bus rapid transit (brt) – the basics

Bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit (BRT) – the basics(BRT) – the basics

Presentation originally byPresentation originally byDennis Hinebaugh, DirectorDennis Hinebaugh, DirectorNational Bus Rapid Transit National Bus Rapid Transit

Institute (NBRTI), University of Institute (NBRTI), University of South FloridaSouth Florida

http://www.nbrti.orghttp://www.nbrti.org

Presented today by Tom Rye, Presented today by Tom Rye, Edinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburgh Napier University

Presentation originally byPresentation originally byDennis Hinebaugh, DirectorDennis Hinebaugh, DirectorNational Bus Rapid Transit National Bus Rapid Transit

Institute (NBRTI), University of Institute (NBRTI), University of South FloridaSouth Florida

http://www.nbrti.orghttp://www.nbrti.org

Presented today by Tom Rye, Presented today by Tom Rye, Edinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburgh Napier University

What’s wrong with normal buses?What’s wrong with normal buses?

Slow

Unreliable

Not always frequent

Take the long way around

Uncomfortable

Untrendy, not technologically appealing

Make you feel like a loser if you take one?

BRT – tries to solve these problems

Slow

Unreliable

Not always frequent

Take the long way around

Uncomfortable

Untrendy, not technologically appealing

Make you feel like a loser if you take one?

BRT – tries to solve these problems

Well!Well! Badly!Badly!

How we treat BRT customers! How we treat local bus customers!

BRTBRT Systems Systems

United States:United States:

• Alameda, CAAlameda, CA• Albany, NYAlbany, NY• Boston, MABoston, MA• Charlotte, NCCharlotte, NC• Cleveland, OHCleveland, OH• Chicago, ILChicago, IL• Dulles Corridor, VADulles Corridor, VA• Eugene, OREugene, OR• Hartford, CTHartford, CT

World:World:• Curitiba, BrazilCuritiba, Brazil• Brisbane, AustraliaBrisbane, Australia• Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide, Australia• Ottawa, CanadaOttawa, Canada• Leeds, EnglandLeeds, England• AmsterdamAmsterdam• UtrechtUtrecht• Kent, EnglandKent, England•Ipswich, England Ipswich, England • Rouen, FranceRouen, France•Jonkoping, SwedenJonkoping, Sweden

It’s no single trait, but the combination of traits that make BRT systems successful!It’s no single trait, but the combination of traits that make BRT systems successful![ ]

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Speed of BRTs in km/hSpeed of BRTs in km/h

InfrastructureInfrastructure

Needs to give priority to bus

Does not all have to be the same – one BRT can combine different types of priority

Key: ensure speed and reliability –bus protected from other traffic

Needs to give priority to bus

Does not all have to be the same – one BRT can combine different types of priority

Key: ensure speed and reliability –bus protected from other traffic

Arterial Bus LanesArterial Bus LanesArterial Bus LanesArterial Bus Lanes

Boston: Silver LineBoston: Silver Line

LondonLondonQuality Bus Corridor Quality Bus Corridor

Arterial Median TransitwayArterial Median TransitwayArterial Median TransitwayArterial Median Transitway

Vancouver: 98BVancouver: 98B

E-5 CEVİZLİBAĞ MEVKİİ ESKİ HALİ E-5 CEVİZLİBAĞ MEVKİİ YENİ HALİ

The Balkan BRT – before and after

Running WaysRunning Ways

Arterial Median Busway Arterial Median Busway Rouen, France: TEORRouen, France: TEOR

LEEDS/BRADFORD Guided BuswaysLEEDS/BRADFORD Guided Busways

Elevated SectionsElevated Sections Elevated SectionsElevated Sections

Runcorn, UKRuncorn, UK

Running Way Color, MarkingsRunning Way Color, MarkingsRunning Way Color, MarkingsRunning Way Color, Markings

ParisParis

Sao PauloSao Paulo

AucklandAuckland

Route StructuresRoute Structures• More direct than local serviceMore direct than local service• “ “Off-line” stationsOff-line” stations• Anchored by major activity centersAnchored by major activity centers• Major corridorsMajor corridors• Feeder routesFeeder routes• Can operate in low-density residentialCan operate in low-density residential• FlexibleFlexible•High frequency, turn up and goHigh frequency, turn up and go• Effect on Land useEffect on Land use• No mapNo map

ADELAIDE CBD

Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide, Australia

Stations: Potential CharacteristicsStations: Potential Characteristics

• Differentiated from regular bus stopsDifferentiated from regular bus stops• Enhanced sheltersEnhanced shelters and/or station design and/or station design• Designated passenger “platform,” possibly Designated passenger “platform,” possibly raisedraised• EnclosedEnclosed• Can be multi-modalCan be multi-modal• Other facilities (taxi stands, parking, etc.)Other facilities (taxi stands, parking, etc.)• Customer information (real-time)Customer information (real-time)• Joint-development/multi-useJoint-development/multi-use• Facilitates quick boarding and exitFacilitates quick boarding and exit• DockingDocking• Disabled accessibleDisabled accessible

VehiclesVehicles

• Unique/distinct aesthetic design/lookUnique/distinct aesthetic design/look• Environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly• Variable propulsion systemsVariable propulsion systems• High capacityHigh capacity (articulated, bi-articulated) (articulated, bi-articulated)• Wide aisles, increased passenger comfortWide aisles, increased passenger comfort• Low-floorLow-floor• Large window designLarge window design• Increased amenities (laptop connections)Increased amenities (laptop connections)• Multiple double-wide doorsMultiple double-wide doors• Dual-sided entry/exitDual-sided entry/exit• LRT likeLRT like

Range of BRT Vehicle Options:Range of BRT Vehicle Options:Conventional BusesConventional Buses

Range of BRT Vehicle Options:Range of BRT Vehicle Options:Conventional BusesConventional Buses

Van Hool 300AGVan Hool 300AGZuidtangent Zuidtangent Amsterdam;Amsterdam;York Rapid Transit York Rapid Transit TorontoToronto

New Flyer 60LFNew Flyer 60LFVancouver 98, 99BVancouver 98, 99BOttawa TransitwaysOttawa Transitways

Specialized BRT VehiclesSpecialized BRT Vehicles Specialized BRT VehiclesSpecialized BRT Vehicles

Irisbus CivisIrisbus CivisLas Vegas MAXLas Vegas MAX

ATS PhileusATS PhileusEindhoven, NetherlandsEindhoven, Netherlands

Well- Lit, Open, Quiet InteriorWell- Lit, Open, Quiet Interior Well- Lit, Open, Quiet InteriorWell- Lit, Open, Quiet Interior

Los Angeles, CALos Angeles, CA

Signal PreemptionSignal Preemption and and low floor vehicleslow floor vehicles aided in aided in a:a:

• 28 to 33% decrease in travel time28 to 33% decrease in travel time• 30% increase in ridership, 14% net new30% increase in ridership, 14% net new• No appreciable impact on cross–streetNo appreciable impact on cross–street traffictraffic

Faster Fare CollectionFaster Fare Collection

• Fast, efficient so as to speed boardingFast, efficient so as to speed boarding• SimpleSimple to understand to understand• Minimal on-vehicle transactionsMinimal on-vehicle transactions• CashlessCashless

• smart cards (multi-use) smart cards (multi-use) • pre-purchased ticketspre-purchased tickets• passespasses

• Proof of paymentProof of payment• enter station enter station

Off–Board Fare Collection OptionsOff–Board Fare Collection OptionsOff–Board Fare Collection OptionsOff–Board Fare Collection Options

Proof-of Payment: TVM Proof-of Payment: TVM York, On. Rapid Transit York, On. Rapid Transit

Smart Card Fare GatesSmart Card Fare GatesTransMillenio, BogotaTransMillenio, Bogota

Cost EffectiveCost Effective

• VehiclesVehicles• can be off-the-shelfcan be off-the-shelf

• No track or overhead wiresNo track or overhead wires• “ “Travel Ways”Travel Ways”

• construction and maintenanceconstruction and maintenance• incrementally built (phases, flexible)incrementally built (phases, flexible)• existing roadway network (mixed traffic)existing roadway network (mixed traffic)

• Uses existing vehicle storage facilitiesUses existing vehicle storage facilities• Uses existing and simple signal systemsUses existing and simple signal systems• Workforce compositionWorkforce composition

• using existing vs. acquiring new staffusing existing vs. acquiring new staff• wage differential for BRT vs. LRTwage differential for BRT vs. LRT

Rapid Transit Mode ComparisonsRapid Transit Mode Comparisons

Source: SpeedLink- A Rapid Transit Option for Greater Detroit. June 2001.

BRT LRT

ROW Options Exclusive or Mixed Traffic Exclusive or Mixed Traffic

Station Spacing 1/4 to 1 Mile 1/4 to 1 Mile

Vehicle Seated Capacity 40 to 85 Passengers 65 to 85 Passengers

Average Speed 15-30 mph 15-30 mph

P/H/D (exclusive ROW) Up to 30,000 Up to 30,000

P/H/D (arterial) Up to 10,000 Up to 10,000

Capital ROW Cost/Mile $0.2M to $25M/Mile $20M to $55M/Mile

Capital Cost/Vehicle $0.45M to $1.5M $1.5M to $3.5M

O&M/SH $65 to $100 $150 to $200

Rapid Transit ModeStatistic

Rail-Like Vehicles $5-30 mRail-Like Vehicles $5-30 mRail-Like Vehicles $5-30 mRail-Like Vehicles $5-30 m

Another take on costsAnother take on costs

Impacts on ridership, car useImpacts on ridership, car use

Survey of 14 BRT systems around world

Typically 15-35% increase in system ridership

10-25% of these people transferred from car

Istanbul system carries 500,000 people/day of whom about 10% came from car. 400% increase in total PT riders

See http://www.nbrti.org/docs/pdf/Low%20Res%20CBRT%202009%20Update.pdf

Survey of 14 BRT systems around world

Typically 15-35% increase in system ridership

10-25% of these people transferred from car

Istanbul system carries 500,000 people/day of whom about 10% came from car. 400% increase in total PT riders

See http://www.nbrti.org/docs/pdf/Low%20Res%20CBRT%202009%20Update.pdf

• BRT quick to implement – politically BRT quick to implement – politically attractiveattractive

• Does not always have to be heavily Does not always have to be heavily engineered – can combine a range of engineered – can combine a range of infrastructureinfrastructure

• Can be implemented incrementallyCan be implemented incrementally• Ultimately it’s about reliability, Ultimately it’s about reliability,

directness, convenience, premium directness, convenience, premium service, good imageservice, good image

• Low cost, high capacity alternative to Low cost, high capacity alternative to railrail

• Keep It Simple StupidKeep It Simple Stupid

ConclusionsConclusions