Transcarioca is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line in Rio de Janeiro, connecting Barra da Tijuca with Galeão International Airport.
Bus rapid transit (BRT, BRTS) is a bus-based mass transit system. A true BRT system generally has specialized design, services and infrastructure to improve system quality and remove the typical causes of delay. Sometimes described as a "surface subway", BRT aims to combine the capacity and speed of light rail or metro with the flexibility, lower cost and simplicity of a bus system.
To be considered BRT, buses should operate for a significant part of their journey within a fully dedicated right of way (busway), in order to avoid traffic congestion. In addition, a true BRT system will have most of the following elements:
alignment in the center of the road (to avoid typical curb-side delays)
Stations with off-board fare collection (to reduce boarding and alighting delay related to paying the driver)
Station platforms level with the bus floor (to reduce boarding and alighting delay caused by steps)
Bus priority at intersections (to avoid intersection signal delay)