Since BRT’s initial conception in the 1970s in Brazil, this form of cost-effective and efficient rapid transit system has grown to span thousands of kilometers across nearly 200 cities today, with a number of new systems in the works. Over the past decade, ITDP has been one of the leading organizations committed to promoting high-quality, accessible, and well-managed BRT systems globally. Notably, ITDP launched the BRT Standard in 2012 alongside internationally regarded transport experts to provide a framework for understanding quality BRT and to serve as an evaluation tool for urban corridors based on global best practices. The latest 2024 Edition of the Standard was developed with extensive feedback from BRT practitioners, advocates, and experts to provide updated guidance to cities looking to leverage the climate, economic, and social benefits of better BRT networks.  

The Role of Rapid Transit

BRT is a form of high-capacity, bus-based rapid transit system. It is distinguished from other forms of mass transit by operating on an exclusive right-of-way, with no access for other vehicles or pedestrians. BRT often features dedicated bus lanes, central busways, off-board fare collection, and frequent operations. These corridors are considered some of the most cost-effective and high-quality public transport solutions. When well designed, BRT corridors require fewer capital costs to build and maintain than other rapid transit corridors because of their more straightforward infrastructure needs that can take advantage of existing road infrastructure.

BRT systems offer similar gains in efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to other rapid transit systems like metro and light rail. BRT is also highly adaptable and can be designed to fit a city’s specific needs and constraints, whether accommodating existing road layouts, varying demand levels, or integrating with other transportation systems. BRT corridors offer many benefits for urban mobility, especially as cities face a growing challenge of providing affordable, sustainable, and inclusive access to jobs, education, housing, and public services.  

The BRT Essentials

According to ITDP’s Standard, a bus corridor must be at least three kilometers long and have dedicated lanes to be considered BRT. This length guarantees that investment in infrastructure has a reach beyond what is walkable and cyclable. According to the Standard, a BRT system’s five basic and essential features are Dedicated Right-of-Way, Busway Alignment, Off-Board Fare Collection, Intersection Treatments, and Platform-Level Boarding. These features help make it an optimal mobility option for cities as part of a comprehensive public transit equation. It combines the efficiency and quality of metros with the flexibility and relatively low cost of buses, while offering significant environmental benefits relative to private vehicles.

BRT also achieves comparable speed, capacity, passenger comfort, and convenience to many rail-based systems, but can be built at a fraction of the cost and construction time. This allows cities to expand access without sacrificing limited space and financial resources. BRT has also been shown to attract riders across different income levels and further provides flexibility and scalability, which is more challenging with rail-based infrastructure. This pragmatic and affordable nature ensures cities can keep their public transit systems on pace with urban growth and economic development. 

BRT’s Benefits

As the world becomes more urban with ever-larger cities, the combination of dense development and high-quality mass transit, which reduces travel time and pollution, will be crucial to providing access and mobility for a high quality of life and prosperity. The alternative to this — cities centered around private automobile use — quickly leads to congested streets, neighborhoods, and cities, rendering these areas increasingly polluted, chaotic, and unlivable. BRT stimulates local economies by enhancing access to jobs and education, boosting property values, and encouraging investments along public transport corridors. A BRT corridor’s time savings directly impact users’ productivity and, consequently, the local economy.

Efficient transport also attracts more commercial activity, contributing to commercial vitality at the community level. By enhancing accessibility and inclusivity with universal design measures, BRT can help make public transit feasible for all demographics, including people with disabilities, caregivers, and young and old. What’s more, because it is less expensive to build and typically takes less time than rail, a bigger BRT network can be built sooner, allowing city governments to deliver mobility services more efficiently, no matter the political environment. Economically disadvantaged people who tend to be the most transit-dependent can thus have access to public transit options that are also cost-effective on an individual level. These systems are crucial to facilitating equitable access to services and opportunities citywide, particularly when well-integrated with other rapid transit, walking, and cycling networks.

By shifting commuters from private vehicles to public transport, and by shifting public transport riders from older and more polluting buses to newer and cleaner ones, modern BRT systems can help reduce harmful emissions and air pollution. Implementing electric or hybrid buses on BRT can significantly decrease public transit’s environmental footprint, enabling healthier and more prosperous cities for everyone. With growing crises in our environments and economies, developing more efficient and reliable public transport is the cornerstone of cities where access to opportunity, jobs, and growth is guaranteed to all. By reducing the need for private vehicles, lessening congestion, and improving air quality, BRT plays an important role in the current and future development of any city worldwide.