BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM (BRTS) AND ITS IMPORTANCE

INTRODUCTION: As the demand for transportation is increasing, the need for sustainable modes becomes more evident. The need for more plentiful and efficient public transport becomes very essential as a step to reduce traffic congestion which is mainly caused by public transport. Public transport systems can move large no. of people that will promote less use of scarce resources which are land, fuel and environmental costs. Successful public transport systems enable to be a competitor to the private modes which would retain customers form all social class, not just poor and used for a wide range of urban trips at all times of a day. For this to be achieved there is a need of well planned public transportation system which is affordable and attractive to all groups of people. Urban economies are looking for new and innovative approaches to address increasing urban congestion and associated pollution while providing efficient and effective transport options. Adding more highways is expensive and disruptive; and is not always an environmentally sound approach. Light rail rapid transit systems are of interest to many urban economies but it requires significant capital investment and may not be an effective solution for many transport problems. One innovative approach is the use of buses rather than light and/ or heavy rail, in an integrated, well defined system with design features similar to light rail rapid transit systems. These days, BRT concept is becoming increasingly utilized by the cities looking for cost effective transit solution. BRTS attempts to address the deficiencies of the earlier public transport system by providing a rapid, high quality, safe and secure transit operations. The main characteristics of BRTS includes: 1) Segregated Bus ways. 2) Rapid boarding and alighting. 3) Clean, Secure and Comfortable stations and terminals. 4) Efficient pre-board fare collection. 5) Transit prioritization at intersections. 6) Real-time information displays.

ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT: In the last decades, BRT systems have become increasingly popular and are now operating in a range of cities throughout the world. This chapter will provide an overview of the origins and evolution of the BRT mode and current developments will be presented.

1) Ancestors and Pioneers In the 1970s, population growth, the scarcity of financial resources in public administrations, the unsatisfactory conditions in many public transport systems, and the oil crisis were main circumstances that led to the emergence of the BRT concept. In the city of Curitiba (Brazil), these conditions, together with an extraordinary commitment by city authorities, led to the creation of a low-cost yet high-quality bus concept as an alternative to an originally planned rail-based metro system. The implementation of the first 20 kilometers of the Rede Integrada de Transporte (RIT) system in Curitiba in 1974 marked the emergence of the first modern BRT system.

2) BRTS in Latin America The success story of the Curitiba system was closely followed in Latin America since many cities on the continent at that time were facing rapid population growth and scarce financial resources. The oil crisis put additional pressure on many governments to find quick ways to improve public transport. The cities of Sao Paulo, Goiania, Porto Alegre and Belo Horizonte followed the Curitiba example between 1975 and 1981 by constructing similar BRT systems. The initial RIT system in Curitiba was re- fined further by integrating inter-district services as feeder routes to the new exclusive trunk corridors, by building convenient and comfortable stations and transfer facilities, and by introducing off-board payment and a single-fare structure. However, increasing ridership started to overwhelm the system in the mid-1980s and further developments became necessary. To cope with the demand approaching 10,000 passengers per hour per direction, the system was extended by adding express routes on parallel lanes. The technological innovation of biarticulated buses with a capacity of 270 passengers brought further improvements in capacity.
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BRTS in rest of the world Real interest in BRT systems in Asia and North America was sparked rather

late in the 1990s. Kunming was the first city in Asia to develop a busway system in 1999. New systems opened in Vancouver (Canada, 1996), in Miami (USA, 1997), and in Brisbane (Australia, 2000). The first BRT system on the African continent opened in 2008 in Lagos (Nigeria). Brader et al. (2010) conclude that public reception of the Lagos system was immediate and positive and a subsequent assessment found the scheme to be an unprecedented success.

DEFINING BRTS: Bus Rapid Transit System refers to a flexible rubber tired rapid transit mode that combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways and intelligent transportation system elements into an integrated system with a strong positive identity that evokes a unique message (Levinson et al, 2003). By combining these elements, BRTS provides a cost-effective means of providing fast, efficient, convenient and comfortable urban mobility. The most successful BRT system achieve travel speeds, service capacity and passenger throughput levels comparable to rail-based mass transit services at a fraction of cost, using roadway infrastructure and bus based vehicle platforms. BRT systems generally include the following elements, which when combined provides level of service comparable to rail-based systems: 1) Physical Infrastructure including exclusive lanes or bus only roadways, an optimum network of routes and corridors, enclosed stations with prepaid boarding areas, a level station-platform-to-vehicle-floor design, and multi door buses for rapid boarding and disembarkation. 2) Operational Features including high frequency of buses resulting in less time for waiting, rapid operating speed, limited stop services, ample passenger capacity, fare integration between routes, modes and feeder services and coordinated land use planning.

3) Technological Features such as automated fare collection and verification, signal prioritization and/or grade separation at intersections to minimize bus stoppage at intersections, centralized tracking and system management using GPS and Intelligent Transportation System applications, and efficient, low-emission vehicles. 4) Business and Regulatory Features such as roadway access restrictions to authorized bus operators and effective oversight of the independent quality control. 5) Marketing Features unique and distinctive branding for BRT stations and service vehicles, excellence in customer service and operational performance, and ease of transfer between the BRT system and other transportation options.

PRESENT SCENARIO: According to Asian Development Bank (ADB) 44 million people are being added every year in Asias population, around 120,000 people a day. ADB has estimated that 80% of Asias growth will depend on urban economies because of this there are more no. of jobs and employment opportunities. These trends are causing increase in strain on transport and mobility in urban area. Motor vehicle fleets are doubling every 5 to 7 years. If we want sustainable urban transportation then rapid motorization should be controlled which is one of the major causes of congestion as well as pollution. When we talk about India which is a developing economy, construction of new urban roads will not alone provide a solution. Construction of new roads will again influence purchases of private vehicle in positive direction which eventually leads to road congestion. The nature of operation of conventional bus transport in Indian cities makes the running of the system costly. There are too many short and uneconomic routes, and it is difficult to eliminate them. Traffic congestion which causes frequent stopping and starting of vehicles leading to excess fuel consumption, wear and tear of vehicles. The average fare level of buses is about 50 paisa per km, whereas the cost of operation is generally higher. As, a result most of the public transport bus systems in the Indian cities have incurred huge losses. Therefore, High capacity bus rapid transportation systems are needed to provide safe, secure, accessible, rapid, and efficient transport, and to reduce pollution, congestion and accidents.

Fig: - Projected Mode Share of Vehicular Trips per Day IPT (Intermediate Public Transport)

Source: - Rites (1998)

BRTS IN INDIA: The increasing need for urban transit mobility is now being addressed by Indian cities because of increase in population and shortage of useful resources as major factors. The Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) which aims to encourage fast track urban development in cities played a vital role in establishment of BRTS in Indian cities. Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Rajkot, Surat, Vishakhapatanam are the cities where BRTS is running successfully. These cities have combine population of 9.3 crores (2011 census) with combined average of 35% public transport share, therefore efficient implementation of BRTS will not only increase share of public

transport but also reduce problems of congestion, delays, environmental impacts due to pollution.

Ahmedabad BRTS, a very good example of successful rapid transit system with approved cost for phase 1 was 493 crores and for phase 2 was Rs 488 crores (Source: - CEPT university report; 2010). Objectives with which it was implemented were to increase public transit patronage, for efficient public transit operation which includes reducing manpower and operating cost, to reduce accidents and to improve air quality. After completion of first phase many of the objectives were met. Bhopal BRTS is still in its starting phase. It is somewhat different from BRTS in other Indian cities in a way that it is designed to connect central business districts (CBDs) rather than connecting suburban parts of the city to the main city. Delhi BRTS, although it was established to improve mobility in state capital but there were mixed results about its feasibility. In the peak hours, BRTS lanes turn into mixed traffic lanes which create problems; this is a big issue that policy makers are facing in Delhi. Recently in Indore first phase of BRTS has been established with estimated cost of Rs. 800 crores.

Fig: - IT system in Ahemdabad BRTS

Source: - Urban Transportation Initiatives in INDIA (National Institute of Urban Affairs)

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: BRT is a mass transit option that achieves many of the same goals of light rail, but with a much smaller price tag. This is because BRT uses buses instead of light rail trams, no tracks, cables, or wires needed. This results in a significantly less-expensive infrastructure investment over light rail, and a lower overall project cost. Transportation is also the fastest growing consumer of fossil fuels and the fastest growing source of CO2 emissions. Thanks to rapid urbanization, cities now contribute 70 percent of energy-related carbon emissions, most of which come from transport. And with 1 billion cars already on the road, road transport accounts for about two-thirds of total transport emissions.

India still faces large transport infrastructure gap. However, there is more than one way to span this gap: low-emission public transport or a cardependent model. If public transport is included as a major part of the modal structure in urban transport, there is no trade-off between a low-emission transport sector and rapid growth or high income. An urban strategy that promotes BRT over individual car use can lower the carbon intensity of a city while maintaining or even improving its efficiency. Government should take initiatives to establish BRT in various growing urban cities as a need of today and tomorrow. Public Private Partnership approach is very useful for sustainable BRT and can be profitable. Main arguments of BRT advocates are that its performance and amenity characteristics are similar to modern rail-based system but can be obtained with much lower cost. Therefore, there is no doubt that BRTS are a step ahead in the quest for providing affordable and improved public transport.