GRAPHIC: Comparing Chicago's BRT Plan With Existing Systems

An analysis of two existing BRT systems, one in Cleveland and one in Eugene, Ore., reveals some significant design differences when compared with Chicago’s plan for 16 miles of Ashland Avenue. In Cleveland, where much of the line configuration is similar to Chicago’s plan, high-capacity alternatives exist in close proximity to the route. In Eugene, the route is along roads with multiple traffic lanes to alleviate congestion.

NOTE: All maps and configuration diagrams are in scale with each other

CHICAGO (Proposed)

LOCATION: Ashland Avenue, currently with four lanes of traffic, is surrounded primarily by dense residential and business land use, such as this stretch near Chicago Avenue. The closest north-south routes are small local streets with 1-2 lanes of traffic.

BRT STREET: Buses travel along a center median where passengers board. There is one lane of traffic and one lane of parking on either side.

CLEVELAND

LOCATION: Euclid Avenue stretches from downtown to the northeast area. This typical stretch near the Cleveland Clinic hospital has two major thoroughfares on either side.

BRT STREET: The configuration changes, but in this example, buses travel along a center median where passengers board. There is one lane of traffic and one bike lane on either side.

EUGENE, OREGON

LOCATION: Runs primarily along the very wide Franklin Avenue in Eugene, then to downtown Springfield where it runs along the similarly wide Pioneer Avenue and other major thoroughfares.

BRT STREET: It changes, but in this example near downtown Eugene, buses travel on dedicated bus lanes adjacent to a center median. There are three lanes of traffic on either side.