Recommended Practice

Bus Rapid Transit Service Design and Operations

Abstract

This recommended practice provides guidance on service design and operations for bus rapid transit (BRT) services.

Document History
Document Number Version Publication Date Publication Related Information
APTA BTS-BRT-RP-004-10 Rev. 1 12/11/2020 Published Current
APTA BTS-BRT-RP-004-10 10/1/2010 Published Superseded

Keywords

bus rapid transit, BRT, Basic BRT, Corridor Based BRT, Premium BRT, Fixed Guideway BRT, Express service, limited-stop service, frequency, service capacity, span of service

Summary

Bus rapid transit (BRT) service creates a premium rapid transit experience using rubber-tired vehicles. Service design is the key element underpinning BRT service and leads to key decisions around operations of BRT. However, planning BRT service requires several layers of strategic decisions to develop a plan that will be appropriate for the community context of each unique BRT corridor. This recommended practice provides guidance on BRT service design and operations for planners, transit agencies, local governments, developers, and others interested in developing new, or enhancing existing, BRT systems.
This document is part of a suite of recommended practices covering the key elements that comprise BRT service. Because BRT elements perform best when working together as a system, this document may reference others in this series of recommended practices. Users of this document are advised to review all guidance documents to better understand how different BRT elements are interrelated in delivering a high impact transit project.

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