INNOVATIVE SERVICE DESIGN AMONG BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN THE AMERICAS

Increased attention to bus rapid transit by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and by numerous transit agencies in the United States reminds the transit community that buses can supply many of the service characteristics attributed to fixed rail systems. While technologies and capital facilities play a role in how buses can fulfill a more prominent role in a regional transit system, a central element of the success of bus rapid transit systems rests in the design of the service and operations plan. This paper presents the results of field surveys of ten bus rapid transit systems in eight cities in North and South America. The survey reveals six key elements that define a bus rapid transit system service plan: route structure; trunk line frequency; route alignment; stop/station spacing; service span; and the degree of integration with other transit modes. The paper also provides a brief discussion of how various technology applications affect how these service variables are applied.