WHY BRT IS PUSHING THE ENVELOPE OF RAPID GROWTH

This article gives a general overview of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and discusses the definition and future needs of BRT systems. A Federal Transit Administration task force formed to help cities contemplating BRT projects has identified elements that are critical to the development of effective BRT systems. These include: dedicated rights-of-way for transit vehicles, upgraded stations for faster boarding, a well integrated transit route structure spaced similar to rail lines, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) for improved coordination and passenger information, distinct branding indicating BRT as a specialized service, off-board fare collection, transit- friendly planning, stylized vehicles with better passenger flow and higher capacity. Due to the lack of dedicated right of way lanes in some cities with BRT systems, recent reauthorization of the Major Capital Investment Program has dropped the requirement that BRT systems have an exclusive guideway for buses.