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Glite Dictionary
rapid transit

rapid transit

3 3.2
A fast public train system in a city that runs often and carries many people
  • noun
  • /ˈræpɪd ˈtrænzɪt/
translation icon : transporte rápido
  • It was decided that rapid transit deserved great consideration as a solution to the transportation needs of the area.
  • rapid transit system

That will mean they will reduce costs by switching mostly to bus rapid transit instead of rail.

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Examples

  • So this is a BRT, it's rapid transit with all the features of bus rapid transit.

  • Engineers are leading the way in planning light rail, bus rapid transit systems, and even high-speed rail lines.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Will we get better rail service and a bus rapid transit system?

    Blog text (31)

  • That will mean they will reduce costs by switching mostly to bus rapid transit instead of rail.

    ReasonTV

  • I agree that A/B need better transit, but they really need rapid transit.

    Blog text (27)

  • In the distance, people were striding toward the rapid-transit station.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Give me money to put people on MARTA, the city's rapid transit system, and get them jobs.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Check out the pedestrian environments around some of Cleveland's rapid transit stations.

    Blog text (3)

  • Washington's Metro rapid transit system, the second-largest rail transit system in the country, will be closed Monday.

    Blog text (22)

  • Many cities are investing in rapid transit systems to improve public transportation efficiency.

Synonyms

subway
vsrapid transit
  • US
268 1.0

Underground trains that carry people in a city

provides fast frequent urban service but can also include elevated lines
transit
vsrapid transit
  • US
177 3.6

A system of buses and trains that carries people around a city

is limited to fast frequent urban passenger train service, not all transport systems
subway system
vsrapid transit
  • US
17 2.4

Electric trains that run under a city and carry many people

is about fast frequent urban train service, not only underground networks
public transit
vsrapid transit
  • US
16 1.9

A system of buses and trains that people use to travel

means fast frequent urban train service rather than all shared transport modes
public transit system
vsrapid transit
  • US
2 2.7

An organized service of buses or trains that people use to travel

refers specifically to fast frequent urban train service rather than general networks
mass rapid transit
vsrapid transit
3.7

A system of underground or above ground trains that carries many people quickly

focuses on fast frequent urban train service rather than stressing huge capacity

How Fast

express
251 3.2
rapid transit
3 3.2
local
5 2.7

Surface Forms

rapid transit singular
rapid transits plural

Morphology

rapid + transit

The meaning of 'rapid transit' is directly compositional from 'rapid' (fast) and 'transit' (transportation), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a fast public-transport system. This noun-noun compound follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern and therefore is immediately understandable to B1 learners who know the constituents.

Etymology

Rapid transit comes from the simple picture of rapid ('fast') plus transit ('moving people from one place to another'): imagine special trains that run quickly through a city. So, the phrase means a city transport system, often underground or above the street, that carries many people fast with short waits.