Federal Transit Administration, June 2001, FTA-DC-26-7075-2001.1
Author: Matthew Hardy, William Stevens, and Donald Roberts
Performing Organization and Address: Mitretek Systems, 600 Maryland Avenue, SW, Suite 755, Washington, D.C. 20024
Sponsoring/Monitoring Agency Name and Address:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Transit Administration
Office of Mobility Innovation, 400 Seventh Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20590
Number of Pages: 91
This report focuses on vehicle issues related to BRT systems. The characteristics of BRT systems described in this report are developed based on existing or planned BRT systems. Information on the vendor's offerings is based on information from the existing BRT transit agencies, industry publications, including the year 2000 edition of Jane's Transport Systems, and follow-up interviews with a few of the vendors offering products that appear to be aligned with BRT needs. The report will be updated, as necessary, to reflect emerging BRT vehicle concepts.
Based on broad BRT system goals, this report first identifies those goals as well as the desirable characteristics of BRT systems. Secondly, the report summarizes those characteristics against the backdrop of transit agencies, who are either proposing BRT systems in their community, or have an operational system. Finally, the report draws conclusions that will affect and determine BRT vehicle attributes and features. In addition, the extent to which those desirable characteristics are available from bus vendors examined. Also, conclusions are drawn concerning the near-term design of BRT systems and approaches for procuring BRT vehicles. Results are based on interviews with nine transit agencies and four potential BRT vehicle vendors.
Click here to download the Bus Rapid Transit Vehicle Characteristics Report.
Questions, please contact Karen.Facen@dot.gov.