Developing High-Quality, Low-Cost Mass Transit

Across the world, bus systems are in decline as increasing congestion leads to longer delays and lower revenue. Through its Bus Rapid Transit program, ITDP encourages municipalities to address these problems by investing in modern, attractive public transit systems.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an increasingly popular way to provide a sophisticated, high-quality transit at a fraction of the cost of other options.  ITDP promotes the development of BRT by highlighting the successes of existing BRT systems and facilitating information-sharing between city leaders. 

Over the past several years, ITDP has been involved in the decisions of many municipalities to pursue BRT systems.

ITDP also offers direct technical, legal and contractual assistance to municipalities pursuing BRT.  We provided the only international technical expertise to Jakarta, Indonesia which opened the TransJakarta system in December 2004.  TransJakarta is reducing carbon emissions at the rate of 20,000 metric tons a year and will expand to serve over 300,000 passengers a day by early 2008. 

We are also supporting the planning and implementation of systems in India, China, Tanzania, South Africa and Senegal.