two - Global overview of BRT and bus corridors

Summary

Introduction

As discussed in the Introduction to this book, the acronym BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) is often used to describe a variety of infrastructure, operation and image improvements to local urban bus services. Different components of BRT have been implemented in both developed and developing cities around the world; not all BRT-like projects are called BRT and sometimes corridors without key BRT features are called BRT. That is why in this chapter we provide a global overview of bus priority schemes on a corridor basis and not just BRTs. We use the comprehensive database that the BRT Centre of Excellence has funded (www.brtdata.org) to develop comparative analyses ranging from more general aspects (such as geography, length and demand) to physical characteristics and performance in terms of demands and operating speeds. Finally we briefly compare the performance and costs of BRT to other modes.

Definitions

A BRT system is a mass transport system that couples the quality of railways with the flexibility of bus systems (Levinson et al 2003; Wright and Hook 2007; FTA 2009), including both infrastructure and operational characteristics that improve the level of service, as shown in Figure 2.1. The expectation is that BRTs can accommodate high demand especially when overtaking facilities allow for a combination of local, accelerated and express services. Given the many barriers to planning and implementing BRT systems (Lindau et al 2014), not every corridor incorporates all BRT elements.

Part of the issue when examining BRT is determining what defines a BRT or a ‘good’ BRT. Given the diversity of urban contexts, existing public transit systems and institutional capacities, BRT is implemented differently around the world. The acronym is used for services in corridors that lack some of the elements that a BRT is generally considered to need. At a minimum, the most basic features of a BRT service are a segregated corridor and off-board payment stations, even though it is usually expected also to involve high frequency services, high capacity vehicles and clear branding.

In examining BRT systems around the world, it is clear that the system design characteristics are combined in a myriad of different ways, giving rise to a continuum of quality in self-named BRT corridors.