National Bus Rapid Transit InstituteNational Bus Rapid Transit InstituteCenter for Urban Transportation Research Center for Urban Transportation Research 4202 East Fowler Ave, CUT 100 4202 East Fowler Ave, CUT 100

Tampa, Florida 33620Tampa, Florida 33620--53755375

What is Bus Rapid Transit?What is Bus Rapid Transit?Prepared for Senate Banking Committee Prepared for Senate Banking Committee

Testimony by Gary BroschTestimony by Gary BroschJune 24, 2003June 24, 2003

Contact:Contact:

Dennis HinebaughDirector, Transit ProgramDirector, Transit Program

Hinebaug@cutr.usf.eduHinebaug@cutr.usf.edu(813) 974(813) 974--9833 9833 –– PhonePhone

(813) 974(813) 974--5168 5168 -- FaxFax

The National Bus Rapid Transit Institute

www.nbrti.orgwww.nbrti.org

Current NBRTI Funding PartnersCurrent NBRTI Funding Partners•• Federal Transit AdministrationFederal Transit Administration•• National Center for Transit Research National Center for Transit Research

(NCTR) and Partners for Advanced (NCTR) and Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) Transit and Highways (PATH)

•• Florida DOTFlorida DOT•• California DOT (CalTrans)California DOT (CalTrans)•• Hennepin County, MNHennepin County, MN•• Riverside RTARiverside RTA•• Chicago RTAChicago RTA•• W. Alton Jones FoundationW. Alton Jones Foundation

Current Activities of the NBRTICurrent Activities of the NBRTI•• System EvaluationsSystem Evaluations

–– Lynx LymmoLynx Lymmo–– MDT BuswayMDT Busway

•• Development of FTA’s Action Plan for a Development of FTA’s Action Plan for a Thriving BRT MarketThriving BRT Market

•• Administration of BRT ConsortiumAdministration of BRT Consortium•• Technical Assistance (PeerTechnical Assistance (Peer--toto--Peer)Peer)•• Quarterly NewsletterQuarterly Newsletter•• WorkshopsWorkshops•• Topic ResearchTopic Research•• Website Development Website Development

and Maintenance (Industry Portal)and Maintenance (Industry Portal)

Findings from System EvaluationsFindings from System Evaluations• Lynx LYMMO (Orlando)

– Reduced congestion and lessened parking demand in downtown

– Encouraged more transit use and walking– LYMMO (BRT) customers are significantly more satisfied with

reliability of service and overall safety– 88 percent or higher customer “satisfied” and “very satisfied”

• South Miami-Dade Busway

– Multimodal connection with 51.1 percent of customers egressing at the Dadeland South Station transferred to Metrorail

– Riders are more satisfied with Busway service as compared to overall MDT services

– Busway viewed as providing a significant increase in service speed

– Almost one-half of the Busway customers were not previous bus users

BRTBRT SystemsSystemsUnited States: Consortium MembersUnited States: Consortium Members

•• AlmedaAlmeda, CA, CA•• Albany, NYAlbany, NY•• Boston, MABoston, MA•• Charlotte, NCCharlotte, NC•• Cleveland, OHCleveland, OH•• Chicago, ILChicago, IL•• Dulles Corridor, VADulles Corridor, VA•• Eugene, OREugene, OR•• Hartford, CTHartford, CT

World:World:

•• Honolulu, HIHonolulu, HI•• Louisville, KYLouisville, KY•• Miami, FLMiami, FL•• Montgomery County, MDMontgomery County, MD•• San Juan, PRSan Juan, PR•• Pittsburgh, PAPittsburgh, PA•• Santa Clara County, CASanta Clara County, CA•• Los Angeles, CALos Angeles, CA•• Las Vegas, NVLas Vegas, NV

•• CuritibaCuritiba, Brazil, Brazil•• Brisbane, AustraliaBrisbane, Australia•• Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide, Australia•• Ottawa, CanadaOttawa, Canada•• Leeds, EnglandLeeds, England

BRT ConsortiumBRT Consortium•• Resurrection of CommitteesResurrection of Committees

–– ITSITS–– VehicleVehicle–– Transit OperationsTransit Operations–– Institutional IssuesInstitutional Issues–– Land UseLand Use–– Other…Other…

•• Establish a Research Agenda for BRTEstablish a Research Agenda for BRT•• Maintain Scheduled WorkshopsMaintain Scheduled Workshops•• Share Knowledge at all Phases of Share Knowledge at all Phases of

ImplementationImplementation

BRT PeerBRT Peer--toto--Peer ProgramPeer Program•• Based on Based on USDOT’sUSDOT’s ITS Peer ProgramITS Peer Program•• Public and Private Sector PeersPublic and Private Sector Peers

–– ExpertiseExpertise–– Geographic DistributionGeographic Distribution–– Expenses OnlyExpenses Only

•• RecipientsRecipients–– Public Sector OnlyPublic Sector Only–– Short Term Technical AssistanceShort Term Technical Assistance

•• TelephoneTelephone•• OffOff--site Document Reviewsite Document Review•• OnOn--site Presentationsite Presentation•• MixMix

BRT Quarterly NewsletterBRT Quarterly Newsletter•• Research FindingsResearch Findings•• Technology UpdatesTechnology Updates•• System UpdatesSystem Updates•• Upcoming EventsUpcoming Events

–– ConferencesConferences–– WorkshopsWorkshops–– ToursTours

BRT Research ActivitiesBRT Research Activities

•• Hennepin CountyHennepin County–– Bus Lane ViolationBus Lane Violation–– Station Design ElementsStation Design Elements–– Fare Payment StrategiesFare Payment Strategies

•• SCRASCRA–– Technical Data Support CenterTechnical Data Support Center

•• SpecificationsSpecifications•• DrawingsDrawings•• Cost EstimationCost Estimation•• Similar to Automotive Industry Similar to Automotive Industry

Parts Dept.Parts Dept.

BRT Research Activities (cont.)BRT Research Activities (cont.)

•• Electronic GuidanceElectronic Guidance•• Collision WarningCollision Warning•• Deployment Planning (Riverside RTA)Deployment Planning (Riverside RTA)•• Advanced Bus Stop DesignsAdvanced Bus Stop Designs•• BRT Decision Support ToolBRT Decision Support Tool

–– Cost Benefit AnalysisCost Benefit Analysis–– Deployment StrategiesDeployment Strategies

•• Portal to the BRT CommunityPortal to the BRT Community•• BRT Project UpdatesBRT Project Updates•• Video and Image Library (AVideo and Image Library (A--23 site)23 site)•• Bibliographic DatabaseBibliographic Database•• Contact ListContact List

–– ConsortiumConsortium–– FriendsFriends–– IndustryIndustry

•• LinksLinks•• ReportsReports•• Meetings

NBRTI WebsiteNBRTI Website

Meetings

What is a What is a BRTBRT system?system?

It’s no single trait, but the combination of traits that make BRT systems successful!

It’s no single trait, but the combination of traits that make BRT systems successful![ ]

“Travel Ways”“Travel Ways”•• Exclusive or shared transit ways Exclusive or shared transit ways

•• atat--grade or gradegrade or grade--separatedseparated•• Bus priority/HOV lanes (Houston)Bus priority/HOV lanes (Houston)

•• exclusive onexclusive on-- and offand off--rampsramps•• Dedicated transit lanes (Curitiba, Brisbane, Dedicated transit lanes (Curitiba, Brisbane,

Pittsburgh)Pittsburgh)•• Transit streets or transit mallsTransit streets or transit malls

•• transittransit––only streets (downtowns, Seattle and only streets (downtowns, Seattle and Denver)Denver)

•• Mixed traffic (Los Angeles)Mixed traffic (Los Angeles)•• signal priority/preemptionsignal priority/preemption

•• Queue jump (Auckland, NZ)Queue jump (Auckland, NZ)•• permit BRT vehicles to permit BRT vehicles to ““jumpjump”” ahead of traffic ahead of traffic

queuesqueues•• preemptionpreemption

Los Angeles, CALos Angeles, CA

Auckland, New ZealandAuckland, New Zealand

Eugene, OREugene, OR

Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide, Australia

Service AlternativesService Alternatives•• Premium servicePremium service•• Higher average speeds than local serviceHigher average speeds than local service•• Average speeds comparable to LRTAverage speeds comparable to LRT•• Parallel local and express serviceParallel local and express service•• Major commuter corridorsMajor commuter corridors•• Skip stopSkip stop•• ReliableReliable•• High frequencyHigh frequency•• All dayAll day•• Reduced dwell timeReduced dwell time•• Highly flexibleHighly flexible•• No scheduleNo schedule

15 5

Route StructuresRoute Structures•• More direct than local serviceMore direct than local service•• ““OffOff--lineline”” stationsstations•• Anchored by major activity centersAnchored by major activity centers•• Major corridorsMajor corridors•• Feeder routesFeeder routes•• Operate in lowOperate in low--density residentialdensity residential•• FlexibleFlexible•• Effect on Land useEffect on Land use•• No mapNo map

Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii

Adelaide, AustraliaAdelaide, Australia

ADELAIDECBD

Stations: Potential CharacteristicsStations: Potential Characteristics•• Differentiated from regular bus stopsDifferentiated from regular bus stops•• Enhanced shelters and/or transit center designEnhanced shelters and/or transit center design•• Designated passenger Designated passenger ““platform,platform,”” possibly raisedpossibly raised•• EnclosedEnclosed•• Can be multiCan be multi--modalmodal•• Other facilities (taxi stands, parking, etc.)Other facilities (taxi stands, parking, etc.)•• Customer information (realCustomer information (real--time)time)•• JointJoint--development/multidevelopment/multi--useuse•• Facilitates quick boarding and exitFacilitates quick boarding and exit•• Precision dockingPrecision docking•• ADA accessibleADA accessible

VehiclesVehicles•• Unique/distinct aesthetic design/lookUnique/distinct aesthetic design/look•• Environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly•• Variable propulsion systemsVariable propulsion systems•• High capacity (articulated, biHigh capacity (articulated, bi--articulated)articulated)•• Wide aisles, increased passenger comfortWide aisles, increased passenger comfort•• LowLow--floorfloor•• Large window designLarge window design•• Increased amenities (laptop connections)Increased amenities (laptop connections)•• Multiple doubleMultiple double--wide doorswide doors•• DualDual--sided entry/exitsided entry/exit•• LRT likeLRT like

Los Angeles, CALos Angeles, CA

Curitiba, BrazilCuritiba, Brazil

Rouen, FranceRouen, France

ITS: Advanced TechnologiesITS: Advanced TechnologiesCommand CenterCommand CenterCommand Center

NextBus – Real-Time Customer InformationNextBus NextBus –– RealReal--Time Customer InformationTime Customer Information

ITS ITS –– Advanced TechnologiesAdvanced Technologies•• Automated vehicle locationAutomated vehicle location

•• realreal--time informationtime information•• next vehiclenext vehicle•• stop announcementsstop announcements•• ““ITECITEC”” onon--board info systemboard info system

•• Signal priority/preemptionSignal priority/preemption•• reduce vehicle bunchingreduce vehicle bunching•• consistent wait timesconsistent wait times•• onon--time performancetime performance

•• Surveillance & securitySurveillance & security•• at stationsat stations•• on vehicleson vehicles

Los Angeles, CALos Angeles, CA

Signal PreemptionSignal Preemption and and low floor vehicleslow floor vehicles aided in a:aided in a:•• 28 to 33% decrease in travel time28 to 33% decrease in travel time•• 30% increase in ridership, 14% net new30% increase in ridership, 14% net new•• No appreciable impact on crossNo appreciable impact on cross––streetstreet traffictraffic

Faster Fare CollectionFaster Fare Collection•• Fast, efficient so as to speed boardingFast, efficient so as to speed boarding•• Simple to understandSimple to understand•• Minimal onMinimal on--vehicle transactionsvehicle transactions•• CashlessCashless

•• smart cards (multismart cards (multi--use) use) •• prepre--purchased ticketspurchased tickets•• passespasses

•• Proof of paymentProof of payment•• enter station enter station

Curitiba, BrazilCuritiba, Brazil

Cost EffectiveCost Effective•• VehiclesVehicles

•• can be offcan be off--thethe--shelfshelf•• No track or overhead wiresNo track or overhead wires•• ““Travel WaysTravel Ways””

•• construction and maintenanceconstruction and maintenance•• incrementally built (phases, flexible)incrementally built (phases, flexible)•• existing roadway network (mixed traffic)existing roadway network (mixed traffic)

•• Uses existing vehicle storage facilitiesUses existing vehicle storage facilities•• Uses existing and simple signal systemsUses existing and simple signal systems•• Workforce compositionWorkforce composition

•• using existing vs. acquiring new staffusing existing vs. acquiring new staff•• wage differential for BRT vs. LRTwage differential for BRT vs. LRT

Rapid Transit Mode ComparisonsRapid Transit Mode ComparisonsBRT LRT

ROW Options Exclusive or Mixed Traffic Exclusive or Mixed TrafficStation Spacing 1/4 to 1 Mile 1/4 to 1 MileVehicle Seated Capacity 40 to 85 Passengers 65 to 85 PassengersAverage Speed 15-30 mph 15-30 mphP/H/D (exclusive ROW) Up to 30,000 Up to 30,000P/H/D (arterial) Up to 10,000 Up to 10,000Capital ROW Cost/Mile $0.2M to $25M/Mile $20M to $55M/MileCapital Cost/Vehicle $0.45M to $1.5M $1.5M to $3.5MO&M/SH $65 to $100 $150 to $200

Rapid Transit ModeStatistic

Source: SpeedLink- A Rapid Transit Option for Greater Detroit. June 2001.

Rail-Like Vehicles $5-30 mRailRail--Like Vehicles $5Like Vehicles $5--30 m30 m

ConclusionsConclusions•• Offer as Offer as ““premiumpremium”” serviceservice•• Brand as unique, integrated serviceBrand as unique, integrated service•• Unique characteristicsUnique characteristics

•• vehiclesvehicles•• stationsstations•• fare paymentfare payment•• ““running wayrunning way””•• higher speedhigher speed•• highly flexiblehighly flexible•• ITSITS

•• Environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly•• Alternatives analysis/MISAlternatives analysis/MIS•• The futureThe future

•• precision dockingprecision docking•• magnetic guidance (driverless)magnetic guidance (driverless)•• customer demand/route deviation servicecustomer demand/route deviation service•• interim alternative for rail corridor developmentinterim alternative for rail corridor development

ConclusionsConclusions

•• BRT can provide effective solutionsBRT can provide effective solutions•• Characteristics suited to low density Characteristics suited to low density

environmentsenvironments•• Offer advantages in early & Offer advantages in early &

incremental implementationincremental implementation•• Ultimately its reliability, directness, Ultimately its reliability, directness,

convenienceconvenience•• Low cost, high capacity alternative Low cost, high capacity alternative

to railto rail•• A tool worth having in the tool boxA tool worth having in the tool box

www.nbrti.orgwww.nbrti.org