The Potential for Bus Rapid Transit to Reduce Transportation-Related CO2 Emissions

Abstract

This article examines Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a near-term strategy for reducing CO 2 emissions in a typical medium-sized U.S. city. The paper compares the expected CO 2 emissions from three scenarios to meet the city's growth in work trips by 2011: a no-build option that relies upon private automobiles and a diesel bus fleet; building a light rail (LRT) system; and building a BRT system using 40-ft or 60-ft low emis-sion buses. The paper calculates a CO 2 emissions inventory for each scenario and finds that BRT offers the greatest potential for greenhouse gas reductions, primarily because BRT vehicles generally offer lower CO 2 emissions per passenger mile than LRT. Lower capital costs for BRT infrastructure would enable cities to build more BRT than LRT for a given budget, increasing opportunities to shift commuters to public transit. Further study to enhance a methodology to estimate expected CO 2 reductions with BRT would be valuable.