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BRT encompasses a broad variety of modes, including those known or formerly known as express buses, limited busways and rapid busways. What is now called bus rapid transit first got major impetus in the US with the rise of federal funding for urban mass transportation during the 1960s. Bus rapid transit targets the same segment of the transit market as light rail transit. Proponents say it combines the rapidity of a rapid transit or light rail line with the flexibility of buses.

1 Introduction

The BRT system is based on the concept of utilizing dedicated rights-of-way (as in rapid transit) in areas where competition with highway traffic would be greatest, but utilizing existing highways and roadways in less-congested areas wherever possible to reduce costs. For example, existing bus lines could operate normally in most areas, but would enter a special lane on an existing highway, or a dedicated right-of-way to bypass mixed traffic to reach the Central Business District (CBD).

The key argument in favor of BRT systems is that they provide a high quality of service (similar to light-rail transit systems), but at greatly reduced capital investment in vehicles and right-of-way, facilitating their use as interim systems until light rail is built. Key to this assumption is the utilization of existing streets, so that capital costs in these areas are only for the vehicles themselves and additional street furniture required for operation. Proponents say that BRT is faster and more affordable, flexible, and appropriate in scale than light rail for medium-sized areas, or areas that have a moderate degree of density. Proponents also say that it allows for incremental construction and implementation and can be easily tailored to meet the specific transportation needs and opportunities within individual neighborhoods and transportation corridors. Opponents argue that bus rapid transit services are simply improved bus lines that do not attract the ridership of rail lines, or encourage secondary advantages such as neighborhood revitalization and business development.

Insofar as BRT can utilize dedicated rights-of-way it offers advantages over regular bus service, including service frequency, increased capacity, and speed.

The bus rapid transit initiative has received a great deal of support from the Federal Transit Administration in the United States. A new development encouraging BRT is that it is now eligible to be included in the FTA's "New Starts" program formerly reserved for rail projects only. That notwithstanding, the FTA, in announcing its New Starts for 2005, has rated the New Britain-Hartford Busway (Connecticut) "Recommended" but Phase III of the MBTA's Silver Line BRT project (referenced below) "Not Recommended" based on "MBTA’s unreasonable operating cost assumptions." This implies that BRT will be subject to the same scrutiny as rail projects, though (also as with rail projects) the FTA will work with the localities to see if projects can be brought into compliance with requirements.

2 BRT: A Definition

BRT is a broad term given to a variety of different transportation solutions that operate through the usage of buses. It can come in a variety of different forms, from dedicated busways that have their own rights-of-way (e.g., Ottawa's Transitway) to bus services that utilize HOV lanes and dedicated freeway lanes (e.g., Honolulu's CityExpress) to limited stop buses on conventional routes. In addition, bus rapid transit is often linked with intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and can involve special buses that control traffic signals, smart card systems, AVL bus tracking, dynamic message signs, and automatically guided buses.

An ideal bus rapid transit service would be expected to include some or all of the following features:

• Bus lanes: A lane on an urban arterial or city street is reserved for the exclusive or near-exclusive use of buses.

• Bus streets and busways: A bus street or transit mall can be created in an urban center by dedicating all lanes of a city street to the exclusive use of buses.

• Bus signal preference and preemption: Preferential treatment of buses at intersections can involve the extension of green time or actuation of the green light at signalized intersections upon detection of an approaching bus. Intersection priority can be particularly helpful when implemented in conjunction with bus lanes or streets, because general-purpose traffic does not intervene between buses and traffic signals.

• Traffic management improvements: Low-cost infrastructure elements that can increase the speed and reliability of bus service include bus turnouts, bus boarding islands, and curb realignments.

• Faster boarding: Conventional on board collection of fares slows the boarding process, particularly when a variety of fares is collected for different destinations and/or classes of passengers. An alternative would be the collection of fares upon entering an enclosed bus station or shelter area prior to bus arrivals (similar to how fares are collected at a kiosk before entering a subway system). This system would allow passengers to board through all doors of a stopped bus.