Annual Meeting: January 9-13, 2005
Committee on Transportation in the Developing Countries (ABE90)
Sub-Committee on Bus Rapid Transit

Call for Papers and Conference Session Proposals

Developing Countries have been at the forefront in the emerging area of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). This mode continues to work around many of the constraints and uncertainties present in these countries - political, physical, environmental, fiscal, and social. With the second generation of BRT systems in the planning phase, analysis of the first generation systems, about how the systems actually work and the role they have played, would be quite useful in the planning and implementation of the second phase systems . What has been successful, what could be improved, and what must be avoided?

Some possible topics of discussion include the following:

1. Lessons learned in the first phase BRT systems that can be used to improve the second phase of BRT systems.
2. The dynamics of BRT: How does it successfully move so many people? Does it compete successfully with rail systems, using less costly infrastructure?
3. Use of express bus lanes, off-line stations, and various other treatments for BRT. How does the design of BRT infrastructure improve service quality?
4. Land use and land value impacts of BRT.
5. Positive and negative environmental impacts (air quality, noise, etc.) of BRT vs. other available modal options.
6. Management Alternatives: concession packages, contracting and tendering arrangements.
7. Integration with other modes of transport.
8. Alternative fare policies.
9. Public response to new BRT systems and political benefits/disbenefits to the decision-makers responsible for the introduction of BRT services.
10. Applicability and transferability to other cities throughout the world.
11. Other broad areas, such as planning, funding, operations and performance.

The following criteria will be used in selecting the papers for the conference:

1. Relevance of the subject covered by the paper to Bus Rapid Transit
2. Rigor, quality and originality of the paper
3. Operational relevance
4. Degree to which the paper addresses features applicable to or characteristic of cities in developing countries and replicability to other cities.

Submission information:

Formal papers must be submitted by 1 August 2004, through the TRB Annual Meeting website http://trb.org/ , with an electronic copy to Charles Rivasplata (Charles.Rivasplata@sfgov.org), Subcommittee Chair.

Panel session proposals and suggested speakers should be submitted, by 1 August 2004 to, Charles Rivasplata with copy to V.Setty Pendakur, Committee Chair (pendakur@interchange.ubc.ca).

If you have questions or comments, please contact, Charles Rivasplata.

****Please note that the TRB does not provide travel expenses for Annual Meeting speakers or panelists.