Speedy. Clean. Reliable. These are words we associate with rail travel. But can buses compete?

Bus Rapid Transit systems are popular in South America and Europe, but so far, only a handful of American cities have made investments in the technology. The Connecticut Department of Transportation is currently looking for federal funding to initiate two new busways—one from New Britain to Hartford and another from Greenwich to Norwalk.

Supporters say BRT uses existing infrastructure to meet changing transit demands quickly and efficiently. Critics say bus lines don’t attract development or riders as effectively as rail. Coming up, Where We Live, a discussion about Bus Rapid Transit. We’ll check in with Cleveland, Ohio, where a new BRT line has transformed a central city corridor. We’ll also ask how new bus transit might work here in Connecticut.

Would larger, faster buses, dedicated lanes, expanded routing and reliable service change your commuting habits?  Join the conversation!  Leave your comments below.