BRT champ Curitiba, Brazil to build rail system

[thelakelander]

I ran across this on skyscraperpage.com

Dropping like flies

For years Bus Rapid Transit proponents have said that BRT can be just as effective as rail, but at a lower cost. As supposed evidence that rail is unnecessary, for years BRT proponents cited two cities that have relied exclusively on BRT - Ottawa and Curitiba, Brazil.

Alas, in 2001 Ottawa decided it needed trains, so the BRT crowd stopped talking about Ottawa. Curitiba, they said, Curitiba has got the answer.

I wonder what BRT proponents will say now that Curitiba is building a rail system. Apparently, and who could have ever guessed, even the poster children of BRT need rail on some corridors.

TPI eyes Curitiba subway project

Brazil's Paraná state capital Curitiba is planning to build a subway line and highway concessionaire Triunfo Participações e Investimentos (TPI) (Bovespa: TPIS3) is seriously studying the project, TPI president Carlo Bottarelli told BNamericas.

The subway initiative would be a first for the city and a first for the highway concessionaire.

The city is planning to build a US$1bn, 22km system that will cross the city from south to north, Curitiba business relations secretary Luiz de Carvalho told BNamericas.

"The upcoming World Cup will help drive this project. Curitiba is the only large capital city in Brazil that does not have a subway system. There is a whole network of people calling for the construction of this subway," Bottarelli said.

TPI has operated highway concessions in the south and southeast of Brazil since 1995. The firm also has investments in companies that provide public services in the highway, port and electricity generation sectors. TPI shares control of Portonave, a company authorized to operate Navegantes port in Santa Catarina state, as well as holding 100% of Rio Verde Energia.

http://www.bnamericas.com/news/privatization/TPI_eyes_Curitiba_subway_project

[Lunican]

I wonder what BRT proponents will say now that Curitiba is building a rail system. Apparently, and who could have ever guessed, even the poster children of BRT need rail on some corridors.

Jacksonville!

[Deuce]

At least we can be the poster child for something!

[Ocklawaha]

Washington D.C. *(THE CITY not the FEDERALS) look at Light Rail -v- BRT:

Now for the most part, BRT is a "scam" in that (1) the Federal Transit Administration promotes it over fixed rail service because it's cheaper, (2) using the successful experiences in South America as examples; (3) without really disclosing that in South America and Asia, bus riders tolerate passenger densities about double what is typical in the United States. In short, the 60 foot articulated bus used on Georgia Ave. (70s line) or H Street (X buses) holds up to 160 passengers in a place like Curitiba or Santiago, but in the U.S., people feel as if the bus is cramped holding 80 passengers.

It's true that bus rapid transit in Los Angeles has much higher ridership than the highest routes in DC, but DC has a much much smaller population than even the core of LA--it's hard to make a direct comparison in population because the San Fernando Valley is part of the City of Los Angeles, where in this region, that would be like having Montgomery County as part of DC. So that BRT lines in LA have double the ridership of the highest routes in DC isn't as a great a difference as you would think.

Full Article: http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2008/07/bus-rapid-transit-service-vs-express.html

http://www.youtube.com/v/vPhhbF0Ms7g&hl


The newest "best system" is Adelaide, Australia. Don't try this at home, these are what you call "professionals". Cheaper? I've got some swamp land to sell you!

OCKLAWAHA