NYCDOT photosim of an off-set bus lane. Physically-separated lanes are also being considered for some routes.

Preparations for the next phase of Bus Rapid Transit in New York City ramp up tonight with the first of seven public workshops to gather ideas for future routes. Tonight’s workshop gets underway at 6:30, at the College of New Rochelle (it’s in the Bronx — 332 East 149th Street, between Morris and Courtlandt Avenues).

The city’s first rapid bus corridor, on Fordham Road, has sped trip
times by 20 percent and attracted 5,000 additional riders each day. Now New York City Transit and DOT are looking to collect "feedback on where new BRT routes should be established and how they should operate." In a recent report, "Introduction to BRT Phase 2" [PDF], the agencies identified more than 30 potential corridors for BRT service. These workshops will help winnow the field down to about 10 corridors.

As for how the routes operate, the Phase 2 report lays out all the options, from fare payment to station design. The most significant variable to weigh in on is probably lane treatments. Planners are considering an array of options, including off-set bus lanes, busways that run along the median, and — for wide streets with lots of bus traffic — physically separated lanes.

Head over to DOT’s website for the full schedule of BRT workshops. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday in Jackson Heights.