Around the world, private car ownership has enabled polluting mobility trends to accelerate in urban areas, including inaccessible jobs and services, rising greenhouse gas (GHG), and increased road traffic accidents, resulting in injuries and death. ITDP knows that fast, frequent, and well-funded public transit alongside other sustainable transport options like walking, and cycling are the answer to combating polluting emissions.
Public transit remains the only way to move large amounts of people quickly and sustainably. To reduce environmental harm and boost access to opportunity and services, cities must focus on expanding and continually improving sustainable and clean transit systems. The benefits of providing sustainable urban mobility are huge: each 5,000-mile decrease in average private vehicle driving saves more than one ton of carbon from entering our atmosphere every single year. While effective rail-based public transport plays a vital role in many regions, ITDP’s specific area of expertise is bus rapid transit (BRT). BRT is an innovative mass transit system that combines the efficiencies and quality of metros with the flexibility and relative low cost of buses, while offering significant environmental benefits. BRT provides cities with a pragmatic and affordable solution to ensure that their transit systems keep pace with urban growth. ITDP continues to actively advocate for and provide technical assistance to BRT projects, as well as high frequency bus networks, as the backbone of sustainable cities.