PUBLICATION

In April 2005, the Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) asked MTI to assist with the research for and publication of a guidebook for use by Caltrans employees who work with local transit agencies and jurisdictions in planning, designing, and operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems that involve state facilities. The guidebook should also be of assistance to transit operators, local governments, community residents, and other stakeholders dealing with the development of BRT systems. Several areas in the state have experienced such projects ( San Diego , Los Angeles , San Francisco , and Alameda County ) and DRI wished to use that experience to guide future efforts and identify needed changes in statutes, policies, and other state concerns.

ABSTRACT

Caltrans convened a working group from the Divisions of Research and Innovation, Mass Transportation, and Operations, together with stakeholders representing many of those involved with the BRT activities around the state. Prior to MTI’s involvement, this group produced a white paper on the topic, a series of questions, and an outline of the guidebook that MTI was to write.

George Gray headed the project initially; Tom Larwin assumed that role a few months later and continued through to submission of the draft report. The MTI team conducted case studies of the major efforts in California , along with less developed studies of some of the other BRT programs under development or in early implementation phases around the state. The purpose was to clarify those issues that need to be addressed in the guidebook, as well as to compile information that will identify items needing legislative or regulatory action and items that Caltrans will need to address through district directives or other internal measures. A literature scan was used to develop a bibliography for future reference. The MTI team also developed a draft Caltrans director’s policy document, which provides the basis for Caltrans’ actions.

This ultimately developed to be a project within a project. MTI submitted a draft document to Caltrans as a final product from the Institute. The new name, Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners grew out of the extensive discussion with the task team members and Caltrans staff. Caltrans, after internal review and approval, has published the final handbook. An MTI “wrap-around” report will discuss in more detail the process that was followed to come up with the draft report. The process was in many ways as much a project as the report itself. The MTI report on this web page is still a draft, but is being revised now that the Caltrans handbook is published. The final MTI report will be posted when the print version is available. This assures that only one policy version will be on the Web and will allow the MTI report to contain linkages to the full color and graphics version on the Caltrans website. Until the MTI final report is available, that link is provided here: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/MassTrans/DOCS_PDFS/BRT/BRT_Handbook_0307.pdf.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Mr. Gray has over forty years of experience in transportation. His overseas experience includes four years in Saudi Arabia as U.S. DOT advisor to the Ministry of Communications, and two years in Viet Nam as chief highway design engineer on an USAID Project, and one year in the US Army in Japan

In his capacity as District Planner (Caltrans, District 11, San Diego ), George Gray was responsible for all planning, environmental, and privatization activities in the District. His policy responsibilities included four major international projects: 1) Binational Transportation Planning Study- a $2.5 million study involving four U.S. states and six states in Mexico . 2) International Border Transportation Case Study- a joint effort of the San Diego District, the FHWA, and the regional planning agency (SANDAG) to study cross-border planning issues and the transportation planning processes in California and Baja California, Mexico. 3) California Trade Corridors Study- a study to determine the optimum intermodal transportation capital investment strategies for the movement of goods in and through the continental U.S. West Coast Corridor, including operation and regulatory improvements needed to facilitate international trade corridors. And 4) formation of a bi-national advisory committee including California and Baja California representatives.

Mr. Gray served as Deputy District Director of Caltrans (District 4, San Francisco ). He was responsible for all the District planning, environmental, public transportation, and transportation studies activities. Mr. Gray was also a liaison with MTC, Commissioner of BCDC, and Board Member of RIDES. He also is very active in the Transportation Research Board where he has served as chair of the Committee on Education and Training, Group Council Member and several other NCHRP and NCTRP committees.

Tom Larwin

Mr. Larwin has over 38 years of professional experience that spans various aspects of urban transportation including; traffic engineering, transportation planning, and transit operations, planning, engineering, and management. He authored the urban transit chapter of the ITE Transportation Planning Handbook, plus more than 25 articles and publications. Mr. Larwin remains an active member of ITE and the Transportation Research Board.

TECHNICAL

MTI 06-02
Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook for Partners
Principal Investigator: George Gray and Tom Larwin
Published: August 2006
Keywords: Bus rapid transit, Policy, Transit operating agencies, Planning, Light rail transit, Transit operators

MTI PDF Version   BRT Caltrans