Bus Rapid Transit Planning With Combinations of Elements Selection and Optimization

Different system combinations of BRT elements exhibit different service levels and reflect different budgetary constraints. The objectives of this paper are mainly focused on BRT design to reduce the overall passenger waiting time and to determine appropriate numbers of BRT vehicles, and to present a quantitative evaluation model based on optimizing cost-efficiency of a BRT system. The method provides useful tools to evaluate the planning schemes of BRT systems for Chinese big cities. The method takes much actual transit condition and investment constraints in Chinese cities into account. The paper depicts the detailed formulas and procedures for recommending an optimal combination of feasible BRT planning based on specific transportation investigations. Furthermore, a case study of the integrated BRT planning used in Hangzhou City is conducted to show how the adaptability of this method would be utilized.