What Can BRT Do for Greater Boston?

In 2013, the Barr Foundation began BRT efforts with a simple question: Can Greater Boston do better for its buses? Buses reach every neighborhood in communities around Greater Boston, but buses have long been ignored as a potential solution to some of the biggest transportation challenges facing the region. 

In the meantime, BRT has grown rapidly worldwide—providing transit solutions that are competitive with rail in world-class cities.

A network of Gold Standard BRT corridors complementing Greater Boston’s existing transit system would fill equity gaps, relieve congestion, and improve the region’s resiliency and flexibility in the face of harsh weather and other unpredictable conditions. Gold Standard BRT, the mode’s highest level of performance, will cut travel times and greatly improve rider experience. 

Gold Standard BRT provides other benefits to Greater Boston communities:

• BRT routes can be implemented within three to five years 

• BRT meets infrastructure and financing limitations, costing seven times less than light rail

• BRT is an opportunity for local community leadership and partnership around transportation, economic development, and climate change

A Boston-based study group guided by research from the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in 2015 found that BRT is technically feasible and would benefit Greater Boston. The group proposed a set of potential corridors worth exploring further in partnership with local neighbors and businesses; many other corridors are possible as well. 

Are there streets near where you live or work that you would like to see become Gold Standard BRT? Share your ideas on social media using the hashtag #BosBRT.

CO2 EMISSIONS & AIR QUALITY

When transit serves larger numbers of passengers, there are fewer cars on the road and less pollution. As Boston experiences the level of growth anticipated in the next 10–20 years, the city’s environmental impact through air pollution will be heavily dependent on its public transit system. BRT can move large numbers of people more efficiently, which would mean lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Relative to rail, however, the biggest environmental concern about BRT is that most diesel buses are major producers of particulate emissions, which contribute to poor air quality. There are alternative fuel options for BRT vehicles that include compressed natural gas, low-emission liquefied petroleum gas, and hybrid vehicles, all of which can reduce emissions.

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