Researching The Feasibility Of Implementing A Bus System Based On Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) And Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

The main content of this thesis attempt to incorporate Transit-Oriented Development(TOD)and Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)practices/network by studying the characteristics and the potential feasibility of implementation of bus system.Within the country there a lack of adequate planning,when it comes to transportation,more-so the public bus system.Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)has increasingly become an effective and attractive urban transit alternative in many developing cities around the world due to its cost-effective and flexible implementation.Many residences have no trust in the current public bus system as it is unreliable.The need for a dependable system has resulted in an increase in private vehicle ownership which in turn has decreased public transportation ridership thus becoming contributory factor in traffic congestion.While there is an increase in private vehicle ownership,many still depend on public transportation since they cannot afford to purchase vehicles and this is especially true with the current economical climate.Some may choose to utilize public transportation rather than driving their cars since their disposable income has either decreased or no longer have one.Also,with tourism being the main industry,having an efficient public transportation system would make it easier for visitors to explore the island.Happy visitors would mean great reviews which leads to more visitors.The increase in visitors opens the door for more employment in the public transportation system and increase revenue to local businesses which in turn helps the economy grow.This phenomenon has necessitated the need for innovative sustainable solutions that promote public transportation in urban areas.One of such innovations is the development of Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)based on Transit-Oriented Development(TOD)systems which has gained popularity over the years.The merit of the Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)system lies in its ability to provide a high-quality public transit service with limited infrastructure and at a relatively low capital and operating cost.With BRT being the hub/station,which will work in contrast with TOD and the advantages that goes along with TOD(urban parks,public service facilities,large settlements,central office districts,industrial zone etc.)This thesis project explores the conditions under which bus rapid transit(BRT)system based on transit-oriented development(TOD)will help in the understanding of how to intertwine BRT systems and TOD system in planning of a bus system.This paper also attempts to designed the Bus station at the city as a hub/block(the main central transit stop ends at the city of Antigua)with the TOD densest areas located within a radius of one-quarter to one-half mile around the central transit stop(Bus station).This study employs the use of spatial data analysis,using GIS and so on to explore TOD and the collaborative development between land use related to urban parks,public service facilities,large settlements,central office districts,industrial zone and transportation Bus Rapid Transit,Moreover the use of archival data from various government organizations such as the Ministry of works,the Development Control Authority(DCA)of Antigua,Antigua Transport Board,Statistics Division to name a few.