As BRT marked its 50th anniversary in 2024, it was only fitting that the world’s largest event dedicated to public transport and urban mobility would be the place to reflect on how far the mode has come, and where it’s headed next.
At the UITP Summit in Hamburg, the eBRT2030 project hosted a two-part session exploring both the evolution of BRT around the world and the road ahead. From city case studies across four continents to discussions on standards and definitions, the sessions brought together a broad mix of voices – operators, authorities and international mobility experts – to reflect on what makes BRT successful today, and how it can continue to deliver high-capacity, reliable service as urban contexts evolve.
The first panel, chaired by Maria Albuquerque (Vice-President of Carris and Chair of the UITP Bus Division), gathered insights from Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Braga, Nairobi, Mexico, and Dakar. Each city shared how its BRT system was designed and implemented to respond to specific local challenges, whether related to infrastructure constraints, network integration, governance structures, or financing models. While the approaches varied, several common principles stood out: the value of clearly delineated corridors, reliable and frequent service, and strong integration with the wider transport network.
The session pointed to a few essential ingredients that help BRT work, although making it clear that its success depends on adapting the recipe to each city’s context, with room to grow as urban needs evolve.
The second session, moderated by Arno Kerkhof (Head of Bus Unit, UITP), turned to the broader question: can we define BRT as a mode in its own right?
Drawing on the perspectives of the eBRT2030 Advisory Board and international experts, the panel explored how a shared conceptual framework could help cities distinguish BRT from conventional bus services, not by limiting flexibility, but by clarifying what makes a BRT system stand out. That includes minimum infrastructure standards, operational benchmarks, design principles, and technical criteria.
As UITP Secretary General Mohamed Mezghani noted in his opening remarks, BRT has come a long way since its beginnings in Curitiba. It’s a mode that has continuously adapted to local contexts, responded to changing needs, and become more closely integrated with wider public transport networks.
The session also underlined UITP’s continued support for bus priority and system innovation, highlighting BRT’s relevance today as a practical solution that cities can adopt and deliver. As Mr Mezghani said, “It’s a solution that can be delivered within one political mandate, and we should build on that”.
The conversation recognised that BRT is changing. With the rollout of electric fleets, automation, and advanced ITS, the mode is entering a new phase, one where innovation adds new layers. But without losing the core strengths that made BRT work in the first place, the mode is keeping pace with the new era of technology we’re living in!
All of these discussions will feed into the upcoming updated version of “On the road to a concept for BRT”, a report developed under the eBRT2030 project to support operators, authorities, and other experts around the world as a starting point for defining and characterising (e)BRT, while also looking at lessons from what has already been implemented globally.
With more bridges than Venice and Amsterdam combined, Hamburg knows a thing or two about bringing things together. And this year’s UITP Summit became one more bridge, connecting cities across the world, sharing ideas, and bringing together brilliant minds to talk about Bus Rapid Transit.
At eBRT2030, we’re building bridges everywhere we go — so follow us on this journey!
