Bus Rapid Transit - Light Rail Alternative

August 31, 2003 – Vol.8 No.23

BUS RAPID TRANSIT - LIGHT RAIL ALTERNATIVE.

Light rail certainly has its appeal. Clean, quiet transportation for urban and suburban areas. But it is not cheap. There’s rail to be laid, stations to be built and all those overhead wires that keep electricity flowing to each vehicle have to be installed.

Since the 1970’s a less expensive alternative has been available - Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Like rail service, but on wheels, BRT systems can offer frequent, scheduled service on dedicated transitways - roadways not shared with other vehicles. The BRT vehicles, too, can be state-of-the-art green vehicles - hybrid electric.

The Lane Transit District (LTD) of Eugene, Oregon has decided to purchase 5 hybrid-electric articulated buses from New Flyer of America for its BRT system now under development. The New Flyer Invero DE60iLF-BRT buses are 60 feet long and feature doors on both sides and a low-floor that matches the level of passenger platforms at stations. The diesel-electric hybrid system will have lower toxic emissions than a conventional diesel as well as an increase in fuel economy of at least 20 percent.

And those dedicated transit ways? The LTD website depicts the bus-only roadways to be part concrete, part grass, with a bike-way along side. Visit the Lane Transit District at http://www.ltd.org (click Major Projects) and New Flyer at http://www.newflyer.com/ .