GRT Financial Viability
One of the major benefits of a BRT system in Guangzhou will be the profitability of the system.
Profitability of GRT
The potential profitability of the system is an important consideration, because this will determine how much the government can realistically expect the private sector to invest in the new system.
One of the major benefits of a BRT system in Guangzhou will be the profitability of the system. Guangzhou's favourable conditions for BRT – high demand corridors, significant existing congestion, and adequate road space – should enable a high quality service to cover all operating costs including bus depreciation and the installation, operation and maintenance of a fare collection system. On Zhongshan Av the BRT system would return a profit to the operators at a fare comparable to the existing fare paid in Guangzhou for air-conditioned buses. BRT operation on the weekend on Zhongshan Avenue will be even more profitable than on weekdays, as off peak passenger boardings on the weekend are more than 15% higher than on weekdays, with similar peak volumes.
Public investment
The public (government) investment required in the BRT system is estimated to be approximately 30 million yuan per kilometre. This cost per kilometre of a BRT system in Guangzhou is compared to the cost per kilometre of the Guangzhou Metro in the figure below.
To place the costs and benefits of the project in perspective, including all of the public and private investments required for a Zhongshan Av BRT system, the entire 23 km BRT system cost including infrastructure, BRT vehicles and fare collection system will cost less than the infrastructure cost of 1.5 km of the Guangzhou Metro.
Furthermore, the BRT system could be expected to fully cover costs of rolling stock and be highly profitable without any subsidies.
Private investment
The BRT will be sufficiently profitable for the bus operators to pay for BRT vehicles on Zhongshan Avevnue, as well as for the fare collection system.
Phase I BRT routes 
