Bus Rapid Transit Systems Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

It all started with my hero, Jaimie Lerner.
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Bus Rapid Transit Systems Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Gain in Popularity
October 13, 2006
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This summer, the bus rapid transit system of Bogotá, Colombia, earned the distinction of being the world's first mass transport project to be approved for participation in the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). As such, it is a model for similar transport-related CDM initiatives in the pipeline worldwide. Brazil, Chile, China, Ecuador, Laos, Panama, and Peru are all establishing or planning mass transport systems based on rapid buses, according to the Andean Development Corporation, the multilateral financial institution that helped develop the bid.
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Because BRT builds off existing infrastructure and has a high carrying capacity, it can be more economical than light rail. A typical BRT system costs between US$1 million and $35 million per mile (1.6 kilometers), while a light rail or subway system typically costs US$13-336 million per mile, reports the BRT Policy Center. Moreover, some BRT systems, such as Bogota's TransMilenio and the BRT network of Curitiba, Brazil, have demonstrated that high-quality public transit services can be provided without government operating subsidies, according to Vincent. BRT can also significantly reduce long commutes. The World Bank reported a 32 percent reduction in travel time for passengers using the TransMilenio, and a BRT line in Beijing, China, can shave 23 minutes from an otherwise hour-long trip.
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http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4660
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