13 TRANSIT PROJECTS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN THE US THIS YEAR OPENING LINES Freemark, a researcher at the Urban Institute and creator of The Transport Politic. BRT lines generally run on dedicated traffic lanes, while arterial rapid transit systems use existing traffic lanes, often with bus signal priority. • “Over the past decade, a lot of cities have been reorienting their investment approaches,” Freemark said in an interview. “Light rail is just very expensive for these cities, and they’re not finding the mechanism to reduce that.” DIVE INSIGHT: In total, about 150 miles of new fixed-guideway transit lines are expected to open this year across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, compared to over 240 miles in 2016. Source: www.smartcitiesdive.com, Dan Zuowski, First Published Jan 15, 2026 Cities are investing in less costly bus rapid transit over light rail systems, says Yonah Freemark of The Transport Politic. DIVE BRIEF: • More than 160 miles of new rail, bus and other fixed-guideway transit lines opened in the U.S. in 2025, and about 94 miles more are projected to be completed this year, according to data from The Transport Politic. • Cities are choosing less expensive and more flexible bus rapid transit and similar arterial rapid transit over light rail projects, said Yonah 11 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 13, ISSUE 01
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