#BRT Case Studies# BRT in Curitiba

BRT, Bus Rapid Transit came into the city of Curitiba in Brazil in 1974. It was introduced by his mayor, architects Jaime Lerner and it became the first BRT in the world. The system aims to provide high quality bus service to public with relatively low built cost compared to rail system. Since that, Curitiba's BRT success inspired the similar plans in more than 100 cities around the world. including other Brazilian cities, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, Manaus, Goiânia, Aracaju, Salvador, Recife, and Brasília.

BRT also helps Curitiba with TOD(Transportation Oriented Development). Curitiba grows by integrating urban transportation, land-use development and environmental preservation. After 25 years development, the BRT in Curitiba has been upgraded to an advanced system with at-level boarding, electronic fare ticketing, bi-articulated buses and user information system. 

The features of BRT in Curitiba are:

• "  median busways longitudinally segregated.
  
•   tube stations with fare prepayment and level access.
  
•   physical and fare integration among diverse services (mid points and terminal stations).
  
•   dispatch control at terminal stations.
  
•   differentiated services:
  

o express radial routes (expresso) and accelerated radial routes with limited stops (ligeirão), in the median busways, using large capacity bi-articulated buses.
o direct radial routes (ligeirinho) in the fast streets of the trinary system, with integration at terminals and mid-point stations along the structural axles, using articulated and conventional buses.
o inter-neighborhood circumferential routes (interbairros), integrated with the radial routes (express and direct) at terminals and mid-point stations. Bus size according to the demand includes articulated and conventional buses.
o feeder services (alimentador) connecting local neighborhoods to the radial and circumferential routes at terminals and mid-point stations, using articulated and conventional buses according to the demand.
o downtown circulator using small buses.
o special services for students, hospitals and tourists. "

o centralized fare collection, using off-board ticketing at tube stations and terminals, and on-board ticketing for feeder and inter-terminal services. An electronic fare collection system, introduced in 2002, replaced a coin based system used since the early 1980s.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit_in_Brazil
http://www.sibrtonline.org/downloads/built-environment-curitiba-oct19-4db0b5ac230da.pdf

Portland Oregon, A Green City to Live

A couple of years ago, I watched a documentary about Portland. Its vibrantly sustainable transportation was very impressive. For many years, people keep talking sustainability and Portland online. Ryan Miga reckoned “Talking about sustainability and Portland, Oregon, is like talking about Eskimos and snow. It’s hard to separate them.” As so on, I choose Portland as my first digital journey of sustainable development & Urban Environment.

Eco Transportation

Let’s start with Portland’s famous cycle paths. The city is covered by over 315 miles (around 463 kilometres) well developed cycle paths. In 2010, Portland had highest percentage of bike commuters in the country.  Cyclists rank Portland as their second bike-friendliest city in the US. Designated bike lanes are along with many roads and a blocked-off box is as designated for bike to stop in front of cars at traffic lights. As addition, Portland drivers respect to this bike-friendly culture. They will slow down and huddle behind cyclists.

Also the city has a comprehensive public transportation network of buses, streetcars, aerial tram and light rail. The network covers not only the city itself but also suburbs. Transit is convenient, buses run frequently and timetable is provided by different medias.  The ticket price is also very affordable – a $2.00 ticket for 1-2 zones can be used up for three hours for buses and light rail.

Beyond the traditional sustainable transportation models, timing traffic lights to reduce fuel consumption - another eco-transportation model was adopted by the City of Portland. Traffic-signal optimization studies traffic patterns and re-calibrates signals to minimize the time cars spend on idling and accelerating. The model is calculated to have cut more than 15,00-ton co2 emissions.

Green Buildings

In 2010, Portland was ranking as second place of a city has most Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) – certified buildings.  A Portland’s flagship project for green building, Oregon Sustainability Centre (OSC) was surposed to open in 2013. The centre was labeled as “the greenest high-rise ever built”.  The building is carbon-neutral, produces as much energy as it uses and recycles wastewater onsite. The Oregon University System uses the building as a laboratory for testing sustainable design ideas. Unfortunately, Portland mayor Sam Adams decided to end the planning on the project in October 2012.  

Sustainable Development Policy

In 2008, the Bureau of Planning and the Office of Sustainable Development were merged to The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. The bureau coordinates urban growth and sustainable development in the city together.  Even since the 70s, Portland has legislation that limited urban growth and strict land-use laws.

Portland has a high goal to become a “20 Minute City” which means residents spend 20 or less minutes commuting anywhere in the city. To achieve the goal, one of the remarkable projects is  “The EcoDistricts Initiative”. The project focuses on a smaller-scale sustainable development – neighbourhood, people, infrastructure and buildings.

Sustainability is about attitude

The public and government are highly aware of sustainability issues. Portlanders hope to increase the recycling rate to 75% in 2015 by providing affection recycling facilities and encouraging the public to recycle more, comparing to the national recycling rate was only 32% in 2008. 

Locavorism is popular in Portland. Grocery stores and restaurants offer huge range of options for local foods from meat and vegetables to cheese and beer.  A dozen of weekend farmers markets are open until winter. Some manufactories commit to only using locally sourced ingredients. Hopworks Brewery uses not only local ingredients but also compost. They buy 100% wind energy and use recycled materials on their building.  

Portland State University plays a key role in sustainability. The university integrates research, learning and practice together.  The funding was granted to the university to support the academic laboratory for developing sustainable processes and developing connection with business, government, organizations and communities.

Portlanders work hard on sustainable development that allows they approach to meet the needs of the present without constraining the ability of future generations. At the meantime, they have been successful to improve quality of their life.

Resources:

http://ecohearth.com/eco-zine/travel-and-leisure/1634-greenest-cities-portland-oregon.html

http://inhabitat.com/is-it-green-portland-oregon/

http://www.portlandoregon.gov/

http://www.pdx.edu/sustainability/home-1

Pubic Transport in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has a remarkable and comprehensive public transport system which provide service to 7 million people. 90% of the daily journey are on public transport which is the highest rate on the world.

The whole public transport system includes:


Railways:

"Railways are safe, efficient, reliable, comfortable and environmentally friendly mass carriers.  They are the backbone of Hong Kong's public transport system which account for about 41% of all trips made on public transport each day.Hong Kong's railways are run by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL).  MTR is a heavily patronized railway network consisting of nine lines, including Kwun Tong Line, Tsuen Wan Line, Island Line, Tung Chung Line, Tseung Kwan O Line, Disneyland Resort Line, East Rail Line, Ma On Shan Line and West Rail Line. The total route length is 177.4 kilometers with 85 stations. The network carries about 4.62 million passenger trips per day in March 2015.
MTRCL also operates a 35.2 km Airport Express (AEL), which provides services to the Hong Kong International Airport and also in-town check-in facilities in some stations. The AEL carries about 41,400 passenger trips per day in March 2015.
Light Rail is a local transportation network which started operation in 1988 to meet the transport needs of the residents in the Northwest New Territories. It now has a route length of about 36.2 kilometres with 68 stops. It carries about 479,000 passenger trips every day in March 2015. In addition, the MTRCL provides feeder bus services to and from many Light Rail stops in the New Territories to facilitate passenger interchange between the Light Rail and West Rail Line networks."

http://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/railways/index.html


Buses:

"Bus services have a long history in Hong Kong. In 2009, five companies operate franchised public bus services. There are also a variety of non-franchised public buses services, including feeder bus services to railway stations operated by the railway companies, and residents' services for residential estates (particularly those in the New Territories).

The five franchised bus companies are:

• Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited;
• Citybus Limited;
• Long Win Bus Company Limited;
• New World First Bus Services Limited; and
• New Lantao Bus Company (1973) Limited."

Minibuses:

"Minibuses (小巴) (widely referred to as minibuses, or sometimes maxicabs, a de facto share taxi) run the length and breadth of Hong Kong, through areas which the standard bus lines can not or do not reach as frequently, quickly or directly. Minibuses carry a maximum of 16 passengers; no standees are allowed."

Ferries:

"Most ferry services are provided by licensed ferry operators. As of September 2003, there were 27 regular licensed passenger ferry services operated by 11 licensees, serving outlying islands, new towns and inner-Victoria Harbour. Two of the routes operated by the Star Ferry are franchised. Additionally, 78 "kai-to" ferries are licensed to serve remote coastal settlements."

Tramways:

"Electric trams have been operating on Hong Kong Island since 1904, The Hongkong Tramways Limited operates seven routes on 13 kilometres of double track along the northern shore of Hong Kong Island between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan, and about three kilometers of single track around Happy Valley.The company's 164 trams, including two open-balcony trams for tourists and private hire and one special maintenance tram, make up the world's only fully double-deck tram fleet. The trams recorded an average of 184,000 passenger trips daily in March 2015. Fares were $2.3 for adults, $1.2 for children under 12 and $1.1 senior citizens aged 65 or above."

Other Interesting Transport Modes:

The Peak Tram
"The peak tram carries both tourist and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island. It provides the most direct rout to Victoria Peak."

Escalators and moving pavements

"Hong Kong Island is dominated by steep, hilly terrain, which required the development of unusual methods of transport up and down the slopes. In Central and Western district, there is an extensive system of zero-fare escalators and moving pavements. The Mid-levels Escalator is the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world. operating downhill until 10 am for commuters going to work, and then operating uphill until midnight."

Cable cars

"There are two cable car systems in Hong Kong:

• The Ngong Ping Cable Car is a 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi) public cableway on Lantau Island. It links Tung Chung MTR station and Ngong Ping Terminal near Po Lin Monastery. It was opened on 18 September 2006.

• The Ocean Park theme park also possesses a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) cable car system between Nam Long Shan Headland and Wong Chuk Hang. This was opened in 1977 and is inside the paid area of the Park."

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Hong_Kong
http://www.td.gov.hk/en/transport_in_hong_kong/public_transport/

Green Star Buildings Features

1. Atrium
    Atrium can help with vertical ventilation

2. Vertical Gardens
    Vertical Gardens help with not only horizontal ventilation in the buildings, but also allow wind go  
    through buildings and then benefit the whole city.

3. Grey/Black Water Recycling
    The using of purifying grey/black water to flush toilet

4. Solar Panel
    Solar energy is non-emision energy

5. Energy-effienciency Lighting
 
6. Double Glazing
    Double Glazing prevents over heating from the sun

#BRT Case Studies# BRT in Toronto

BRT in Toronto was designed and built using a public-private partnership model, called Viva. Viva is operating in York Region, Ontario. It is integrated with local bus service as one regional transit system providing gapless transit service across York Region and connecting to northern Toronto.

The public-private partnership agreement divides as that public sector takes responsibilities of establishing fare policies and service levels, ownership of all assets, and control of revenues and funding; and private sector takes responsibilities of providing professional staffing and procurement support, assuming risk on all approved budgets and schedules and assisting York Region in its funding and financing requirements.

When the time I was in Toronto, I used Viva buses a couple of times and I was impressed by its high standard services, smart bus arrival time display system and modern bus stops, named Vivastation.

Refer to wikipedia as its service standards:

"The service uses high-end Belgian-built Van Hool and Canadian-built NovaBus buses referred to as "rapid transit vehicles" (RTVs). To maximize speed, buses make use of existing or specially lengthened right-turn lanes bypass lineups at intersections, and of bus-only lanes and roads to avoid traffic. When behind schedule, they are given priority at traffic signals.

Viva operates 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, from 5:30 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, 6:30 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and 8:00 a.m. to midnight on Sundays. During peak hours (6:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.), buses arrive every three to ten minutes depending on the route. Outside of peak hours, buses arrive less than 15 minutes apart.

Stops along the routes are referred to as "vivastations", and incorporate a ticket vending machine, a ticket validator, and a Presto card reader (fares are on a proof-of-payment basis to speed up boarding times). A real-time display that notifies passengers when the next vehicle is expected to depart. Viva stations are typically blue, except where they are part of a theme. Viva stations located in the historic districts of Thornhill, Richmond Hill, and Aurora have a bronze design referred to as "vivavintage". Viva stations on York University's campus are red to comply with the university's signage policy. Where space is limited, stops are served by miniature "vivamicro" stations.

Viva routes connect to Toronto Transit Commission's Yonge, Spadina, and Sheppard subway lines, GO Transit trains and buses, and to a number of Toronto bus routes. Viva is integrated with YRT's existing bus network, and passengers pay one fare to use Viva and the regular bus system. Fares are valid for unlimited use for two hours from the time of purchase. To speed up boarding times, Viva uses the "proof of payment" system. Rather than have drivers sell fares, passengers obtain tickets at vending machines and Viva officials occasionally check to ensure all passengers have paid their fare."

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viva_Rapid_Transit