Beyond "Light Rail Lite": International Success With "Quickways" Points to a New Model for BRT Implementation in the United States

A new model for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is explored in this article on “quickways,” which involve investment in grade-separated infrastructure that can support a range of services, from a version of light rail to limited or express service and branching or even direct streetcar service. The Federal Transit Administration recently sponsored a study, published by the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, which compared international practices with current deployments in the U.S. It points to many approaches that U.S. cities could use to relieve BRT of its status as a “consolation prize” to cities unable to afford traditional transit systems. Some of the findings include the approach that considers BRT an “intermediate capacity” mode or even a stepping stone to light rail. The successful cities also focused on BRT’s ability to attract transit-oriented development (TOD). They avoided using a “rail emulation” model, which is a common practice for U.S. cities, and instead adopted the Quickway model, which is described in detail. Its key element is that it is fully segregated from car and foot traffic and that it uses systems to keep in check the five major factors that influence operating costs: travel time, mileage, peak buses, revenues, and routing. Key factors in Quickway approaches are also outlined.