DOCSLIB.ORG

Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making Project No: FTA-VA-26-7222-2004.1 Federal United States Transit Department of August 2004 Administration Transportation CharacteristicsCharacteristics ofof BusBus RapidRapid TransitTransit forfor Decision-MakingDecision-Making Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation NOTICE This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the United States Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the objective of this report. Form Approved REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES August 2004 COVERED BRT Demonstration Initiative Reference Document 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making 6. AUTHOR(S) Roderick B. Diaz (editor), Mark Chang, Georges Darido, Mark Chang, Eugene Kim, Donald Schneck, Booz Allen Hamilton Matthew Hardy, James Bunch, Mitretek Systems Michael Baltes, Dennis Hinebaugh, National Bus Rapid Transit Institute Lawrence Wnuk, Fred Silver, Weststart - CALSTART Sam Zimmerman, DMJM + Harris 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. ORGANIZATION REPORT 8283 Greensboro Drive NUMBER McLean, Virginia 22102 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/ Federal Transit Administration MONITORING U.S. Department of Transportation AGENCY REPORT NUMBER Washington, DC 20590 FTA-VA-26-7222-2004.1 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES 12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE Available From: National Technical Information Service/NTIS, Springfield, Virginia, 22161. Phone (703) 605-6000, Fax (703) 605-6900, Email [[email protected]] 13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words) This reference was prepared for the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The report is intended to support evaluation of bus rapid transit concepts as one of many options during the initial project planning and development. This report presents a comprehensive summary of applications of BRT elements in the United States and in selected sites around the world. Information on the first wave of BRT projects to be implemented in the United States is presented to show the broad range of applications of key elements of BRT – running ways, stations, vehicles, fare collection, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), and service and operating plans. This report also presents performance of BRT systems and discusses how combinations of BRT elements contribute to transit system performance, including reducing travel times, improving reliability, providing identity and a quality image, improving safety and security, and increasing capacity. Some important benefits of integrated BRT systems are presented, including transportation system benefits (increasing ridership, and improving capital cost effectiveness and operating efficiency) and community benefits (transit-supportive development and environmental quality). 14. SUBJECT TERMS 15. NUMBER OF PAGES Bus Rapid Transit, Performance Measurement, Benefits 217 (Body of Report) 289 (including appendices) 16. PRICE CODE 17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION ABSTRACT OF REPORT OF THIS PAGE OF ABSTRACT Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89) Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239-18298-102 AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This information document was developed for the Federal Transit Administration by a consortium of organizations led by Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., including DMJM + Harris; Mitretek Systems; the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (NBRTI) at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), University of South Florida; and Weststart - CALSTART. Booz Allen Hamilton was the primary contractor for this report. The work by the other organizations was conducted under separate contracts with the FTA. Roderick Diaz, Booz Allen Hamilton was the principal editor of this document. The other contributing authors of this report include Mark Chang, Georges Darido, Eugene Kim, and Donald Schneck, Booz Allen Hamilton; Matthew Hardy and James Bunch, Mitretek Systems; Michael Baltes and Dennis Hinebaugh, National Bus Rapid Transit Institute; Lawrence Wnuk and Fred Silver, Weststart - CALSTART; and Sam Zimmerman of DMJM + Harris. Contributions are acknowledged from Alan Danaher, Kittleson and Associates, Inc., and Herbert Levinson. Jully Chung and Michael Quant, Booz Allen Hamilton provided formatting and report layout assistance. The FTA project manager was Bert Arrillaga, Chief of the Service Innovation Division. Mr. Arrillaga led a coordinating team composed of the principal and contributing authors of the document and Department of Transportation staff, including Ronald Fisher, James Ryan, Carlos Garay, Richard Steinmann, Paul Marx, Stewart McKeown, Helen Tann, Charlene Wilder, Karen Facen, FTA; and Yehuda Gross, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Special thanks are due to Barbara Sisson, Associate Administrator for Research Demonstration and Innovation; Leslie Rogers, Regional Administrator, Region IX; and Walter Kulyk, Director, Office of Mobility Innovations who provided broad guidance and leadership and coordinated an industry review panel. The feedback provided by the industry review panel is also gratefully acknowledged: Greg Hull, Anthony Kouneski, Lurae American Public Transportation Authority Stuart Ronald Barnes formerly with Central Ohio Transit Authority Joyce Olson, Matt Sheldon Community Transit, Everett, WA Kim Green GFI Genfare Brian McLeod, Joe Policarpio Gillig Corporation Joseph Calabrese Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Cheryl Soon Honolulu Department of Transportation Services Mark Pangborn, Ken Hamm Lane Transit District, Eugene, OR Rex Gephart Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Mona Brown Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transportation Authority James Gaspard, John Reynolds Neoplan USA Corp. Rick Brandenburg, Amy Miller, Bill New Flyer Industries Stanton Millard Seay New York City Transit Cliff Henke, Ron Ingraham, Rich North American Bus Industries Himes Conal Deedy Nova Bus Diane Hawkins, Michael J. Optima Bus Corporation Monteferrante Mark Brager, Sheri Calme , Mel Orion Bus Industries Doherty, Bob Sonia David Wohlwill Port Authority of Allegheny County Alberto Parjus Public Transportation Management, Miami, FL Jacob Snow, June Devoll, Curtis Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada Myles, Sandraneta Smith-Hall Gwen Chisholm-Smith Transit Cooperative Research Program, Transportation Research Board SOURCES OF INFORMATION This report draws from a variety of sources of information. Reports and research documents are cited in footnotes and in the bibliography (Appendix A). In addition to sources cited, staff members at agencies provided valuable up-to-date system information on experience with elements, performance, and benefits at their respective systems and photographs. Jon Twichell, Jamie Levin Alameda - Contra Costa Transit District Amy Malick, Joseph Iacobucci, Chicago Transit Authority Rex Gephart, David Mieger, Martha Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Butler, Thomas Carmichael, Michael Richmai Sean Skehan Los Angeles Department of Transportation David Carney, Maureen Trainor, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Dave Barker David Wohlwill, Richard Feder Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA Alberto Parjus Public Transportation Management, Miami, FL Reed Caldwell Regional Public Transportation Authority, Phoenix, AZ June DeVoll, John Fischer, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Sandraneta Smith-Hall Nevada, Las Vegas, NV Additional Photographs and illustrations contained within the report were provided by a variety of sources including the photograph libraries of all document team members, including Booz Allen Hamilton, DMJM + Harris; Mitretek Systems; the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (NBRTI) at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), University of South Florida; and Weststart - CALSTART. Additional photographs were provided by North American Bus Industries (Cliff Henke), Neoplan USA, New Flyer Industries, and the ISE Corporation. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... ES-1 1.0 INTRODUCTION: The Need for and Purpose of Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making ...................................................................... 1-1 1.1
Load more

Recommended publications
  • BRTOD – State of the Practice in the United States
    BRTOD – State of the Practice in the United States By: Andrew Degerstrom September 2018 Contents Introduction .............................................................................................1 Purpose of this Report .............................................................................1 Economic Development and Transit-Oriented Development ...................2 Definition of Bus Rapid Transit .................................................................2 Literature Review ..................................................................................3 BRT Economic Development Outcomes ...................................................3 Factors that Affect the Success of BRTOD Implementation .....................5 Case Studies ...........................................................................................7 Cleveland HealthLine ................................................................................7 Pittsburgh Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway East Liberty Station ..... 11 Pittsburgh Uptown-Oakland BRT and the EcoInnovation District .......... 16 BRTOD at home, the rapid bus A Line and the METRO Gold Line .........20 Conclusion .............................................................................................23 References .............................................................................................24 Artist rendering of Pittsburgh's East Liberty neighborhood and the Martin Luther King, Jr. East Busway Introduction Purpose of this Report If Light Rail Transit (LRT)
    [Show full text]
  • Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) 2019-20 to 2022-23
    Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2019–20 to 2022–23 South Coast 6,544 km2 Area covered by district1 19.48% Beenleigh LOGAN 1 CITY Population of Queensland COUNCIL 919 km Jimboomba Oxenford Other state-controlled road network (Helensvale light rail station) Fassifern SOUTHPORT NERANG 130 km SURFERS Beaudesert Boonah PARADISE National Land Transport Network (Broadbeach SCENIC RIM light rail station) REGIONAL COUNCIL Mudgeeraba 88 km GOLD COAST National rail network CITY Coolangatta COUNCIL 1Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (Queensland Treasury) Queensland Regional Profiles. www.qgsa.gld.gov.auwww.qgso.qld.gov.au (retrieved 1626 AprilMay 2019)2018) Legend National road network State strategic road network State regional and other district road National rail network 0 15 Km Other railway (includes light rail) Local government boundary Legend Nerang Office National road network 36-38 Cotton Street | Nerang | Qld 4211 State strategic road network PO Box 442 | Nerang | Qld 4211 State regional and other district road (07) 5563 6600 | [email protected] National rail network Other railway (includes light rail) Local government boundary Divider image: Construction worksworks onon thethe StapleyStapley RoadRoad bridge bridge at at Exit Exit 84 84 of of the Pacific Motorway at ReedyReedy Creek.Creek. District program highlights • business case development for safety and capacity • commence extending the four-lane duplication of upgrades at Exit 38 and 41 interchanges on the Pacific Mount Lindesay Highway between Rosia Road and In 2018–19 we completed: Motorway at Yatala Stoney Camp Road interchange at Greenbank • duplication of Waterford-Tamborine Road, from two to • business case development for the Mount Lindesay • commence construction of a four-lane upgrade of four lanes, between Anzac Avenue and Hotz Road at Highway four-lane upgrade between Stoney Camp Road Mount Lindesay Highway, between Camp Cable Road Logan Village and Chambers Flat Road interchanges.
    [Show full text]
  • Transit Service Design Guidelines
    Transit Service Design Guidelines Department of Rail and Public Transportation November 2008 Transit Service Design Guidelines Why were these guidelines for new transit service developed? In FY2008 alone, six communities in Virginia contacted the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation about starting new transit service in their community. They and many other communities throughout Virginia are interested in learning how new transit services can enhance travel choices and mobility and help to achieve other goals, such as quality of life, economic opportunity, and environmental quality. They have heard about or seen successful transit systems in other parts of the state, the nation, or the world, and wonder how similar systems might serve their communities. They need objective and understandable information about transit and whether it might be appropriate for them. These guidelines will help local governments, transit providers and citizens better understand the types of transit systems and services that are available to meet community and regional transportation needs. The guidelines also help the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) in making recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for transit investments, by 1) providing information on the types of systems or services that are best matched to community needs and local land use decisions, and 2) ensuring that resources are used effectively to achieve local, regional, and Commonwealth goals. Who were these guidelines developed for? These guidelines are intended for three different audiences: local governments, transit providers and citizens. Therefore, some will choose to read the entire document while others may only be interested in certain sections.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis and Simulation of Intervention Strategies Against Bus Bunching by Means of an Empirical Agent‑Based Model
    This document is downloaded from DR‑NTU (https://dr.ntu.edu.sg) Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Analysis and simulation of intervention strategies against bus bunching by means of an empirical agent‑based model Quek, Wei Liang; Chung, Ning Ning; Saw, Vee‑Liem; Chew, Lock Yue 2021 Quek, W. L., Chung, N. N., Saw, V. & Chew, L. Y. (2021). Analysis and simulation of intervention strategies against bus bunching by means of an empirical agent‑based model. Complexity, 2021. https://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/2606191 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/146829 https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2606191 © 2021 Wei Liang Quek et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Downloaded on 30 Sep 2021 12:08:52 SGT Hindawi Complexity Volume 2021, Article ID 2606191, 24 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/2606191 Research Article Analysis and Simulation of Intervention Strategies against Bus Bunching by means of an Empirical Agent-Based Model Wei Liang Quek,1 Ning Ning Chung,2 Vee-Liem Saw ,3,4 and Lock Yue Chew 3,4,5 1School of Humanities, Nanyang Technological University, 639818, Singapore 2Centre for University Core, Singapore University of Social Sciences, 599494, Singapore 3Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore 4Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Research Centre, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore 5Complexity Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637723, Singapore Correspondence should be addressed to Lock Yue Chew; [email protected] Received 27 April 2020; Revised 8 August 2020; Accepted 3 September 2020; Published 8 January 2021 Academic Editor: Tingqiang Chen Copyright © 2021 Wei Liang Quek et al.
    [Show full text]
  • The Relationship Between Safety, Capacity, and Operating Speed on Bus Rapid Transit
    THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAFETY, CAPACITY, AND OPERATING SPEED ON BUS RAPID TRANSIT NICOLAE DUDUTA,EMBARQ CLAUDIA ADRIAZOLA-STEIL,EMBARQ DARIO HIDALGO, EMBARQ LUIS ANTONIO LINDAU,EMBARQ PAULA MANOELA DOS SANTOS, EMBARQ EMAIL FOR CORRESPONDENCE: [email protected] This is an abridged version of the paper presented at the conference. The full version is being submitted elsewhere. Details on the full paper can be obtained from the author. The Relationship between Safety, Capacity, and Operating Speed on Bus Rapid Transit DUDUTA, Nicolae; ADRIAZOLA-STEIL Claudia; HIDALGO, Dario; LINDAU, Luis Antonio; SANTOS, Paula Manoela; THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SAFETY, CAPACITY, AND OPERATING SPEED ON BUS RAPID TRANSIT CASE STUDY: TRANSOESTE BRT, RIO DE JANEIRO Nicolae Duduta1, Claudia Adriazola-Steil1, Dario Hidalgo1, Luis Antonio Lindau2, Paula Manoela dos Santos2 1: EMBARQ – the WRI Center for Sustainable Transport, 10 G St. NE Suite 800, Washington DC, 2: EMBARQ Brasil, Rua Luciana de Abreu, 471/801 90570-060 Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil Email for correspondence: [email protected] th 13 WCTR, 2013 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1 The Relationship between Safety, Capacity, and Operating Speed on Bus Rapid Transit DUDUTA, Nicolae; ADRIAZOLA-STEIL Claudia; HIDALGO, Dario; LINDAU, Luis Antonio; SANTOS, Paula Manoela; ABSTRACT There is a growing body of research on the traffic safety aspects of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridors in Latin American cities. The findings suggest that some BRT design features – such as center lane configurations, left turn prohibitions, and signalized mid-block pedestrian crossings with refuge islands – can significantly improve safety on the corridors where BRTs operate. However, there is still a gap in knowledge about how the different safety features might impact the operational performance of the BRT.
    [Show full text]
  • A N N U a L R E P O R T a N D a C C O U N
    ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2008 Front: Railway Crossing over Sado River / Alcácer do Sal ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2008 INDEX COMPANY IDENTIFICATION ..................................................................................................................................... 6 GOVERNING BODIES ................................................................................................................................................ 7 ORGANISATIONAL CHART - 2008 ............................................................................................................................ 8 TEIXEIRA DUARTE GROUP ORGANISATIONAL CHART - 2008 .......................................................................... 10 BUSINESS DATA ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 MANAGEMENT REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ................................................................................ 13 I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................... 14 II. ECONOMIC BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................... 15 III. GLOBAL OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................. 17 IV. SECTOR ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Comparison Between Bus Rapid Transit and Light-Rail Transit Systems: a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach
    Urban Transport XXIII 143 COMPARISON BETWEEN BUS RAPID TRANSIT AND LIGHT-RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEMS: A MULTI-CRITERIA DECISION ANALYSIS APPROACH MARÍA EUGENIA LÓPEZ LAMBAS1, NADIA GIUFFRIDA2, MATTEO IGNACCOLO2 & GIUSEPPE INTURRI2 1TRANSyT, Transport Research Centre, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain 2Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAR), University of Catania, Italy ABSTRACT The construction choice between two different transport systems in urban areas, as in the case of Light-Rail Transit (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) solutions, is often performed on the basis of cost-benefit analysis and geometrical constraints due to the available space for the infrastructure. Classical economic analysis techniques are often unable to take into account some of the non-monetary parameters which have a huge impact on the final result of the choice, since they often include social acceptance and sustainability aspects. The application of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques can aid decision makers in the selection process, with the possibility to compare non-homogeneous criteria, both qualitative and quantitative, and allowing the generation of an objective ranking of the different alternatives. The coupling of MCDA and Geographic Information System (GIS) environments also permits an easier and faster analysis of spatial parameters, and a clearer representation of indicator comparisons. Based on these assumptions, a LRT and BRT system will be analysed according to their own transportation, economic, social and environmental impacts as a hypothetical exercise; moreover, through the use of MCDA techniques a global score for both systems will be determined, in order to allow for a fully comprehensive comparison. Keywords: BHLS, urban transport, transit systems, TOPSIS.
    [Show full text]
  • BUS STATIONS AS TOD ANCHORS REPORT Prepared in Accordance with California Senate Bill 961, 2017-2018 Regular Session
    Housing Financing Tools and Equitable, Location-Efficient Development in California BUS STATIONS AS TOD ANCHORS REPORT Prepared in Accordance with California Senate Bill 961, 2017-2018 Regular Session Prepared for: Governor's Office of Planning and Research December 29, 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 5 Report Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 5 Report Organization ................................................................................................................ 5 II. BACKGROUND ON THE SECOND NEIGHBORHOOD INFILL FINANCE AND TRANSIT IMPROVEMENTS ACT ................................................................................................................ 7 Definition of Bus Transit ......................................................................................................... 7 Extent of Use ........................................................................................................................... 7 III. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................................ 9 Literature Overview ................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Llght Rall Translt Statlon Deslgn Guldellnes
    PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT V.4.0 7/20/18 STATION DESIGN GUIDELINES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC) provides public transportation throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. The Authority’s 2,600 employees operate, maintain, and support bus, light rail, incline, and paratransit services for approximately 200,000 daily riders. Port Authority is currently focused on enacting several improvements to make service more efficient and easier to use. Numerous projects are either underway or in the planning stages, including implementation of smart card technology, real-time vehicle tracking, and on-street bus rapid transit. Port Authority is governed by an 11-member Board of Directors – unpaid volunteers who are appointed by the Allegheny County Executive, leaders from both parties in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, and the Governor of Pennsylvania. The Board holds monthly public meetings. Port Authority’s budget is funded by fare and advertising revenue, along with money from county, state, and federal sources. The Authority’s finances and operations are audited on a regular basis, both internally and by external agencies. Port Authority began serving the community in March 1964. The Authority was created in 1959 when the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized the consolidation of 33 private transit carriers, many of which were failing financially. The consolidation included the Pittsburgh Railways Company, along with 32 independent bus and inclined plane companies. By combining fare structures and centralizing operations, Port Authority established the first unified transit system in Allegheny County. Participants Port Authority of Allegheny County would like to thank agency partners for supporting the Light Rail Transportation Station Guidelines, as well as those who participated by dedicating their time and expertise.
    [Show full text]
  • Bus Bunching Modelling and Control: a Passenger-Oriented Approach
    CASPT 2018 Extended Abstract Bus Bunching Modelling and Control: A Passenger-oriented Approach Dong Zhao Abstract Introduction Bus reliability is one of the crucial element that describe the performance of the bus system operation. Due to the unreliable transit environment as well as the flexible internal operation, bus irregularity increasingly becomes an issue, especially in big cities with a massive demand. The uncertain bus operation lead to an imbalance of demand and supplement which influences the efficiency and effectivity of this transit. This kind of unreliability enables our bus becomes less attractive comparing with other public transportation such as metro and train. Those well-timetable-based mode have the operational advantage of being separable from the other traffic and have a less likelihood of being interrupted by external influence factors such as traffic lights or road constructions, which seems to be more reliable for the passenger. Also, due to the reliable operation, the real-time information provided for passenger is more trustable and the passenger arriving pattern are more similar to the uniform pattern, which is proved can increase the level of service reliability. On the other hand, the part of the travel demand that should be satisfied by bus obliged to be reallocated to other transit mode. The decreases of the efficiency and comfortability because of this extra demand would even compel those affordable people to travel by private vehicles which may increase the road pressure. Therefore, it is essential to improve the reliability of the bus service. One of the measurement of the bus unreliability is the level and extent of bus bunching.
    [Show full text]
  • Headway Adherence. Detection and Reduction of the Bus Bunching Effect
    HEADWAY ADHERENCE. DETECTION AND REDUCTION OF THE BUS BUNCHING EFFECT Josep Mension Camps Director Central Services and Deputy Chief Officer of Bus Network. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB). Miquel Estrada Romeu Associate Professor. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya- BarcelonaTECH. 1. INTRODUCTION Transit systems should provide a good performance to compete against the wide usage of cars in metropolitan areas. The level of service of these systems relies on a proper temporal and spatial coverage provision (high frequencies, low stop spacings) as well as significant regularity and comfort. In this way, bus systems in densely populated cities usually operate at short headways (10 minutes or less). However, in these busy routes, any delay suffered by a single bus is propagated to the whole bus fleet. This fact causes vehicle bunching and unstable time-headways. In real bus lines, we usually see that two or more vehicles arrive together or in close succession, followed by a long gap between them. There are many sources of potential external disruptions in the service of one bus: illegal parking in the bus lane, failure in the doors opening system, traffic jams, etc. However, some intrinsic characteristics of transit systems and traffic management may also induce delays at specific vehicles such as traffic signal coordination and irregular passenger arrivals at stops. These facts make the bus motion unstable. Therefore, bus bunching is a common problem in the real operation of buses all over the world that must be addressed. The crucial issue is that bus bunching has a great impact on both users and agency cost. From a passenger perspective, the bus bunching phenomena increases the travel time of passengers (riding and waiting time) and worsens the vehicle occupancy.
    [Show full text]
  • Fuel Buses: a Case Study of the Delaware Authority For
    LIFE-CYCLE COST AND EMISSIONS ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE- FUEL BUSES: A CASE STUDY OF THE DELAWARE AUTHORITY FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT (DART) by Amirhossein Shahpar A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Civil Engineering Summer 2010 Copyright 2010 Amirhossein Shahpar All Rights Reserved LIFE-CYCLE COST AND EMISSIONS ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE- FUEL BUSES: A CASE STUDY OF THE DELAWARE AUTHORITY FOR REGIONAL TRANSIT (DART) by Amirhossein Shahpar Approved: __________________________________________________________ Ardeshir Faghri, Ph.D. Professor in charge of thesis on behalf of the Advisory Committee Approved: __________________________________________________________ Harry Shenton III, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Approved: __________________________________________________________ Michael Chajes, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Engineering Approved: __________________________________________________________ Debra Hess Norris, M.S. Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Ardeshir Faghri for his encouragement, patience, and guidance throughout the course of my graduate study. His comments and advice not only helped me to stay on track but also assisted me to get the most out of my time at the University of Delaware. I would like to thank Mr. Mark Glaze, Delaware Department of Transportation’s project manager and Mr. Brett Taylor, Delaware Department of Transportation’s financial and legislative policy advisor, for their comments and suggestions on my research work. I am thankful for Mr. Stephen Kingsberry, Executive Director of DART, for his patience and providing the necessary information for this study. His advice also was invaluable and helped me to make right assumptions whenever needed.
    [Show full text]