BRT Basics

What is Bus Rapid Transit?

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an innovative, high-capacity, lower-cost public transit solution that can achieve the performance and benefits of more expensive rail modes. This integrated system uses buses or specialized vehicles on roadways or dedicated lanes to quickly and efficiently transport passengers to their destinations, while offering the flexibility to meet a variety of local conditions. BRT system elements can easily be customized to community needs and incorporate state-of-the-art, low-cost technologies that attract more passengers and ultimately help reduce overall traffic congestion.

Our mission of the National BRT Institute is to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and innovation for increasing speed, efficiency, and reliability of high-capacity bus service through the implementation of BRT systems in the United States.

 Click here to download our brochure.

 

Resources

Summaries of BRTs in Operation in the United States

Cleveland’s Euclid Corridor was featured in the Landscape Architecture Magazine

Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making

Quick Answers – Who is Doing What?

Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) BRT brochure

Great article in the Wall Street Journal on BRT!

American Planning Association’s Planning magazine featured BRT in their May/June issue

Presentations

BRT Basics
General Overview of Bus Rapid Transit – Brian Pessaro

Community-Oriented BRT: Urban Design, Amenities, and Placemaking Jennifer Flynn, Pro Walk Pro Bike Pro Place Conference in Pittsburgh

Assessment and Comparison of Travel Time and Reliability of the Eugene EmX, Los Angeles Orange Line, and Snohomish County SWIFT Cheryl Thole APTA Multimodal, Chicago

The Who and What: Bus Rapid Transit Riders and Systems in the U.S. Cheryl Thole Webinar

BRT Presentation to Livable Roadways Committee Brian Pessaro, March to the Livable Roadways Committee of the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization

Overview of Bus Rapid Transit Jennifer Flynn and Cheryl Thole Commuter Choice Workshop August

Information on Bus Rapid Transit Systems in the United States
Cheryl Thole, APTA Bus and Paratransit , Memphis, TN

Change in Accessibility and Convenience? Replacement of Conventional Bus Service with BRT and Its Effect on Riders Cheryl Thole TRB Annual Meeting

The LYMMO BRT 15 Years Later
Brian Pessaro June at the Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI) Congress  (American Society of Civil Engineers)

Tangible and Intangible Service Attributes: Quantifying the Importance of Image and Perception to Bus Rapid Transit Jennifer Flynn TRB 5th National Bus Rapid Transit Conference, Las Vegas, NV

Land Use Impacts of Bus Rapid Transit Victoria Perk and Cheryl Thole Commuter Choice Workshop

Madison Transit Seminar
Bus Rapid Transit and Transit Oriented Development

Cheryl Thole, Victoria Perk

APTA Bus and Paratransit Conference presentations
Seattle

Cleveland BRT Workshop presentations
Cleveland

What is Bus Rapid Transit?
Presentation Update (NBRTI)

Bus Rapid Transit
Stations and Shelters

American Planning Association by NBRTI

Prepared Testimony
by Gary Brosch
(NBRTI)
U.S. Senate Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Florida Public Transportation Association Annual Meeting
BRT Session Presentations by
Tindale Oliver,
Kansas City Metro,
Lane Transit District

Senate Hearing Powerpoint Appendix (NBRTI)
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs