Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) — Curitiba Model

Curitiba's BRT uses dedicated bus lanes, pre-paid boarding at tube-shaped stations, and articulated buses running at metro-like frequencies. The system moves passengers as efficiently as light rail at roughly 1/10th the capital cost, making high-quality public transit accessible to cities that can't afford rail.

The model has been replicated in approximately 200 cities globally, including Bogotá (TransMilenio), Jakarta, Istanbul, and Guangzhou. Each adaptation learns from Curitiba's 50 years of operational refinement — lessons in route design, station placement, fare integration, and land use planning.

Curitiba's contribution isn't just the bus system — it's the integrated approach to urban planning. BRT corridors were designed alongside zoning laws that concentrated high-density development along transit routes, creating a feedback loop between transport investment and urban form. This planning integration is what makes the model work, and what most imitators struggle to replicate.