Transit d hat is BRT? i Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a high-quality, high-capacity bus service that travels on W exclusive lanes along designated routes. Often compared with the speediness and p comforts of a streetcar, BRT is not your typical bus. BRT buses can signal a green light at an upcoming intersection a to stay on schedule and reduce travel time by 15 to 30 percent. With pay-before-you-board stations and a boarding platform at the same level as the sidewalk, passengers benet from R quick and accessible boarding. At-grade boarding platforms are also cheaper to construct and maintain, and create eco- s nomic development opportunities. u BRT Station in Mexico City B How dierent is from a regular bus? On today’s buses, passengers BRT are frequently frustrated by tardy routes, overcrowded conditions, people ddling for exact change, or a eet of buses arriv- ing all at once. BRT is dierent. While a typical bus averages nine miles per hour, BRT’s limited stops improve operating speeds and allow buses on the system to travel up to 30 miles per hour. With accordion-styled, train-like designs, BRT travels with greater capacity and a higher level of service than a regular bus. Compared with aver- age buses, which can carry 1,000 passengers daily, BRT buses transport 4,000 passengers per day and are typically 20 feet longer. With sleek designs and modern technology, BRT com- BRT in Curitiba, Brazil bines the comforts and reliability of a train with the exibility and accessibility of a bus. What are the enets of BRT? B Similar to a train station, BRT stations increase the value of the land around the station. Street improvements often accompany BRT and help encourage private investment on land surrounding the stations. BRT systems can be developed incrementally as demand or fund- ing increases. BRT improves the reliability of mass transit services by 25 to 30 percent. For more information visit www.metroplanning.org MPC FACT SHEET MPC FACT Vancouver, Canada BRT Station or call 312.922.5616 MIAMI South Miami-Dade Busway ($58.4 million) For more information visit 20 miles www.metroplanning.org or call 312.922.5616 28 stations 6-minute headway Average speed: EUGENE, OREGON 40 mph Em-X (Emerald Express) Station BRT Homestead Current ($23.5 million) Extension ($36.9 million) Notable features: Utilized former railroad right-of- 4 miles 7.8 miles way to create busway, all shelters are built with Busway ticket 10 Stations 14 Stations unique designs to reect neighborhood history 10-minute headway 10-minute headway 6 sixty-foot buses 4 sixty-foot buses BOSTON Notable features: BRT system provides free Silver Line ($1.43 billion) rides and every station incorporates public art 9.6 miles 14 Stations Em-X Bus 5-minute headway 17 sixty-foot articulated buses Notable features: Underground bus right-of-way, glass bus Underground bus station stations, bus station themes including urban renewal, architecture, social life and historic milestones from the CLEVELAND station’s location are incorporated in the design LOS ANGELES Euclid Corridor MetroRapid ($33.86 million) HEALTHLINE ($168.4 million) 42 miles 6.7 miles Average speed: 17.8 mph 21 sixty-foot articulated buses 29% travel savings vs. regular bus 5-minute headway . 11-minute headway Average speed: 12 mph A . Notable features: BRT system is Notable features: created 7.9 million sq.ft. of new commercial county wide, operates along 20 corridors, and has largest eet of development, 5,400 additional residential units, and 9,000 jobs S . energy-ecient buses in the nation because of BRT investment Energy-ecient bus eet U along designated bus route IMPLEMENTATION OF BRT IN THE e UNITED STATES h TRANSIT TYPES BY AVERAGE COST PER MILE t Heavy Rail d Light Rail BRT $96.25+ n $35.0 Transit Type Transit $2.53- $24.43 u $ in millions Planning Stage Sources: GoBRT, Survey of NA Light Rail Projects, & Colorado Dept. of Transportation White Paper on Heavy Rail Active BRT o r BRT: Best Practices from A.