Bus Rapid Transit

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) uses buses provide high capacity and high-speed rail-like service through the design of special vehicles and infrastructure. BRT is one of several transportation alternatives that offer flexibility and lower costs.

WestStart-CALSTART, in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), is playing a vital role in the mainstreaming of BRT in the United States with a strong focus on clean and efficient vehicles, new vehicle concepts, and vehicle development strategies. Our current focus is three-fold: 1) to be the FTA executive secretariat for the BRT Action Plan; 2) to connect U.S. vehicle manufacturers with the BRT program in order to develop BRT manufacturing efforts in the U.S.; and 3) to disseminate information on clean transportation vehicles and technologies for use in BRT systems.

We are providing services that meet the needs of transit properties, vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers. Our services include BRT community market research, partnership development, and BRT context workshops. Our premiere newsletter, the BRT newsLane provides an information-sharing network to update BRT communities, industrial partners, bus manufacturers, and stakeholders on the progress and activities of importance to the Bus Rapid Transit community in the U.S. and abroad. Through our involvement, we continue to combine our advanced transportation technologies industry background with the FTA’s BRT program in the United States.

BRT Related NewsNotes

Global Update: BRT Related Slides(PDF: 850KB)
WestStart-CALSTART's Global Update provides an up-to-date, comprehensive look at the most important global developments in the emerging advanced transportation industry. Fuels, vehicles, regulation and various technologies are covered quarterly in PowerPoint slide format. This link provide BRT-related slides from our current Global Update.


Fred Silver
BRT Program Manager
(626)744-5600
2181 E. Foothill Blvd.
Pasadena, California 91107
fsilver@calstart.org