The EMBARQ BRT Simulator, developed by CTS-Brasil, is being used to propose alternative designs for an extension of Metrobus in Mexico City. Photo by Abbaner Oz.

Experts at the Center for Sustainable Transport in Mexico (CTS-México) are now equipped to use the EMBARQ BRT Simulator, a computer software tool that tests alternative scenarios and solutions to improve the performance of planned or existing BRT corridors.

"With more people trained on how to use the tool across the EMBARQ Network, including in India and Turkey, we will able to offer more cities the opportunity to identify potential failures in a particular BRT system and fix them before implementation, avoiding lost time and resources," said Daniela Facchini, director for projects and operations at CTS-Brasil.

CTS-México was trained by CTS-Brasil, which developed the software. Four of CTS-México's transportation staff were fully trained within one week, and 11 other staff were informed about the capabilities and possible applications of the simulator to evaluate the operational performance of existing and proposed BRT corridors. Based on the simulator tests, CTS-México developed alternative design configurations for the south extension of the Metrobús Insurgentes corridor and will deliver a final proposal to Metrobús.

Brenda Medeiros, transport projects coordinator, and Rodrigo Castilho, transport engineering consultant, from CTS-Brasil, trained four members of the technical staff in Mexico: José Juan Hernández López, Ricardo Fernandez, Amilcar Lopez and
Sergio Solis.

In Brazil, the tool has already been applied in Porto Alegre, to simulate feeder bus terminals of the planned BRT; in Recife, to improve operations in high demand stations; and in Rio de Janeiro, to evaluate the operational capacity and improvements on the BRT corridors planned for the 2016 Olympic Games. Outside Brazil, the tool has been applied in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Arequipa, Peru; and Istanbul, Turkey, successfully identifying opportunities for operational improvements.