Bus Rapid Transit in Latin America

Summary

                Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been used by a number of Latin American Cities as a less capital-intensive alternative to rail. The earliest and most successful example was Curitiba, Brazil. Following that model, it has been implemented in a number of other cities, including Bogotá, Colombia, and Santiago, Chile, with varying degrees of success. BRT is characterized by segregated bus lanes, articulated buses, trunk and feeder routes, electronic fee payment, and contracted bus service.

· Case Study Report

Required Readings

· Curitiba, Brazil BRT Case Study

· How Public Transportation’s Past is Haunting its Future in Bogotá, Colombia

· Planning and Implementation Issues of a Large-Scale Transit Modernization Plan: The Case of Transantiago, Chile