Rede Integrada de Transporte

Rede Integrada de Transporte (also known as RIT, Portuguese: "Integrated Transportation Network") is a bus rapid transit system in Curitiba, Brazil.

Curitiba has a well planned transportation system, which includes devotion of lanes on major streets for a bus rapid transit system [The US Government Environmental Protection Agency website [http://www.epa.gov/innovation/international/transportation.htm highlights the Curitiba transit project] , descibing the success of the city masterplan in numbers.] . The buses are long, split into three sections (bi-articulated), and stop at designated elevated tubes, complete with handicapped access. [ [http://www.publictransit.us/ptlibrary/specialreports/sr1.curitibaBRT.pdf US Government committee] agrees with this undisputed technical description.] The system, used by 85% of Curitiba's population [A [http://www.enpc.fr/fr/formations/dea_masters/tradd/site/documents/curitiba.pdf study on Curitiba transportation] by The University of Upsala] , is the source of inspiration [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/brazil_insideout/south/niemeyer.shtml BBC mentions transit system as landmark of Brazil's south] ] for the TransMilenio in Bogotá, Colombia, Metrovia in Guayaquil, Ecuador as well as the Orange Line of Los Angeles, California, and for a future transportation system in Panama City, Panama, Transmetro system in Guatemala City. Guatemala, the Metrobús of Mexico City and for the city of Bangalore [Indian Institute of Technology Delhi states [http://www.iitd.ac.in/tripp/hcbs/hcbs/press/18-01-02.pdf Bangalore to adopt Curitiba transit system] . These cities are listed in a [http://www.itls.usyd.edu.au/bus_and_coach_themes/Hensher_010706.pdf study from Sidney University] on Bus Rapid Transit, as well as in a study by the Japanese Institute for Global Environment Strategies with the UN Collaborating Center on Energy and Environment at the Risoe National Laboratory of Denemark [http://www.iges.or.jp/APEIS/RISPO/inventory/db/pdf/0043.pdf which ecoes this list] .] .

History

By the 1960s, Curitiba's population had ballooned to 430,000, and some residents feared that the growth in population threatened to drastically change the character of the city. In 1964, Mayor Ivo Arzua solicited proposals for urban design. Architect Jaime Lerner, who later became mayor, led a team from the Universidade Federal do Paraná that suggested a reduction of traffic in the downtown area and a convenient and affordable public transit system. [ [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/24/se.01.html Undisputed history of project as told by CNN reporter] ]

This plan, known as the Curitiba Master Plan, was adopted in 1968. Lerner closed November 15 St. to vehicles, because it had very high pedestrian traffic. The plan had a new road design to minimise traffic: the Trinary Road System. This uses two one-way streets moving in opposite directions which surround a smaller, two-lane street where the express buses have their exclusive lane. Five of these roads form a star that converges to the city centre. Land farther from these roads is zoned for lower density developments, to reduce traffic away from the main roads. A number of areas subject to floods were condemned and became parks. [The plan is well documented and can be seen in the bus route

]

In the 1980s, the Rede Integrada de Transporte was created, allowing transit between any points in the city by paying just one fare. [One fare is confirmed by a [http://www.fta.dot.gov/printer_friendly/research_4369.html US federal research] stating that: "Passengers pay a single fare ... with unlimited transfers between buses". This may not be the same price to all passengers, as indicated by this [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/24/se.01.html CNN source] , which claims the "system is subsidized by wealthy residents of the city center area", who perhaps pay more. In any case, all sources agree that payment for all transfers are done once for all daily rides, outside the stations, and prior to entering the bus.]

Routes

* Express buses ("Expresso Biarticulado"): These are large high-capacity buses that have exclusive traffic lanes, spreading radially from the city centre in 5 directions. They are treated as an "above-ground subway" because of their speed, capacity and frequent service. They have bright red color schemes and operate with tube stations. Passengers pay to enter the stations. This allows very quick boarding and disembarking. It is considered shameful to cheat on fares.
* Inter-neighborhood buses ("Interbairros"): These are green buses that travel outside downtown. Lines 1 and 2 circle the city centre, the latter with a bigger radius. Lines 3 to 6 are important connections between some neighborhoods.

* Direct lines ("Linha Direta"): Commonly called "ônibus ligeirinho" ("quickie bus"), these are silver buses designed to be the quickest links between two points. They cover large distances with few stops. They link with tube stations. Curitiba is the pioneer in the worldwide Rapid Bus development.

* Feeding lines ("Alimentador"): These are local bus lines and are painted orange. All of them link one passenger terminal to a neighborhood and feed the express buses and other RIT lines with passengers. Large windows allow a better sightseeing.

* "Around Downtown" ("Circular Centro"): These small white buses are designed to circle the city centre, and are used by pedestrians as a quick way of getting to the other side of the area.

* Conventional buses ("Convencional"): These yellow-colored buses operate radially from the city centre.

* Interhospitals ("Interhospitais"): These white buses circle the town and link the main city hospitals.

* Tourism line ("Linha Turismo"): These colorful buses focus on the city's attractions. Paying R$15.00 / US$6.25 allows one to get on and off of the bus five times, on the attraction of interest.

Terminals

Curitiba has twenty-one passenger terminals where it is possible to change buses without having to pay for a new ticket. They are located on Express lanes and offer travellers great flexibilty.

* Bairro Alto
* Barreirinha
* Boa Vista
* Boqueirão
* Cabral
* Cachoeira
* Campina do Siqueira

* Campo Comprido
* Capão da Imbuia
* Capão Raso
* Carmo
* Centenário
* CIC
* Fazendinha
* Hauer

* Pinheiriho
* Portão
* Santa Cândida
* Santa Felicidade
* Sítio Cercado
* Vilas Oficinas

Criticism

POV-section|date=June 2008 This bus system is criticized by light rail transit (LRT) advocates, who show that passengers stand in the busses and who, in light of American passenger comfort standards and traffic laws, question the applicability of this system as a transportation solution for cities of the United States. In order for the system to work, there is a need to designate lanes or exclusive roads solely for public transit, and limit or close off city centers to private cars, a change which, besides needing drastic legal and political decisions, does not fit, in the critics eyes, with the spirit of city residents in the United States. These sources also discredit the low price claimed, and note that operation costs have never been disclosed [Critisism from [http://www.lightrailnow.org/facts/fa_00013.htm a site advocating light rail] , and therefor opposed to bus systems as an alternative.] .

References