The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) released two new reports this week — a handbook on estimating the number of vehicles needed for transit plans and a new volume in a series on bus rapid transit guidelines.

“Resource Requirements for Demand-Responsive Transportation Services” (TCRP Report 98) helps transportation planners calculate the labor and vehicles needed to operate point-to-point, demand-responsive services, primarily specialized transportation for paratransit operations.

The other report, “Bus Rapid Transit — Volume 2: Implementation Guidelines” (TCRP Report 90), provides instruction to policy-makers, chief executive officers, senior managers and planners of BRT projects.

According to TCRP, the transportation profession lacks a consolidated and generally accepted set of principles for planning, designing and operating BRT vehicles and facilities. The new report helps to provide that information.

Both reports are available free of charge and can be ordered online at www.tcrponline.org.