Abstract Manager

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems have emerged as an efficient, high-quality public transport option, offering a cost-effective public transport solution compared to other transit modes such as light-rail and metro systems. In November 2022, Montreal, Canada launched a new 13-km BRT corridor along the Pie-IX boulevard, featuring 14 operational stations and partially replacing pre-existing bus services in the region. Using archived AVL/APC data from the Société de Transport de Montréal’s (STM), we assess the impacts of this new BRT corridor on transit operational performance, including running time, schedule deviation, and headway deviation, both along the corridor and on parallel bus services. Specifically, we employ multivariate regression models to quantify the operational changes resulting from the BRT implementation. Our analysis reveals significant reductions in running time in both directions, with BRT users experiencing a decrease of approximately 5 minutes in travel time along the full corridor. Additionally, the implementation of the BRT produced a spillover effect, benefiting all services along the Pie-IX corridor by reducing running time. However, significant deviations in headways and schedules were observed along the corridor, particularly in the AM and PM peak periods, indicating a tendency for bus bunching. Our findings can be of interest to decision-makers and public transit agencies interested in understanding the operational benefits of implementing BRT corridors.