Why BRT?
The Most Efficient Public Transit Solution
Increasingly, the question is not “why BRT,” but rather “why not BRT?” BRT can exceed the performance of even the best rail systems at a fraction of the cost. In many places, BRT is now the preferred transit mode, because it costs less and accomplishes more. Bay Area residents understand that in order to reduce congestion on the streets and pollution in the air, we must continually improve our public transit system.
Better Quality, Better Service. With BRT, customers can choose between express and local routes. Better service means more transit riders and a more sustainable community.
Cost-Effectiveness. To compete effectively for federal dollars, transit agencies must develop cutting-edge, cost-effective transit systems. BRT is just such a solution. In the US, a typical heavy rail system can cost $200 million or more per mile to construct, and a typical light rail system can cost $70 million per mile or more. By contrast, the most expensive BRT’s cost around $25 million per mile. Some very competitive systems have been built for significantly less.
Fighting Global Warming. BRT is the best transit strategy for most US cities to reduce transportation-related CO² emissions, according to a recent analysis published in the Journal of Public Transportation. BRT can be deployed more quickly, and in greater quantities, than rail systems. This increases opportunities to attract people out of their cars. That’s why BRT was the first, and so far the only, mass transit technology certified under the Kyoto Protocol.