pedestrians. MAJOR DELAY BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Off-board fare collection Metrobus: Mexico City, Mexico BRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Off-board fare collection Source: Chicago Streetsblog Chicago Loop Link BRTBRT Planning International, 2018 BRT BASICS Platform-level boarding BRT Planning International, 2016 HOW RIGID IS THE DEFINITION? BRT Planning International, 2018 RECENT ADDITIONS Dar es Salaam Source: allAfrica.com Albuquerque Source: HDR Inc. ART Alexandria Crystal San Bernardino Source: brtdata.org City – Potomac Yard Source: brtdata.org sbX BRT Planning International, 2018 THANK YOU Visit: brtplan.com Contact: Annie Weinstock [email protected] BRT Planning International, 2018.