Bus Rapid Transit Systems as a Solution for Sustainability
Posted by Michael Brady, Contributing Writer
The New York Times reported on the success of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Bogotá, Columbia called the TransMilenio. The Bogotá BRT has relieved the city from an overburdened transportation system composed mostly of individually-owned vehicles that shared the roads with ordinary buses. As noted in the Times article, the new system has become an alternative mode of transportation rather than an addition the the old system. The BRT experience is more akin to riding a subway train than a bus, which has aided its success--a feat difficult for other cities to achieve. Part of the difficulty of implementing a bus system that successfully replaces other modes of transpiration is effectively protecting dedicated bus lanes from other traffic. Despite difficulties, examples of other cities that have plans to implement BRTs include: Mexico City, Cape Town, Jakarta, Indonesia and Ahmedabad, India.
Courtesy of Scott Dalton for The New York Times
Bus rapid transit systems may solve transportation challenges in poor cities while contributing to global efforts to lessen climate change. BRTs are much less expensive to build and maintain than are metros. Low costs make it possible for poor cities to implement cleaner and more efficient transportation systems, where constrained budgets preclude the construction of metros. BRTs, like metros found in cities of developed countries, reduce green house gas emissions from cars, trucks, and buses. “TransMilenio has allowed the city to remove 7,000 small private buses from its roads, reducing the use of bus fuel — and associated emissions — by more than 59 percent since it opened its first line in 2001, according to city officials.” Due to its success, “... the TransMilenio last year became the only large transportation project approved by the United Nations to generate and sell carbon credits ...”, allowing Bogotá to generate an estimated $300 million over the past year from developed countries that need the credit. Decreasing transportation emissions will become increasingly important to check as they are expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2030.
The Times article noted that the TransMilenio can be seen as a model for how international programs to limit man-made contributions to climate change can and should function. By designing an international treaty that encourages the implementation of cleaner and more efficient transportation systems supported by the same program that serves to check global emissions (Kyoto Protocol), development is promoted in a manner more sensitive to the local needs of poor cities and to the common goal to offset the risk of climate change.
Read the full Times article here
The Green Queen Bee
6 Comments
Reader Comments (6)
-Tyler
I'm still not sold on BRT for a few reasons. Principally, it is not as green or as efficient as light rail. No matter how efficient the modern diesel motor might be, it is still polluting the city core with noise, heat, and poisonous fumes; electric trams have none of these flaws.
I'm not convinced of the cost-effectiveness claims of BRT systems either. True, a BRT system will cost less than a tunneled heavy rail metro as mentioned in the NYT article, but is that an appropriate comparison? Based on the capacity of the vehicles and the at-grade busways, shouldn't BRT be compared with a tram network or streetcar line? Those cost a fraction of tunneled heavy rail. And what of the maintenance cost and shorter service life of the BRT vehicles compared with electric traction, is that taken into account? Then there is the issue of fuel costs, which can rise unexpectedly based on market conditions.
Also the comfort level is quite low, look at the pictures of overcrowding on Transmilenio, and nearly every other BRT system. The facilities are packed to capacity even in off-rush hours. The vehicles bunch together at stops, and they don't appear to be very accessible either.
In the US we shouldn't look at this in terms of the "poor city's light rail" given that the federal government pays for so much of transit costs. Norfolk, VA is building its first light rail line, and they are paying less than 25% of the cost thanks to the Feds and the State.
Although the BRT systems in Curritaba and Bogota are commendable solutions to their transit needs, I don't think we should be looking to systems like that for our cities. I think we need to rebuild our urban rail network to pre-1950's levels. Nearly every town in the USA had an electric streetcar system prior to WWII so we know our cities can accommodate electric rail transit.
Our transportation culture has become so fossil-fuel centric we overlook the simplest, cheapest, most elegant solution to transit needs, and that is rail.
"Bogotá removed one-third of its street parking to make room for TransMilenio and imposed alternate-day driving restrictions determined by license plate numbers, forcing car owners onto the system."
I'd love to see the reaction to THAT if it was tried in any American city.