Transportation

Bogotá, Columbia

BRT system reduced traveling time 32%, reduced gas emissions 40% and reduced accidents 90%

What is it?

Transmilenio is a rapid bus transit system throughout the city of Bogotá, which consists of 850 buses and has a demand of 1,400,000 passengers per day. The Transmilenio system has attained a very high productivity level averaging 1,600 passengers per day per bus, reducing travelling time by 32%, eliminating 2,109 public-service vehicles, reducing gas emissions by 40%, and making zones around the trunk roads safer thus decreasing accident rates by 90% throughout the system.

How does it work?

The scheme was initiated by Mayor Penalosa (1998-2000) who had 4 goals in mind: improve the public transport system, restrict the use of private automobiles, expand and improve bicycle paths, and enhance public space. Mayor Penalosa created a team, separate and external to his own administration, to oversee the implementation of a new transport system.

The Municipality created the company Transmilenio S.A. to plan, organize, and construct the transportation infrastructure, as well as to supervise the bus service. The company is responsible for all infrastructure and finances associated with the system, with private firms supplying the buses and staff.

The 84.4 kilometer system operates 18 hours a day, with large capacity buses running on dedicated lanes. Feeder services are integrated into the system and a central coordination unit monitors the service. The system was financed with a 70% grant from the national government together with 30% funding from the city, which came from three sources – resources from the privatisation of the local energy company; a World Bank loan; and special funds from the United Nations Development Program.

Next steps

By 2012 it is expected that Transmilenio consist of 3 new trunk routes with 130 km of new dedicated lanes including new bus-stations; around 1200 new articulated buses with a capacity of 160 passengers, operating on trunk routes and 500 new large buses operating on feeder lines; and over 1.8 million daily passengers.

Application

• City committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions can apply this model for quick results.
• City must be prepared to invest in creation of stations and terminals needed for a rapid bus transit system.
• City needs to designated and segregate lanes for system.
• City partners with private sector that is responsible for operational aspects.