Tintin Talks: Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) for easy travel within City

Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) can be defined as “Bus based mass transit system that delivers fast, comfortable, and cost-effective urban mobility”. The other way of defining it as “a flexible, rubber tired rapid transit mode that combines stations, vehicles, services, running ways, and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) elements into an integrated system with a strong positive identity that evokes a unique image”.

Key features of BRTS:

BRTS vehicles operate primarily in fast and easily identifiable exclusive transit ways or dedicated bus lanes. BRTS stations are generally ranging from enhanced shelters to large transit centres, are attractive and easily accessible. They are also conveniently located and integrated into the people they serve. BRTS uses rubber tired vehicles that are easy to board and comfortable to ride. The important aspect is BRTS vehicles use clean fuels to protect the environment. BRTS are high frequency, all day service means less waiting and people need not to consult schedules. The integration of local and express service reduces long distance travel time. BRTS uses simple, often color-coded routes. They usually laid out to provide direct, no transfer rides to multiple destinations. BRTS fare collection system makes it fast and easy to pay, often before passengers even get on the bus. Buses allow multiple door boarding, reducing time in stations. BRTS uses advanced digital technologies that improve customer convenience, speed, reliability and operational safety and finally free transfers between lines possible with modal integration at stations and terminals.

BRTS in Seoul:

I am residing in Seoul from last 6 months. Actually my apartment is located in a satellite city called Ilsan. From my apartment to the working place is about 25 kilometres. Every day I use commuter bus for my travel. I will explain here about the BRTS implementation in Seoul.

Seoul is the capital city of South Korea with an area of around 800 km² and population of more than 12 million. More than half the population of South Korea are residing in Seoul and nearby satellite cities. Seoul has a well-connected Rapid Transit system. Few recent statistics of transportation includes more than 10,000 buses 765 routes carries around 5 million passengers per day and 350 kilometres of subway divided into 9 lines with more than 3500 trains carrying around 4.5 million passengers daily!

In May 2004 first median bus lane was opened in Seoul. The lanes are highlighted with colour but physically are not segregated. Bus shelters are installed at stops in the middle of the road. The constructions of these shelters are funded by advertisement! Low floor buses run by CNG are used in BRTS. The routes are divided into a system of trunk lines and feeder lines. The buses are colour-coded and numbered according to lines. Fare collection is done using a card embedded with an IC microchip (T-money). Distance based unified fare system irrespective of transport mode is used. That means passenger can board bus then changes to subway and then changes to bus, then the fare is calculated for the total distance travelled irrespective of transport mode. Seoul’s system adopts “area wide network”. More than 20 routes run on the medium bus lanes. Average bus frequency is 7 minutes/day, 3~5 min at peak time. Seoul Transport operation and Information Service (TOPIS) informs passengers waiting at bus stops of when to expect the next bus. Integrated fare/Toll collection system is used in Seoul. Passengers have a choice on variety of modes to use in the buses/subways which includes T-Money cards, Credit cards, Mobile RF cards or Cash. The cards are to be shown to the card reader while boarding the bus and at the time while getting down the bus. The card reader is connected to the driver console which intern is linked to the Bus management System server via GPS. Based on the distance travelled the amount is deducted from the card. These data are stored in centralized operator system. These T-money cards are like prepaid mobiles. Passengers have to load prior to using this card. T-money card can be used not only in buses and subways but also for Taxis, for tolls, for parking lot, in ice cream shops, to a street vendor etc…. Bus management system is effectively used. Primarily the Driver console is the data collection point. It gives the information such as bus location, bus speed, arrival and departure time at stops, incident information, loading and unloading etc… Basically driver console contains a GPS receiver and can be tracked all the time. Also with the help of wireless communication it sends the data to the BMS server located at the control centre. Data processing and analysis is done in control room which includes estimation of arrival time at stops, congestion analysis, headway estimation, incident detection etc… Finally these processed data information are displayed at bus stops for the passengers waiting for the bus. Very well implementation of technology. As I had already mentioned, the distance of around 25 kilometres are covered just in 30~40 minutes. With a population of more than 12 million with more than 3 million vehicles this is really great!

Need for BRTS in Bangalore/Mysore:

Indian traffic is no more like in the olden days. Especially after the liberalization in the early 1990s and entry of foreign companies to Indian market, our economic conditions got improved. People afford to buy motor vehicles which resulted in the increase of automobile on our streets. Every year the numbers of vehicles are getting increased but the road and other infrastructure are not improved to match the ratio. So the result is in the traffic congestion. It is really a big problem in all Indian cities. Timely reaching to the destination is highly impossible, which resulted in the increase in number of accidents. There is a very good public transportation system in cities like Mysore and Bangalore. KSRTC and BMTC are providing a very good service to the common passengers, students and the working class. Unfortunately with the traffic congestion, they are not able to keep up the timings. The average journey speed is just about 18 kmph which is very slow. So to meet this increasing demand of travel demand, a cost effective, flexible and high quality transit service (BRTS) should be introduced. Recently read an article in newspaper, there is a proposal for introduction of BRTS in Mysore. As per that report in the first stage a total of 60 KM is been planned in two corridors. The concept is with a median lane of width 7.5 m. Bus stop at junctions are 2.5 m wide, with priority signal for buses. Even ITS is planning to introduce which gives vehicle prioritization, signal timing/phasing, traffic signal priority, collision warning, GPS based vehicle guidance, passenger information etc…

Well the information is just in the news and on proposal. To get it implement it requires great deal of vision and planning which is the one we lack. The challenges in implementing this BRTS are not simple. First of all the existing roads needs to be widened, which requires at some places demolishing of road side buildings and shops, which is not an easy task. Secondly this implementation involves a very huge budget, which must be funded with the help of government and private joint venture. Proper planning must be involved. We have seen in the past, construction of flyovers, underpasses and other means to reduce the traffic congestion which resulted in worst scenarios. Plan should be made keeping in mind for at least next 50 years. And finally public interest must be there.

I hope BRTS will be soon introduced in our cities also and we can travel quite freely and reach our destination at a right time.