As federal funds have become available for analyzing transportation problems confronting urban areas, more communities have explored rapid transit as a vital element in a transportation system. These efforts have led smaller areas, with projected 1980 populations of less than 2,000,000 people, to the conclusion that Busways may be the answer to their traffic problems.
A Busways system consists of a network of buses which circulate through residential communities for local pickup, then speed over reserved trunk lines to the focal point of the community, which in most instances is the central business district. It can provide fast, comfortable service. The system can be established quicker than most other high performance rapid transit systems and at one-half to one-tenth the cost.
Because of these capabilities, Busways has become the rapid transit system of the future for intermediate-sized areas. Even in large metropolitan areas where other forms of rapid transit are programed for the future, Busways can serve as an interim relief measure alleviating commuter congestion with a fast, convenient alternate to auto travel.