Question

(c) You are currently working for an international energy think-tank specialising in the transport sector. The mayor for Kuala Lumpur has asked for your opinion on which transport infrastructure would be more suitable for his city in the next 10 years: bus rapid transit system or light-rail transit system. Very briefly describe the TWO (2) transport infrastructures. Provide recommendations on which system you think would best fit Kuala Lumpur, with You are free to choose one solution, a combination of both solutions, or suggest a different solution altogether

Answer 1

BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM : Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to improve capacity and reliability relative to a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes roadways that are dedicated to buses, and gives priority to buses at intersections where buses may interact with other traffic; alongside design features to reduce delays caused by passengers boarding or leaving buses, or purchasing fares. BRT aims to combine the capacity and speed of a metro with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system.The first BRT system was the Rede Integrada de Transporte in Curitiba, Brazil, which entered service in 1974

Main features :

Bus-only lanes make for faster travel and ensure that buses are not delayed by mixed traffic congestion. A median alignment bus-only keeps buses away from busy curb-side side conflicts, where cars and trucks are parking, standing and turning. Separate rights of way may be used such as the completely elevated Xiamen BRT. Transit malls or 'bus streets' may also be created in city centers

*Off board fare collection

*intersection treatment

*platform level boarding

*high capacity vehicles

Quality stations

COST:

The capital costs of implementing BRT are lower than for light rail. A study by the United States Government Accountability Office from 2000 found that the average capital cost per mile for busways was $13.5 million while light rail average costs were $34.8 million.^[50]However, the total investment varies considerably due to factors such as cost of the roadway, amount of grade separation, station structures, traffic signal systems and vehicles.

Operational costs of running a BRT system are generally lower than light rail, though the exact comparison varies, and labor costs depend heavily on the wages which vary between countries

LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM :

Light rail, light rail transit (LRT), or fast tram is a form of urban rail transit using rolling stock similar to a tramway, but operating at a higher capacity, and often on an exclusive right-of-way

A few light rail networks tend to have characteristics closer to rapid transit or even commuter rail; some of these heavier rapid transit-like systems are referred to as light metros

COST:

The cost of light rail construction varies widely, largely depending on the amount of tunneling and elevated structures required. A survey of North American light rail projects[29] shows that costs of most LRT systems range from $15 million to over $100 million per mile

Recommendtions: I suggest to Kuala Lumpur bus rapid transit system is best fit to it.