Bus rapid transit (BRT) for cities of Bangladesh : a study of identification of potential cities and developing policy framework

Abstract

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is an urban transport solution for many of countries around the world. But up to now, there is no BRT operating in Bangladesh – construction of one is ongoing in Dhaka - nor there is any appropriate method for assessing the merit for choosing and prioritizing cities of Bangladesh to have BRTs. This study has identified a set of criteria for the cities of Bangladesh to assess their merit in this regard.The study has enlisted five major factors, namely Demography, Regional/Surrounding context, Transport, Major Activity center/ Land use and Economy which govern thepotentiality of BRT development in the cities of Bangladesh.Sub factors in each category has also been identified. A two-stage consultation was done with 10 experts in transport authority, academia and practitioners. At first a list of 27 potential factors has been identified based on literature review. Among them 15 factors are selected by the experts. Those are grouped in five categories of factors mentioned above.In the second stage, the consultants were again contacted for putting their priority to factors and subfactors separately.Analytic HierarchyProcess (AHP) has been used for calculating weights or scores for factors and subfactors.A composite value has beenfoundeach of 30studiedcities – excluding Dhaka, Gazipur and Narayanganj -on the basis of weightsof the five factors (and subfactors) and respective city wise value of these factors. Finally, the priority city for BRT development have been identified on the basis of highest composite value. This study shows that, Chattogram has the highest composite value (0.849) and developing BRT system has become an overdue for the city. Other cities having potential for BRT development in near future areBogura, Cumilla, Mymensingh, Noakhali, Tangail andRajshahi. A total number of eight successful case studies are studied thoroughly to understand factors behind their successIt has been found that successes in BRT development depends on the institutional strength, co-ordination, steady political support, good design standard and public involvement.Finally, the study has recommended for addressing the issues in Governance, Urban Planning and Design and Social factors for successful implementation of BRT in the prioritized cities of Bangladesh.