Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Developments in China

1. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Developments in China Dongquan HE China Sustainable Transportation Center Supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Energy Foundation Visit us at http://www.chinastc.org

2. Overview • Background • Problems of Urban Transport • Critical time for intervention • BRT Systems and Plans in China • Summary • About Us

3. Background • Remarkable Economic Growth • Growth of GDP per capita in the past decade has averaged almost 9% per annum • Projected growth at annual rate of 8% during the 11th Five-year plan (2004-2009) by government • Demographic Change • Urbanization • Urban Population 600million (40% of total) • Urban spatial decentralization • Growth of Suburbs • Growth of Land Consumption • Government pursues a policy to create new Satellite Cities

4. Energy Issue China is the third biggest consumer of petroleum in the world after U.S and Japan (MOC, 2005) Will import 100 million tons petroleum in year 2010, 61% of total consume; will import 200 million tons in year 2020, 76.9% of total consume (IEA, 2005) OilUse in China Million barrels per day (mbd) Source: IEA Background

5. Car-ownership Growth Private Vehicles ownership is 13 million by year 2004 Government projects that vehicle-ownership will reach 36 million by year 2010 (MOC, 2005) High Growth Scenario (12%/year) Vehicle Ownership (millions) U.S. Current Level Low Growth Scenario (8.8%/year) Source: Tsinghua University, State Council DRC Background

6. Problems of Urban Transport • Severe Traffic Congestion

7. Problems of Urban Transport • How to Prioritize the Public Transit • Trip rate by Public Transit reduced • Low Operation Speed • Low Population rate • In Xi’an City, 110,000 new private vehicles each year; 400 new bus only each year. (MOC, 2005)

8. Problems of Urban Transport • CO2 Reducing Crisis

9. Problems of Urban Transport • Main Reason: Increased Vehicle Ownership and Trips • Rising incomes • Increased domestic vehicle production and lower price of vehicle • Low quality of public transit services • Urban spatial decentralization

10. Critical time for intervention • Fast growth and economic change • Massive re-construction in urban areas • Huge investments channeled to construction • Deficient in scientific support • Decision making more transparent and open

11. The Recent Policy of Central Government • State Council Office Decree 46 [2005] give priority to urban public transport: • Improve the Public Transport (PT) infrastructure • Optimize the structure of PT operation • Guarantee the priority use of road for PT • Develop the sector reform

12. BRT are encouraged as a lower cost rapid transit solution • BRT Benefits: • Efficient usage of urban road resources • Save Energy • Reduce CO2 • Low Investment • Easily Construction and short implementation • Social Equity

13. At least 10 Chinese cities are actively planning or expanding BRT systems with varying approaches Full-fledged BRT system Incremental implementation of BRT elements Beijing Ji’nan Xi’an Hangzhou Chengdu Shenzhen Kunming BRT Systems and Plans in China

14. Southern Axis BRT Line 1 Opened Dec 30, 2005 18 month implementation New Operation Company Low Investment – US$ 4million/km infrastructure 15.8km most exclusive (13.6km exclusive) Center busway and 19 stations New 18m articulated vehicles, low floor and use diesel Beijing BRT (Source: Beijing BRT Company, 2006)

15. Southern Axis BRT Line 1 Average Daily Boarding - 90,000 (Highest to 200,000+) Operation Speed – 22km/h in peak hour and 26km/h off peak Reliable Services – 90% on schedule Level Boarding Off-board fare collection Flat Fare: US$0.25 (can be lowed to US$0.04 by monthly ticket) Beijing BRT (Source: Beijing BRT Company, 2006)

16. Southern Axis BRT Line 1 Frequency of service on peak is 1 min headway (2-3min off-peak) Transit Signal Priority Advanced Scheduling Dispatch System, Automatic Vehicle Location, Passenger Information and video monitoring Integration with other mode – Metro, Normal Bus Services and Pedestrians Beijing BRT (Source: Beijing BRT Company, 2006)

17. Future Plan 回龙观 居住区 天通苑 居住区 安立路 朝阳路 CBD 中央商务区 阜石路 南中轴路 黄村 亦庄经济开发区 Image Courtesy of Beijing BRT Company Beijing BRT (Source: Beijing BRT Company, 2006)

18. BRT Line B1 Opened April 26, 2006 16 month planning and construction Government founded 28 km dedicated right lane with minimal physical separation (bus lane width is 3.5m) Average station distance – 1.17km New domestic made 18m articulated vehicles, low floor and use diesel Hangzhou BRT (Source: Hangzhou Mass Transit Group, 2006)

19. BRT Line B1 Average daily boarding - 40,000 (Highest to 50,000+) Operation speed – 25km/h Peak Headway – 3min (5 min in off-peak) Off-board Fare Collection Level Boarding Flat Fare: US$0.50 (most IC card user can get 50% discount) Hangzhou BRT (Source: Hangzhou Mass Transit Group, 2006)

20. BRT Line B1 Transit Signal Priority by SCATS system Advanced Scheduling Dispatch System, Automatic Vehicle Location, Real-time Passenger Information and Video Monitoring Three normal bus routes can enter the BRT corridor to provide services, free transfer between BRT Line B1 and K900 normal bus service Hangzhou BRT (Source: Hangzhou Mass Transit Group, 2006)

21. Future Plan Hangzhou BRT (Source: Hangzhou Mass Transit Group, 2006) Images Courtesy of Hangzhou Mass Transit Group

22. Proposed Beiyuan BRT Line Star construction on March 2005, expect to be finished at Oct 2007 Government founded New operation company 12km exclusive Center busway and 20 station (average 608m distance) 18m articulated vehicles, low floor and use diesel (double-side door vehicle in consideration) Ji’nan BRT Plan (Source: Ji’nan PWD, 2006) Image Courtesy of Ji’nan PWD

23. Proposed Beiyuan BRT Line Short term design capacity – 10,000 pdph (20,000 pdph for long term) Proposed Operation speed – >22km/h Proposed Reliable services –90% on schedule Frequency of Service on Peak is 2-5 min headway Off-board fare collection Level boarding Ji’nan BRT Plan (Source: Ji’nan PWD, 2006) Image Courtesy of Ji’nan PWD

24. Kunming (Spring City) Chengdu (Panda’s Hometown) Xi’an (Qin-Soldiers’ Hometown) Shenzhen (New-face of China) Image Courtesy of Cnwest Others

25. Summary • China focus on solving urban transportation problems by improving the Public Transit service • BRT as a form of sustainable urban transport whose cost-effectiveness and flexibility makes it particularly suitable for development in China. • International BRT experience and practice are important to China • It’s time to open the BRT Era in China

26. About Us • The China Sustainable Transportation Center (CSTC) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded and supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and The Energy Foundation. • Our Mission is “To help China's cities design and implement sustainable, multi-modal urban transportation systems, particularly bus rapid transit.” • CSTC are working in Beijing, Kunming, Hangzhou, Ji'nan, Xi'an, Shenzhen and Hefei to help develop and implement BRT systems . • Please visit us at http://www.chinastc.org

27. Thank You For your attention