The Central New York Transportation Authority (Centro) set out to reshape transit across the Syracuse metropolitan area in two phases: building a stronger bus rapid transit (BRT) network along the region’s busiest corridors, then redesigning the rest of the system to complement it. To turn that vision into an actionable plan, Centro turned to Foursquare ITP to lead both phases, from corridor-level BRT planning through a full network redesign.
Foursquare ITP updated plans for two corridors from Centro’s 2018 SMART1 BRT Study and added a third along South Salina Street, Syracuse’s historic commercial core. Using a data-focused approach to transit market analysis and existing transit use, the team built a compelling, well-communicated case for the improvements, developed a service plan for each corridor covering route structure, frequency, and span, and used it to update ridership forecasts.
The effort then expanded to redesign the rest of the Syracuse network to complement BRT while maintaining necessary coverage and service levels. Drawing on transit propensity, route optimization, market segmentation, microtransit, and gaps analyses, along with a review of route and system performance, Foursquare ITP is redesigning the network to match transit supply with demand and maximize ridership.
Together, the BRT and network redesign will increase access to 30-minute-or-better service by 60 percent and job access by 59 percent, adding new crosstown routes and three MOVE On-Demand zones. Launch is set for summer 2027.
Solutions and Outcomes
- Assessed travel flows to define BRT corridor alignments, termini, and station locations.
- Conducted market analyses and built an interactive web map to communicate findings.
- Facilitated staff workshops to guide corridor and network decisions.
- Redesigned the fixed-route network to complement new BRT corridors.