[Boston, MA] [Pittsburgh, PA] [Ottawa, Ontario] [Federal Transit Administration] Based in part on strong support from the federal government, the BRT concept is taking off as an alternative to be considered in a diverse range of locations and to address a variety of service needs. The vast majority of new, fully-integrated BRT systems have experienced the same type of ridership increases previously thought to be achievable only by rail transit. While still a relatively new and evolving concept, BRT systems have been successfully designed, built, and now operated in a number of locations within the United States and worldwide. Following are just a few examples. Silver Line – Boston, Massachusetts An example of BRT in an urban corridor and connected to other transit services – much like what is being considered for the Green and Red Lines in Baltimore. 
The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority's (MBTA) new Silver Line is a BRT service connecting historic Roxbury to downtown Boston. The Silver Line uses dedicated transit lanes as well as mixed traffic operation. The MBTA also is constructing tunnels to provide direct connections to the subway, commuter rail, Amtrak, intercity bus, and Logan Airport. The entire BRT system will provide 20 stations along seven miles. Current ridership is 80 percent higher than the predecessor conventional bus service. A state-of-the-art Intelligent Transportation System is planned to improve mobility, safety, efficiency, and customer service by collecting real-time data transmitted from Silver Line vehicles. Using Global Positioning System satellites, the system will track bus locations and enable the MBTA's Control Center to respond to changing route conditions. This information also will be transmitted to digital message boards and "smart" kiosks at Silver Line stations. An example of BRT commuter service – similar to what is being considered for the I-270/US 15 Corridor. 
The Port Authority of Allegheny County operates a series of busways, providing 18 miles of fast, reliable rapid transit service to downtown Pittsburgh. Easy pedestrian access, feeder services (buses and vans that bring riders to the busway system), and park-and-ride lots make it easy for commuters to leave their cars and ride into town. Within the city, BRT vehicles exit the busways and use city streets to deliver passengers to their destinations. The Pittsburgh Busways use direct connections into park-and-ride lots to improve travel time. In addition, the corridors take advantage of right-of-way adjacent to existing rail lines. An example of an integrated BRT system using available rights-of-way and operating in a combination of dedicated and mixed traffic environments – with some elements similar to the Bi-County Transitway. The Ontario Transitway is a 20-mile system constructed primarily on rail rights-of-way, as well as exclusive bus lanes on city streets and a regional highway. A portion of the system (South Transitway) serves a very high-density residential corridor with stations every ½ - 1 mile. In the downtown area, buses use bus-only curbside lanes to load and unload passengers. Ottawa offers its users in-line stations with pedestrian overpasses to avoid conflicts with the high volumes of buses. Stations are integrated into their setting such as downtown business districts or suburban shopping malls. 
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) web page notes that "BRT combines the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses. It can operate on exclusive transitways, HOV lanes, expressways, or ordinary streets. A BRT system combines intelligent transportation systems technology, priority for transit, cleaner and quieter vehicles, rapid and convenient fare collection, and integration with land use policy." 
The Federal Transit Administration has just released a guide designed to give transit operators, planners, and local decision makers assistance when considering Bus Rapid Transit as an option for local transportation needs. The guide describes the six elements that distinguish BRT from regular bus systems and reviews the potential benefits of operating a BRT system. | 
