Transit planning in the United States has tended toward viewing BRT as an analogue to light rail transit, with similar operating patterns. This model, referred to as "Light Rail Lite,' is compared to international best practices, which have often favored the development of a grade-separated bus infrastructure ("Quickways') that in turn supports a varied mix of all-stops, express, and branching services. This model, dubbed the Quickway model, evolved out of the practical necessity of cities to meet ambitious ridership or mode split targets.
