New bus rapid transit program in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Bus Rapid Transit Moves Forward in Minneapolis
Summary Information
Minneapolis, Minnesota is planning to launch BRT (bus rapid transit) service on June 11, 2016. The new route, the A Line, is intended to appeal to travelers that might otherwise avoid bus travel. A spokesperson for Metro Transit indicated that with BRT they are trying to offer a faster trip and a more comfortable ride.
Benefits
BRT is faster than conventional buses for a few reasons: fewer, more spaced out stops and fares are paid at the station rather than on the bus. The BRT buses on the A Line will also have transit signal priority at 20 intersections, so they will generally not have to stop at traffic signals and, if they do stop, they will wait through abbreviated red signals. These measures are estimated to make BRT 20% faster than conventional buses on the same route, roughly equating to an 8 minute savings on a 35-40 minute trip.