Why Strong Roadway Partnerships Improve Bus Rapid Transit Projects for All

Gina Thomas and Dany Maloney Provide Insight to Mass Transit Magazine on the Benefits of Transit and Roadway Collaboration

Some of the most successful BRT projects in the U.S. have been planned and designed as a collaborative effort between transit professionals and roadway professionals. Integrating a new BRT line into an already busy travel corridor can come with its fair share of challenges, but bringing expertise together from both working groups can overcome project obstacles and improve overall operation and safety.

Gina Thomas and Dany Maloney shared their experience planning, designing and implementing BRT lines across the country in the November/December 2024 issue of Mass Transit magazine. Thomas is our global BRT practice lead, managing the delivery of quality transit projects, from initial alternatives analysis, conceptual engineering and planning-level cost estimating to final design and construction. Maloney is a roadway section manager with experience delivering widely successful BRT projects in Minnesota, including the METRO C, D and E Lines in Minneapolis. The two tout the benefits of a working relationship between transit planners and designers and roadway planners and designers to improve the overall transportation system for all users.

"The most successful BRT projects meet the needs of transit operations while recognizing the importance of roadway knowledge," the two wrote in the article. "By engaging roadway professionals at the onset of project development and involving them throughout the process, projects can identify and resolve conflicts, providing better integration into existing networks and improving mobility for the whole community."

Read the whole article, “Integrating BRT Systems into Roadway Networks: Strong roadway partnerships on BRT projects improve outcomes for all."