Study On Applicability Of Bus Rapid Transit(BRT) In Shanghai Urban Integrative Transport System

The construction and development of urban rail transit are at the initial stage in China. Bus Rapid Transit is a new mode of transportation in Shanghai as well as in China. This paper makes objective comparison and evaluation between urban rail transit and Bus Rapid Transit in terms of investment, operational cost, planning & construction time, passenger capacity, velocity, flexibility, energy consumption and environmental impacts. It analyses Shanghai urban public transport plan, and states BRT a suitable status in Shanghai integrative transport system. It also analyses urban rail transit system plan in Shanghai, and researches feasibility of replacement of some line sections in Shanghai rail transit network by BRT. Referring a mass of information, the author puts forward some technical standards about construction of BRT. The proposal is feasible that we may construct BRT instead of rail transit system in some programmed outer line sections or some expand lines of inner lines on recent construction plan or long term network plan of rail transit system in Shanghai. We believe that through continuous implementation and achievement of BRT development experience, BRT will significantly improve urban transport system and have a deep impact on Shanghai's sustainable development. In the finality, the problems requiring further studies are discussed.