What is Bus Rapid Transit?
Learn what a BRT system can look like and how it can be tailored to meet the community's transportation needs!
BRT 101
What is BRT to Phoenix?
Bus Rapid Transit - or BRT - is a high-capacity bus service that provides a fast, reliable, and convenient transit experience…and this new transit option is coming to Phoenix. BRT is part of our commitment to you in the Transportation 2050 Plan (T2050).
BRT 101
Elements of BRT
BRT is unique because there are no universal standards. Which means it can be planned and designed to best meet the needs of the community. However, there are a series of recurring elements found in successful BRT systems, and the more elements that are incorporated into a system, the more likely it is to succeed as an effective, efficient transportation service. The six recurring elements can be found below:
Advanced Fare Collection
Advanced fare collection or mobile fare payment allows rider to pay before boarding the bus through mobile apps, reloadable smart cards, or ticket kiosks.
Transit Spot Improvements
Transit spot improvements include queue jump lanes, creating additional bus-only lanes at intersections, essentially giving buses a head start at the intersection. It also includes transit signal priority, which modifies the normal signal operation process to better accommodate buses by holding the green light time longer or shortening the red light time.
Enhanced Stations
Enhanced stations include center or side-running stations with level boarding, canopies, seating, real-time information, and ticket vending machines.
Custom Buses
Custom buses include low floors for level boarding; higher passenger capacity, multiple doors, and amenities like USB chargers and space for bikes on board.
Dedicated Lanes
BRT may include dedicated lanes that will separate buses from traffic to increase speed and reliability.
Unique Branding
Unique branding will differentiate BRT from other transit modes through both nomenclature (name) and unique visual components such as logo and color scheme.
BRT 101
Benefits of BRT
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Faster and More Frequent Service
BRT is typically 20 to 25 percent faster than local bus service. -
Increased Cost Efficiency
BRT can reduce costs because the vehicles make fewer stops, which increases the overall travel speed of the vehicle and therefore reduces the number of vehicles needed to provide the service. -
Reduced Travel Delays
BRT can benefit transit users by removing the bus from mixed traffic in congested areas and keep passengers moving.
Frequently Asked Questions
BRT, or bus rapid transit, is a modern, high-capacity bus network that improves travel speed and reliability, passenger capacity, and the customer experience through various available transit enhancements. BRT uses specialized buses with multiple doors for fast entry and exit, an off-board fare payment system, and level platform boarding, making it easier for people of all abilities to efficiently access the system. It can also include priority treatment at signalized intersections to increase speed and reliability and may include dedicated bus lanes in some areas to facilitate faster trips.
There is no universal standard for BRT, as it is planned and designed to best meet the needs of the community. Phoenix BRT Program elements may include:
- Custom buses and enhanced bus stations with level boarding
- Off-board fare payment; for example, purchase fares on your phone or at a kiosk, instead of paying as you board the bus
- Unique branding
- Transit spot improvements such as traffic signal priority for buses at intersections
- Dedicated bus lanes for BRT vehicles
Transportation 2050, a comprehensive transportation plan crafted and approved by Phoenix voters, included bus rapid transit as a key element of the plan. BRT provides a valuable new “tool" in the mobility toolbox, adding to the metropolitan area's comprehensive transportation system in a way that complements and enhances it, and increasing the number of transportation options we have in Phoenix. The 35th Avenue/Van Buren BRT corridor currently has some of the highest transit ridership in the city. The need for priority bus investment is well documented, as traveling “across the grid" in Phoenix can be very time consuming. Implementing BRT will be a major improvement to Phoenix's grid-based transit network.
Local bus operates in local traffic, subject to the same congestion delays as that traffic. BRT can – and typically does – include a variety of elements that allow it to operate more efficiently through traffic congestion. Some of these elements include dedicated travel lanes and transit spot improvements like queue jump lanes (allowing BRT a head start at an intersection) and transit signal priority (adjusting red or green light timing to better accommodate BRT). These elements help to make BRT about 20 to 25 percent faster than local bus service – a big difference in travel time.
A queue jump is used to provide preference to buses at intersections. It consists of an additional lane at an intersection, accompanied by its own traffic signal, allowing buses to merge smoothly back into the regular through lanes, giving buses a head start over other traffic. For more information about queue jumps, visit the Transit Street Design Guide.
Transit Signal Priority (TSP) is a technology that allows BRT vehicles to communicate with traffic signals within the designated BRT corridor. TSP can help vehicles move more quickly through the corridor and increase transit reliability via two methods:
- Extended Green: When a BRT vehicle is approaching a green signal that is about to turn yellow, it may request that the signal's green phase be extended by a few seconds to allow the vehicle to travel through the intersection.
- Early Green: Likewise, a BRT vehicle approaching a red signal that is about to turn green may request that the signal turn green slightly early so that the vehicle can get through the intersection.
RAPID and Express routes operate on freeways and utilize the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes whenever possible. RAPID and Express routes provide service in the morning and again in the evening, during the traditional commuter “rush" hours. Each has a limited number of stops that are near the beginning and end of a particular route.
BRT provides high-capacity bus service that can operate throughout the day on major roads, and features transit enhancements that improve travel speed, transit frequency, passenger capacity, and the overall customer experience.
There are many benefits of BRT for a fast-growing city like Phoenix, which include:
- Faster and more frequent service. BRT is often 20 to 25 percent faster than local bus service.
- Increased cost efficiency. BRT can reduce operating costs by stopping less often, thus increasing the travel speed of the vehicle. This reduces the number of vehicles needed to adhere to headways (or frequencies) on a route.
- Reduced travel delays. BRT can benefit transit users by removing the bus from mixed traffic in congested areas and keep passengers moving.
How is BRT funded?
The cost of BRT can vary widely and is ultimately determined by the level of investment in BRT elements. We are just getting started on designing and exact costs have not yet been determined. While there is no universal standard for BRT, costs will depend on options such as station design, transit spot improvements and dedicated lanes.
BRT provides improved accessibility for passengers of all abilities including features such as level boarding, enhanced passenger amenities at stations, more doors on the bus for better entry and exit and more room for circulation within buses and on station platforms.
BRT systems can be found in over 160 cities worldwide with dozens more under construction across the country. Some cities include:
In October 2021, the Phoenix City Council unanimously approved 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street as the first BRT corridor in Phoenix. In April 2022, Phoenix City Council unanimously approved the BRT Program to continue community and stakeholder engagement, alternatives analysis, and 15% design plans for the initial BRT corridor of 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street. (Map)
The selected corridor was identified through a system-wide transit network evaluation process and an 11-month city-wide outreach process. Ultimately, based on your input and results from our analysis, we identified 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street as the first BRT corridor as it provides high ridership, good geographic coverage, and connects the existing and future transit networks in Phoenix (particularly future light rail extensions in Phoenix).
As the Phoenix BRT corridor development is still in early design phases, impacts to concurrent studies or projects is unknown at this time. However, the BRT team is closely coordinating with all seven projects within the BRT corridor to develop solutions that best meet the needs of our community. For more information on concurrent projects and studies, visit their webpages below or connect with their project team:
The Phoenix BRT team is currently in the early design phase, developing and evaluating options for the selected BRT corridor. We anticipate that construction activities for this corridor would begin in 2028.
As the corridor is still in early design phases, specific business impacts are unknown at this time. However, the Phoenix BRT team will work with businesses directly along the corridor to understand concerns and any unknown considerations that may help inform corridor design. If you are a business along the 35th Avenue and Van Buren Street Corridor and looking for ways to get involved and stay connected, visit MeetPhoenixBRT.com and sign up to be added to our stakeholder list. Be sure to include your business name so we can add you directly to our business stakeholder list.
BRT can accommodate bicycles, either on racks on the front of the bus or racks/hangers inside of each bus. Bicycle storage features will be determined once the BRT buses are selected. In addition, BRT typically offers locations to secure bicycles at or adjacent to the station.
As we are still early in the design process, the inclusion of bike lanes along the corridor has not been decided. However, in the current design stage, the team is analyzing multiple BRT options both with and without bike lanes to determine impacts on the surrounding environment (such as right of way needed). Ultimately, our priority is to create a safe and accessible environment for the community that promotes connection.
Pedestrian facilities will be included in the design of BRT corridor as the team is dedicated to creating a safe and accessible environment for pedestrians that promotes convenient travel connections.
As the project is still in early design stages, impacts to the surrounding community are unknown at this time. Throughout the design process, we will be evaluating multiple BRT options and the impacts of each to determine a BRT option that best meets the needs of the community, is feasible within the corridor, and aligns with the priorities for developing BRT on this corridor.
The five priorities for this corridor include:
- Develop a “showcase” BRT corridor
- Support meaningful and equitable community engagement
- Collaborate with concurrent projects
- Improve travel time and reliability
- Provide safe and accessible multimodal connections
Yes. The existing bus service, Route 3 on Van Buren Street and Route 35 on 35th Avenue, will continue to operate and serve existing bus stops along the corridor, which are located approximately every quarter mile. However, BRT will provide more frequent service than local bus in the corridor upon implementation.
In the near term, we will be focusing on the 35th Avenue portion of the corridor, finalizing the preferred lane option to continue moving the project forward. At a later date, once the City of Phoenix and Valley Metro light rail teams advance the light rail route and design in the State Capitol area, the BRT team will finalize the design for the remainder of the corridor (the east-west alignment along Van Buren or any other potential east-west street connections).
As design progresses and potential impacts become clearer, the team will communicate directly with property owners whose property may be affected, working with them to eliminate or mitigate any negative impacts. In the meantime, sign up now, if you haven’t already, to receive project information and updates. See “How to Comment and Connect with Us” below.
Left-turns will only be permitted at signalized intersections along 35th Avenue. While some U-turns will be necessary, these signalized intersections will provide plenty of opportunities for left-turns and residence access.
Left-turns will only be permitted at signalized intersections along 35th Avenue. While some U-turns will be necessary, these signalized intersections will provide plenty of opportunities for left-turns and business access.