Guidelines for Incorporating a Bus Rapid Transit Scenario into the Analysis of Texas Highway Corridors

Many corridors in the Texas State highway system are facing increasing congestion while having severe right-of-way limitations. The best form of congestion relief may not be additional highway lanes and/or grade separations. The best solution may be the introduction of a higher capacity transit system. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been increasingly regarded as a cost-effective solution for improving mobility and alleviating congestion in urban transportation networks. This research was aimed at providing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with comprehensive guidelines for planning and designing BRT that allows development of a BRT scenario in the traditional alternatives analysis. Specifically, this research developed a decision procedure to help TxDOT engineers/metropolitan planning organization planners decide the role of BRT as an integral part of existing/future transportation systems. The research team included identification and evaluation of analysis tools and methods for measuring the effectiveness/impact of BRT. Design criteria were developed for BRT concepts, including possible street re-alignment, geometric considerations, right-of-way acquisition, signal preemption, dedicated/shared busways on major state arterials, as well as integration of BRT into existing and future managed lanes (HOT/HOV). A BRT planning and design case study for El Paso, Texas and Austin, Texas was completed.