Madison BRT a Midwest Rarity

Writing in Streetsblog Chicago, Steven Vance describes his experience using Madison, Wisconsin’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system, whose new Rapid Route A line opened last September. 

The line features dedicated center bus lanes, level boarding, and faster ticketing and service. “The first thing I noticed at the First Street station was the extensive shelter. Not only was there a canopy, but side walls enclosing the shelter from the ‘roof’ to the ground, overhead heating, skylights, and openings aligned with the buses’ doors.”

Riders can pay by tapping their cards on readers after boarding the bus. As Vance explains, “Being able to alight via any door is part of the BRT standard, which was created and stays updated by the Institute for Transportation Development Policy (ITDP).” 

The buses also include a designated area for bikes inside the bus, whereas most buses have bike riders use front-mounted exterior racks. What most impressed Vance was the speed and efficiency of the bus line, which is due to its dedicated lanes and signal prioritization.

Vance notes that only two other Midwest cities have true BRT: Indianapolis and Cleveland. While Chicago had plans for multiple BRT lines, they’ve all been scrapped in favor of other projects.