What are
our highcapacity
options for
­transit?
What is it, where does it go, and
when do i use it?
How many people
can it carry per
hour during
rush hour?*
How fast does it
go on ­average?
How often
does it stop?
When can
I get on?
High-Speed Rail uses specialized vehicles to travel
at high speeds on fully dedicated and gradeseparated tracks or guideway.
HighSpeed Rail
Typically used to travel quickly between major urban
centers.
Amtrak Acela
Carries
600 - 1,200
passengers
Average speed
100 - 220 mph
Stops are 50 miles to
100 miles
apart
Rail runs every
30 min. rush hour,
and every 60 ­min.
all other times
Regional Rail service connects different cities and
regions, typically using existing railroad lines.
Typically used to travel longer distances between
large cities.
Regional
Rail
Carries 600 - 2,400
­passengers
Average speed
60 - 75 mph
Stops are 3 miles to
15 miles apart
Commuter Rail trains operate on railroad tracks that
carry riders to and from work in a region.
Typically used to travel from suburbs to central cities.
Commuter
Rail
Transit on
Express
Lanes
Carries 400 - 1,400
­passengers
Express, or managed, lanes are highway lanes that
are free to registered van pools and transit vehicles,
and tolled for all other vehicles. The toll rate
changes throughout the day based on how much
traffic is on the managed lanes in order to keep the
lanes fully used without being too busy.
Typically used to travel within a city and between
close-in suburbs and the city.
Carries 400 - 900
passengers
Average speed
30 - 50 mph
Varies.
Typically toll rate
adjusted to maintain
a ­minimum average
speed of 50 mph
Stops are 1 mile to
5 miles apart
Rail runs every
30 min. during
rush hour and
every 1 - 3 hours
all other times
Rail runs every
30 min. during
rush hour and
every hour all
other times
Multiple stops within
close proximity near
termini with 5 miles to
25 miles of non-stop
service in between
Buses run every
10 min. during
rush hour and
every 30 min. all
other times
Stops are 1 mile to
2 miles apart
Rail runs every 3-5
min. rush hour and
every 10 -15 min.
all other times
Heavy Rail Transit uses specialized high-capacity
electric vehicles on fully-dedicated and grade
separated tracks or guideway.
Heavy Rail
Transit
Typically used to travel within very dense urban areas
and corridors.
(Aerial
Cable
Propelled
Transit)
Carries 10,000 30,000
Average speed
40 - 60 mph
Capital Metro’s MetroRail Red Line
between Leander and downtown Austin
is a local example of commuter rail.
Katy Managed Lanes are operated by
the Harris County Toll Road Authority in
Houston, TX. Locally, the Central Texas
Regional Mobility Authority is currently
planning express lanes along Mopac
Expressway in Austin.
Portland Aerial Tram
Typically used in the US in mountainous, tourism
applications over short distances.
Carries 1,000 3,000
Average speed
5 - 20 mph
Stops are 1/4 mile to
1/3 mile apart
Tram runs every
1 - 20 minutes
Monorails use specialized vehicles straddling an
elevated slender beam supported by frequent
"pylons" or piers.
Typically used in the US to travel between highactivity tourist destination.
Monorail
Las Vegas Monorail, Seattle Center
Monorail, and Disneyworld
Carries 1,500 6,400 passengers
Average speed
30 - 55 mph
Stops are 1 mile to
2 miles apart
Rail runs every
5 min. rush hour
and every 15 min.
utes other times
Stops are 1 mile apart
Rail runs every
10 min. rush hour
and every 30 min.
all other times
Stops are every
2 to 4 blocks up
to 1/2 mile apart
Rail runs every
10 min. during
rush hour and
every 15 min. all
other times
Stops are 1/2 mile to
1 mile apart
Bus runs every
10 min. during
rush hour and
30 min. all other
times
Light rail transit (LRT) operates primarily in exclusive rights-of-way
Carries 1,500 4,000 passengers
Light Rail
Average speed
25 - 65 mph
Urban rail is an electrified service that can operate
in mixed traffic, in its own lane, or in separate ROW.
Urban Rail is a hybrid between Light Rail and
Streetcar in terms of technology and service.
Typically used to travel in urban locations and can be
used to link transit systems.
Urban Rail
Carries 700 - 2,000
passengers
Average speed
10 - 30 mph
Bus Rapid Transit (dedicated) operates primarily in
its own lane with high-amenity vehicles and
­stations. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is designed to
emulate rail-based transit.
Typically used to travel from close-in suburbs to and
within central city urban areas.
(dedicated)
Note: Applications in the U.S. are
typically privately funded.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Typically used to travel from close-in suburbs to and
within central city urban areas.
Bus Rapid
Transit
The Capitol Corridor between San Jose
and Sacramento in Northern California
is an example of regional rail. Locally,
the Lone Star Rail District is planning
the LSTAR regional rail line between
Georgetown and San Antonio, with nine
stops in our Region.
DC Metrorail
Gondolas uses small specialized vehicles propelled
by a cable suspended from tall masts.
Gondola
Real World Example
Carries 700 - 1,300
passengers
Average speed
20 - 55 mph
Portland MAX and Houston METRORail
Cleveland RTA HealthLine
Specialized vehicles with frequent stops travel
automatically on a dedicated guideway.
Automated
Guideway
Bus Rapid
Transit
(shared)
Typically used to provide a highcapacity shuttle between destinations within a
controlled, common location (such as airport
terminals)
DFW Skylink
Carries 5,000 25,000 passengers
Average speed
5 - 35 mph
Stops are 1/8 mile to
1/2 mile apart
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operates in mixed traffic or
its own lane. It usually consists of longer buses
with more technology in them to speed up your trip.
For example, many BRT buses communicate with
traffic lights to keep lights green longer.
Typically used to travel within a city and between
close-in suburbs and the city.
Carries 700 - 1,300
­passengers
Average speed
15 - 30 mph
Stops are 1/2 mile
to 1 mile apart
Buses run every
10 min. during
rush hour and
every 15 min. all
other times
Stops are 1/4 mile to
1/3 mile apart
Streetcar runs
every 5 min.
during rush hour
and every 15 min.
all other times
Stops are 1 block to
3 blocks apart
Bus runs every
15 min. during
rush hour, and
every 30 min. all
other times
Streetcars operate as smaller light-rail type vehicles
with frequent stops and can be used in mixed
traffic.
Typically used to travel within central cities and can
be used to link transit systems.
Streetcar
Carries 400 - 1,000
passengers
Average speed
5 - 25 mph
Rail runs every
1 - 5 minutes
Local bus uses standard vehicles traveling on fixed
routes on city streets.
Typically used to travel within suburban and urban
areas.
Local Bus
Carries 200 - 400
passengers
Average speed
10 - 45 mph
Locally, Capital Metro MetroRapid BRT
lines between south and north Austin
are a local example of BRT.
Portland Streetcar
Capital MetroBus
PCCC Mode Fact Sheet
v.1 - Feb. 8, 2014