Most Successful Bus Rapid Transit Stalls Out

Bogota, Columbia's TransMilenio bus rapid transit system has been widely praised and imitated around the world. However, many consider the successful bus system to be suffering from its own success.

1 minute read

July 16, 2011, 1:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur

Alex Hutchinson writes that while the TransMilenio was a runaway success, only about half the system is completed and the rest has been an uphill battle:

"The original TransMilenio plans for 2011 anticipated 170 kilometers of lanes. Instead, Bogota is currently coping with 84 kilometers of completed lanes, with an additional 20 kilometers under construction. While Phase I of the system was implemented seemingly overnight in two years, phases II and III have been delayed, taking 5 years and 7 years to start, respectively. The 20 kilometers of Phase III currently under construction are already 1.5 years behind schedule, with an estimated completion date of 2012, aggravating Bogotanos whose city is mired in public works projects."

Thanks to Alex Hutchinson

Transportation Central and South America Transportation BRT Public Policy Public Transportation Urban Sustainability Road Construction Bogota Transmilenio Enrique Penalosa View More

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