Urban Rapid Transit Systems: Physical Characteristics, Requirements, and Impacts

We define transit as any means of urban passenger transport with fixed routes and schedules
that are available for use by all persons who pay the established fare (Vuchic 2007, 45). Rapid
transit is high-frequency, high-capacity transit. Rapid transit systems generally include bus rapid
transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), and urban rail systems (metro/subway systems and
commuter rail). This e-learning module helped define rapid transit systems based on their right-
of-way (ROW) category and their support and guidance technologies (Vuchic 2007, 47).
However, there are other differences in terms of physical characteristics that can help
differentiate different rapid transit solutions, which we summarize in Table R1-1.

Table R1-1. Main Physical Characteristics of Urban Rail, Light Rail, and Bus Rapid Transit

Component Urban rail (metro and Light rail transit Bus rapid transit
commuter rail)
Running Rail Rail Road
way
Type of Underground, elevated, Usually at-grade (some Usually at-grade (some
right-of- at-grade elevated or elevated or underground)
way underground)
Separation Total separation (no Usually longitudinal Usually full separation,
from traffic interference) with right- separation (at-grade with some applications of
of-way protection intersections), with longitudinal separation
some full separation (at-grade intersections)
applications
Type of Trains (multicar) Trains (two or three Buses
vehicle cars) or single cars
Type of Electric Electric, with few diesel Usually internal
propulsion applications combustion engine (diesel
or compressed natural
gas); growing number of
applications with hybrid
transmission, battery-
electric, or hydrogen fuel
cell
Speed 30-40 km/hour 20-30 km/hour 20-30 km/hour
Stations Level boarding Level boarding or stairs Level boarding
Payment Off-board Usually off-board Off-board
collection
Systems Signaling, control, user Signaling, control, user Control, user information,
information, advanced information, advanced advanced ticketing
ticketing (magnetic or ticketing (magnetic or (electronic cards), traffic

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 electronic cards and electronic cards and signal priority at
mobile phone payment) mobile phone intersections, fleet
payment) management systems
Service Simple; trains stop at Simple; trains stop at From simple to very
plan every station between every station between complex
terminals (some express terminals
services or short loops)
Sources: Adapted from FTA 2009; UN-Habitat 2013; Vuchic 2007.

These physical characteristics give rise to different requirements in terms of space and costs
and have different implications in terms of environmental and social impacts for each type of
urban rapid transit system. In general, urban rail systems and other rapid transit alternatives
that involve dedicated rights-of-way often require the highest level of capital investment, but
provide superior service to street-based formats (which are cheap but quickly become
congested) (Mitrić 1997). These higher capital investments translate to higher passenger
capacity per hour per direction. Table R1-2 summarizes the requirements and impacts across
types of rapid transit systems.

Table R1-2. Requirements and Impacts for Urban Rail, Light Rail, and Bus Rapid Transit

Indicator Urban rail Light rail transit Bus rapid transit

Construction High Moderate to high Low to moderate
cost (per
km)
Operations Low to moderate (per Moderate to high (per Moderate (per 1,000
& 1,000 passenger- 1,000 passenger- passenger-kilometer)
maintenance kilometer) kilometer)
cost Low (per revenue
Moderate (per revenue High (per revenue vehicle-kilometer)
vehicle-kilometer) vehicle-kilometer)
Required Low impact on existing Two lanes (narrow, 5–8 Two to four lanes of
permanent roads (particularly if meters) existing roads
(7–15
roadway underground or meters)
space elevated)
Distance Medium to high
(1 Short to medium (500 Short to medium (400
between kilometer or more) meters or more) meters or more)
stations
(Operation) Low (operates on fixed Low (operates on fixed High (buses can operate
flexibility tracks) track) inside and outside
busways)

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Indicator Urban rail Light rail transit Bus rapid transit
Construction High (takes longer time, Low to medium Low to medium
impact can involve excavation (depending on type of (depending on type of
or construction of an construction) construction)
elevated structure)
Line capacity High Moderate Moderate
(per km)
Maximum High (20–30 trains per High (20–30 trains per Very high (40–60 buses
frequency hour) hour) per hour per platform)
Traffic Less congestion (does Variable (takes some Variable (takes space,
impact not interfere with space from traffic) but reduces traffic
(operation) surface travel) interference from buses)
Reliability High (no interference Medium to high Medium to high
from other traffic) (depending on traffic (depending on traffic
interference) interference and manual
control, could be
affected by bunching)
Human Fully segregated from Segregated from traffic Largely segregated from
safety all road users, so lower only, some risk to other traffic, some risk to
risk of accidents road users other road users
Noise Low (depending on Low to medium High (internal
insulation) (depending on tracks) combustion engine and
rubber tire on roadway)
Air pollution No tailpipe emissions; No tailpipe emissions; Tailpipe emissions for
power generation power generation internal combustion
pollutants depend on pollutants depend on engines and power
energy source and energy source and generation pollutants for
technologies used technologies used alternative powertrains;
power generation
pollutants depend on
the engine, fuel, and
emission control
technology
Greenhouse 38–68 grams per 38–100 grams per 28–204 grams per
gas passenger-kilometer passenger-kilometer passenger-kilometer
emissions
Passenger Smooth ride, high Smooth ride, high Irregular ride (sudden
experience comfort (depending on comfort (depending on acceleration and
occupancy) occupancy) braking), medium
comfort (depending on
occupancy)

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 Indicator Urban rail Light rail transit Bus rapid transit
Integration Limited potential Limited potential Good potential
with existing
transport
providers
Sources: Adapted from Gwilliam 2002; Halcrow Fox 2000; UN-Habitat 2013; Wright and
Fjellstrom 2003.

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