Can bus really be the new tram?

Authors

Paul Hodgson
Stephen Potter
James Warren
David Gillingwater

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2012

Subject Area

mode - tram/light rail, mode - bus rapid transit, place - north america, place - europe, technology - emissions

Keywords

Bus Rapid Transit, Light rail, Value for money, Emissions, Transit evaluation model

Abstract

BRT appears to be less expensive to build and operate than tram systems but can it really approach the performance level of a tram system and what is the environmental performance of comparable systems?

This paper reports systematic research on these issues, particularly relating to where an urban transit system seeks to attract discretionary car users. A model has been developed to compare the implementation, operational costs and environmental impacts of a comparable tram and high quality guided BRT system. This models a UK situation, but draws upon information from elsewhere in Europe and North America. The design of the BRT system delivers equivalent performance to trams in capacity and passenger experience.

This ‘equivalence’ model shows that the capital costs of the high-spec BRT system are two-thirds those of tram. This is less of a cost saving than is often claimed, suggesting that, in practice, BRT is built to a lower specification that tram systems. Operational costs do not significantly differ. Using hybrid-engine BRT vehicles, CO₂ emissions are similar, BRT has lower PM₁₀ emissions, but NO_x from BRT remains higher than for trams.

Although the cost differences for equivalent systems are less than is often claimed, there are substantial benefits in the flexible development of BRT, with it less vulnerable to variations from forecast ridership numbers, and development can be split into fundable stages, growing the business case for incremental upgrading. High-spec BRT can to be the new tram, but the ‘value for money’ case for BRT should not be at the expense of quality and transport planning impact.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Research in Transportation Economics Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/07398859

Recommended Citation

Hodgson, P., Potter, S., Warren, J., & Gillingwater, D. (2012). Can bus really be the new tram? Research in Transportation Economics, Article in Press, Corrected Proof.