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Implementing bus rapid transit concepts on Brooklyn, New York’s B44 bus route reduced traffic volume by 9 to 13 percent on arterials served by the route.

Before and after data from implementation of bus rapid transit were analyzed to identify changes in ridership, travel time, and traffic volume.

Date Posted
07/31/2017
Identifier
2017-B01156
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B44 Select Bus Service on Nostrand Avenue: Bus Rapid Transit-Induced Mode Shift and Route Shift in Transit-Dense Brooklyn

Summary Information

This paper documents transportation network changes and user decisions resulting from implementation of the B44 Select Bus Service (SBS) in Brooklyn, New York. SBS is a joint program between MTA New York City Transit and the New York City Department of Transportation intending to improve transit service through the application of bus rapid transit concepts to New York City’s busiest bus routes. Route B44 has the third highest ridership in Brooklyn and the sixth highest overall in New York City, historically carrying about 40,000 individuals on an average weekday.



Methodology



To assess the B44 SBS, and nearby traffic performance, five types of data were collected and analyzed: bus ridership data from MetroCards and on-board checks, bus speed data from on-board GPS devices, traffic volume data from automatic traffic recorders, traffic speed data from cell phone-based probes, and survey data collected from 387 B44 SBS riders. Data were collected both in 2011 before construction started (pre-implementation data) and in 2014 after service was implemented and normalized (post-implementation data).

Findings

In the peak direction, volume reductions were noted on Nostrand Ave (13 percent volume reduction) and Rogers Ave (9 percent volume reduction) and volume additions were noted on parallel routes. In the non-peak direction, volume reductions were noted but it was less clear where these vehicles went.

Goal Areas
Results Type
Deployment Locations