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[quote user="daveklepper"] Before we go head over heals in love with simple upgraded bus technology, I would point out that OPERATING COSTS PER PASSENGER of  a modern light rail line are considerably less, about half, those of articulated buses, despite the maintenance of the overhead and track!  But very heavy usage, about 20,000 per day or more, is required for the savings to wipe out the interest charges on the differences in construciton costs.   So obviously both have a place.  [/quote] The USDOT, Transit Administration, RBT homepage, first paragraph, has this topical sentence:  Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems provide a higher quality of service than traditional bus lines at a lower cost than rail systems.   Clearly, the costs will vary from location to location and depend largely on whether an existing railway right-of-way can be used.  At the end of the day, it is not just the operating cost that must be considered; it is the total cost. Austin is about to launch a commuter rail line.  The estimated cost to develop it is between $2.8 and $4.4 million per mile.  In addition, there is a proposal before the City Council to build a light rail line from the airport to downtown and on to the university area.  The estimated cost is $47 million per mile.  Lastly, Austin plans to launch two RBT routes in 2011 or 2012.  It has received an initial grant from the USDOT.  The estimated cost for the route and equipment is approximately $3 to $5 million per mile, depending on the amount of ITS deployed, although the numbers for the RBT are not as solid as those for the rail routes. One of the things that I liked about the RBT that I experienced in Albuquerque was the frequency of service.  The buses run most of the day on an 11 minute interval.  By comparison, the DART Red Line in Dallas, whilst running on a 10 minute interval during the heaviest rush hour periods, runs on 20+ minute intervals during non-rush hour periods. As you say, in some instances light rail is a better fit; in others RBT may be a better fit.  According to the USDOT, it is getting a lot more attention.
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