The Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for decision-making (CBRT) report was prepared to provide transportation planners and decision makers with basic information and data to support the development and evaluation of bus rapid transit concepts as one of many options during alternatives analyses and subsequent project planning. This report provides information on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in a single, easy to use reference tool for transportation planners in selecting from the large array of BRT elements and integrating them into comprehensive systems.

The CBRT report explores Bus Rapid Transit through three different perspectives. First, six major elements of Bus Rapid Transit are presented along with their respective features and attributes. Second, these Bus Rapid Transit elements are related to attributes of system performance. Finally, the benefits of Bus Rapid Transit systems are discussed. This structure suggests relationship between Bus Rapid Transit elements, system performance and system benefits. The choice of Bus Rapid Transit elements determine system performance. Performance characteristics, together with individual elements, drive how benefits are generated

This reference was prepared for the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The report is intended to support evaluation of bus rapid transit concepts as one of many options during the initial project planning and development. This report presents a comprehensive summary of applications of Bus Rapid Transit elements in the United States and in selected sites around the world. Information on the first wave of Bus Rapid Transit projects to be implemented in the United States is presented to show the broad range of applications of key elements of Bus Rapid Transit – running ways, stations, vehicles, fare collection, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and service and operating plans.

This report also presents performance of Bus Rapid Transit systems and discusses how combinations of Bus Rapid Transit elements contribute to transit system performance, including reducing travel times, improving reliability, providing identity and a quality image, improving safety and security, and increasing capacity. Some important benefits of integrated BRT systems are presented, including transportation system benefits (increasing ridership, and improving capital cost effectiveness and operating efficiency) and community benefits (transit-supportive development and environmental quality).

Read the report here: Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) for decision-making.