Unlv/Trc/Rs-90/02 Guidelines for Geometric Design And
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UNLV/TRC/RS-90/02 GUIDELINES FOR GEOMETRIC DESIGN AND LOCATION OF BUS TURNOUTS Emelinda M. Parentela Research Assistant Shashi K. Sathisan Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Reginald R. Souleyrette II Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Transportation Research Center University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1990 Clark County Department of Public Works 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background This research team studied the effectiveness of existing bus turnouts on Las Vegas Boulevard in Spring 1990. The approach used was to compare the effects of bus operations at a roadside stop in the travel lane and at a bus turnout. Travel delays and reduction in lane capacity were the two primary measures of effectiveness used for the comparisons. The results showed that the use of bus turnouts could be an effective tool in reducing delays to other vehicles while a bus stops to serve passengers, and for improving lane capacity by minimizing queuing due to bus operations at a roadside stop in a travel lane. This follow up study addresses issues related to the development of guidelines for geometric design of bus turnouts and criteria for locating bus turnouts. 1.2 Statement of Purpose The primary objective of this study is the development of guidelines for geometric design of bus turnouts. The guidelines developed in this study could serve as a basis for the design of future turnouts. The guidelines developed in this study should reflect the local operating conditions experienced by buses. Some of the major factors that need to be included in such an effort are local characteristics such as travel speeds, posted speed limits, traffic volumes, number of travel lanes, lane widths, lane configuration, and physical dimensions of buses using these facilities. Identification of candidate sites for locating bus turnouts is the secondary objective of this study. Some of the important criteria to be used for locating bus turnouts are addressed in this study. Specifically, these some of these criteria are used in identifying candidate sites for locating bus turnouts on the section of Maryland Parkway between Flamingo Road and Sahara Avenue. This section was selected based on needs of CC DPW identified in their immediate action plans under consideration for construction of bus turnouts along Maryland Parkway. 2. METHODOLOGY The study was divided into two main areas. The first area addressed the development of guidelines for the design of bus turnouts and the second part is discusses to identifying candidate sites for locating bus turnouts on Maryland Parkway. These are further detailed in this section. 2.1 Standardization of Bus Turnout Design The development of guidelines for geometric design of bus turnouts was divided into two main tasks. The first task was to review the existing design criteria and standards. The second task was to the evaluate the adequacy of design of the existing bus turnouts on Las Vegas Boulevard. Following this, specific details of the geometric design were developed to reflect some of the local characteristics. An overview of these two tasks follows. 2.1.1 Review of Existing Design Guidelines and Literature The first step in the development of guidelines for geometric design of bus turnouts was to review the existing standards recommended or adopted by national and international agencies. This served as a starting point for the development of design guidelines for Las Vegas. A review of the literature was conducted to identify the agencies using/overseeing the use of bus turnouts. The agencies selected were either from North America or Europe. The design standards recommended by these agencies were reviewed. Salt Lake City, Utah was identified as one of the cities where bus turnouts are used. Detailed information on the engineering design plans were obtained from the City Engineer's office in Salt Lake City. This included information on the design guidelines used and the current performance of bus turnouts. Details of the literature review are presented in Section 3.1. 2.1.2 Performance Review of Existing Bus Turnouts on Las Vegas Boulevard The performance of the existing bus turnouts on Las Vegas Boulevard was reviewed using a three step process. The three steps used in the review are: 1. Review of plans and drawings, 2. Field measurement of existing turnouts, and 3. Interview of bus driver using the turnouts. Discussions of the details of each of these steps follows. car was used. 2.1.2.1 Review of Plans and Drawings Pre-construction plans of the three existing bus turnouts on Las Vegas Boulevard were reviewed. These turnouts are located near the Flamingo Hilton, The Mirage and Excalibur Hotels. Due to the non-availability of detailed drawings, some elements of the turnout geometry were determined from the Site Grading Plan prepared for each of these resorts (provided to the study team by CC DPW) and used for the installation of water lines. Details of the geometry for these turnouts are discussed in Section 3.2. 2.1.2.2 Field Measurement of Existing Bus Turnouts Actual field measurements of the dimensions of the three turnouts were made for verification. These were compared with the pre-construction drawings and if a difference were noted, the actual site measurement was used in our evaluation. This was done to ensure that the section being evaluated reflected the field condition. Details of the field measurements of the geometry of the three existing turnouts are presented in Section 3.2. 2.1.2.3 Driver Interview An interview of bus drivers interview using the turnouts was conducted to obtain a user's evaluation of the performance of the existing bus turnout. The questionnaire comprised fourteen questions which related mainly to the geometry of bus turnout such as the length of stopping area, width and angle of deceleration and acceleration tapers and its effectiveness with respect to maneuverability. The cooperation of Las Vegas Transit System who assisted in the distribution and collection of the questionnaires facilitated the interview process. Questionnaires were distributed to drivers who operated and are currently operating buses along Las Vegas Boulevard or Route 6. The questionnaire is presented in Appendix A. An analysis of the responses to the questions is presented in Section 3.3. 2.2 Location of Bus Turnouts at Maryland Parkway Between Flamingo Road and Sahara Avenue Intersections The following steps were followed to identify candidate sites for the possible location of bus turnouts along the specified route: development of selection criteria, reconnaissance survey and inventory of existing bus stops, traffic study, observation of passenger volumes, and identification of candidate locations. 2.2.1 Development of Selection Criteria car was used. A review of existing literature was made to evaluate the various criteria used by other agencies/states for the location of bus stops. This was also used to identify the agencies/states whose area had characteristics similar to those of the Las Vegas Valley. 2.2.2 Reconnaissance Survey and Inventory of Existing Bus Stops The survey was accomplished by a "walk-through" the area method aided by a route map. This was done to properly locate potential passenger generators such as commercial centers, offices, hospitals and schools. The lane configuration of the roadway and the width of sidewalks were recorded. An inventory of existing bus stops was also made. During the survey, lots adjacent to Maryland Parkway and on-street parking were also noted for possible location of bus turnouts. The construction of a turnout will not be feasible without available space. 2.2.3 Collection of Traffic Data Observations were made at a few selected locations to study the movement of vehicles during the morning and evening peak periods. The observations included the number of vehicles queued behind a bus loading or unloading passengers at a roadside stop in a through lane. Further, the most recent traffic data available at the Clark County Department of Public Work were obtained and used for this study. These included the volume of through traffic, right-turning and left-turning vehicles at selected intersections. These data are used to determine the location of potential turnouts; i.e, near- side, far-side, or mid-block. 2.2.4 Field Observation of Passenger Volume and Vehicle Queue Preliminary data on the number of buses and the queue length formed by a bus stopped at a roadside stop were collected from all existing bus stops on various days and at different times of the day. These data are used in the preliminary selection of candidate locations for bus turnouts. Random observations were conducted between the periods June 20, 1990 to July 5, 1990 following the schedule of Route 10 bus (University), since this passes all the bus stops existing on Maryland Parkway between Flamingo Road and Sahara Avenue. Data collection was facilitated by riding a bus with a glass rear window. The number of vehicles queued behind the bus, while it was stopped, was observed from the rear of the bus and recorded. A count of the number of alighting and boarding passengers was made, simultaneously. At other times, when conditions did not permit observation and the queue behind the bus from inside of a bus, a trailing car was used. 3. BUS TURNOUT DESIGN The details of the development of guidelines for geometric design of bus turnouts are discussed in this section. These include details of the design standards commonly used by many agencies, assessment of the geometry of the existing bus turnouts on Las Vegas Boulevard, analysis of the responses from drivers using the existing turnouts, identification of some important design factors, and development of guidelines for geometric design to be used for bus turnouts on Maryland Parkway. 3.1 AASHTO and Other Design Standards Typically, a bus turnout has three main components: a deceleration area, a full width stopping area, and an acceleration area.