Does BRT harm the environment?
There have been no significant negative impacts identified on the natural or socio-economic (e.g., business and residential) environment because of the BRT Project. BRT would result in some worsening of traffic conditions along its alignment and remove some parking (of which some would be replaced). These impacts are not harmful to the non-transportation environment and reflect the basic tradeoff of the Project: substantially better transit service with a consequent limited loss of existing auto capacity and access. By many measures BRT will benefit the environment: 1. By reducing pollutant emissions; 2. By reducing transportation energy use; and 3. It will provide cities opportunities to expand jobs and housing through smart growth standards and transit oriented development projects.
