BRT Standard
The Standard was developed in response to a lack of consensus among planners and engineers as to what constitutes a true BRT corridor.
[6] The 2014 edition made some improvements to the methodology, including adjustments to the corridor definition, infrequent-service penalties, and increased emphasis on basics.
[7] The 2016 edition proposed six major changes, including greater focus on safety and system operations, separation of the design score and the full score (i.e. including both design and operations), improved dedicated right-of-way definition, new types of busway alignments, and partial points for onboard fare validation.
The Standard has been refreshed by adding, combining, and revising elements based on expert feedback and increasing deductions for operations.
[9] BRT is a high-capacity bus-based transit system that delivers fast, reliable, high quality, safe, and cost-effective services at relatively low cost, metro-level capacities.
[10][11] Because BRT contains features similar to a light rail or metro system, it is much more reliable, convenient and faster than regular bus services.
The three main delays facing public transport are 1) boarding and alighting, 2) intersections, and 3) traffic congestion.
Certifying a BRT corridor as Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Basic sets an internationally recognized standard for the current best practices for BRT and can only be done with the full score (Design + Operational Deductions) six months after opening to allow usage and operations to be more representative of longer-term patterns.
In one recent case in Indianapolis, State Senator Aaron Freeman, a former auto industry lobbyist and an aggressive opponent of public transit, threatened to introduce a bill that would kill the IndyGo Blue Line project that was aiming for Gold classification unless IndyGo agreed to share lanes with private civilian cars for at least 70% of the BRT route.
Freeman's hostility towards public transit resulted in high costs and land acquisition needs for IndyGo to meet his demands so he would withdraw his anti-transit bill.
[14] Aaron Freeman's opposition to public transit has been praised by notable anti-transit activist Randal O'Toole, who has attacked BRT proposals on his "Antiplanner" blog.
