As the cost of gasoline rises and traffic congestion increases, cities need to take steps to improve transit options and encourage smarter, more livable communities. Across the country, people are fed up with wasting time and money stuck in traffic. By developing neighborhoods with easy access to the destinations people need every day, quality of life improves and complete, vibrant communities can thrive.

More and more, people are calling for sidewalks, bike paths, and increased transit services. With tight budgets and limited financial resources, cities are looking for innovative solutions to address pressing transit needs and provide high-quality service for their residents. Bus rapid transit (BRT) is that low-cost, high-quality option that can improve local transit service and provide people with alternatives for their travel needs. 

Listen to learn how BRT works and if it has potential in this region, including: 
-How to plan for more walkable, transit-friendly cities and local ingredients for success
-How the development of a comprehensive BRT system like TransMilenio in Bogota, Colombia’s transformed a city.
-An update on the future of BRT in Chicago.

Panelists

Christopher Steiner, the New York Times bestselling author of $20 a Gallon: How the Inevitable Rising Cost of Gasoline Will Change Our Lives for the Better.

Joseph DiJohn , with the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Stephen Bidwell, International Relations and Urban Planning consultant at the Universidad Nacional of Colombia.

Recorded Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at Metropolitan Planning Council Conference Center.