A new study challenges the conventional wisdom regarding the superiority of light rail over bus rapid transit.
A new study published in Transport Reviews compares 86 transit systems around the world to reveal that an many cities around the world there is very little difference in the performance of light rail transit compared to bus rapid transit.
Darío Hidalgo writes an article sharing details of the new report, in effect challenging the perceived supremacy of light rail compared to bus rapid transit. According to Hidalgo's explanation of the study, researchers Jesper Ingvardson and Otto Nielsen from the Technical University of Denmark pulled date from 86 transit systems and compared several variables capturing both transit service and property development considerations—i.e., travel time savings, increase in demand from riders, modal shift, and land use and urban development changes.
After comparing some of the data revealed by the study for each of those variables, Hidalgo produces a potentially controversial conclusion: "BRTs can improve travel times, modal share and urban development at rates similar to those reported for light rail and metro."
FULL STORY: Are Trains Better Than Bus Rapid Transit Systems? A Look at the Evidence
Chicago Transit Releases 2024 Budget
The agency projects modest ridership growth while aiming to make long-term investments in bus and rail improvements.
Madison Launches Redesigned Transit System
Transit riders in Madison, Wisconsin are navigating an entirely new system this week.
Madison Redesigning its Transit System, BRT Included
Transit service in the Wisconsin State Capital has been redesigned on a high-frequency grid.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
What Trump’s Executive Orders Mean for US Housing Programs
Orders related to DEI and accessibility, among others, may threaten housing programs for those who need them most.
University of Hawai‘i Appoints New Architecture School Dean
The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa has named Mo Zell as the new dean of its School of Architecture, bringing over two decades of experience in academia, innovative educational programs, and industry partnerships to advance design education.
Part of San Francisco Waterfront Highway to Become Pedestrian-Only in April
Two miles of the ‘Great Highway’ will be permanently closed to cars, in part due to erosion that makes the road unsafe for vehicles.
El Paso Wastewater Purification Facility Breaks Ground
As water supplies become strained and technology advances, cities look to wastewater as a viable source of drinking water.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research