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Apples to apples: Comparing BRT and light rail while avoiding the “BRT-Lite” trap

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  • Levine, Jonathan
  • Singer, Matan
  • Merlin, Louis
  • Grengs, Joe

Abstract

•On a per-exclusive-guideway-km basis, LRT capital costs are about double those of BRT.•As BRT guideways become more complex, their guideway costs tend to converge with those of LRT.•The main difference in capital costs between BRT and LRT is in Professional Services.•BRT running on exclusive ROW provides service competitive with that of the automobile and LRT.•LRT support is partly shaped by a common alternative: BRT-lite with little dedicated right of way.

Suggested Citation

  • Levine, Jonathan & Singer, Matan & Merlin, Louis & Grengs, Joe, 2018. "Apples to apples: Comparing BRT and light rail while avoiding the “BRT-Lite” trap," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 20-34.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:69:y:2018:i:c:p:20-34
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.05.015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S. C. Wirasinghe & L. Kattan & M. M. Rahman & J. Hubbell & R. Thilakaratne & S. Anowar, 2013. "Bus rapid transit - a review," International Journal of Urban Sciences, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 1-31, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Luigi Moccia & Duncan W. Allen & Gilbert Laporte & Andrea Spinosa, 2022. "Mode boundaries of automated metro and semi-rapid rail in urban transit," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 739-802, October.
    2. Merlin, Louis A. & Singer, Matan & Levine, Jonathan, 2021. "Influences on transit ridership and transit accessibility in US urban areas," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 63-73.

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