TECHNOLOGY This section addresses the various technology systems incorporated into a BRT system, including fleet, fare system, and traffic signal control and relevant considerations for the Everett‒Boston corridor.69
5
FLEET BRT vehicle selection is complex and depends on a variety of considerations, including operational, legal, institutional, and strategic factors.
VEHICLE SELECTION: BODY DESIGN DETERMINE VEHICLE BODY SPECIFICATIONS
Using 60-foot articulated buses on the Everett‒Boston BRT corridor will increase vehicle carrying capacity and allow a smaller fleet (compared to 40-foot buses) to meet the expected passenger demand. This vehicle type is familiar to the MBTA, as its fleet already includes articulated 60-foot buses on the Silver Line and other high-capacity routes. Because of steep grades on parts of the route, especially in Everett, buses with dual-powered axles would be required for winter travel conditions. In addition, stops and street geometry on other local portions of the route would need to be analyzed for compatibility with 60-foot buses.
DETERMINE DOOR POSITION (LEFT, RIGHT)
The proposed BRT is envisioned with a direct service model in which several BRT routes continue off the busway and service curbside bus stops (see Operations/Service Planning). As a result, all BRT buses will require at least right-hand doors. If the BRT stations are aligned to the inside (right) of the bus-only lanes, then passengers can board through the right-hand doors. Alternatively, if the BRT stations are aligned to the outside (left) of the bus-only lane, the BRT buses will also require left-hand doors. (See section Roadway and Station Configuration for a discussion about the trade-offs between left- and right-side stations.)
DETERMINE NUMBER OF PASSENGER DOORS
The number of passenger doors also needs to be selected—two, three, or four. The MBTA’s 60-foot fleet has three doors on the right side, allowing increased passenger flow compared to two doors. There are some examples of 60-foot buses with four doors on each side, notably Van Hool buses operated by AC Transit in Oakland.70 69
70
70
This technology section borrows heavily from the concepts in ITDP’s Online BRT Planning Guide. See Volume 5 for more information about BRT vehicles, fare systems, traffic signal control and TSP, and other BRT IT systems (ITDP 2021). Streetcarmike.com (Stauch 2017) lists the various Van Hool buses operated by AC Transit here: http://streetcarmike.com/actransit_ vanhool_2000.html
