GREATER COLOMBO TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Research Report 0902 Research Grant provided by Hon. Dullas Alahapperuma, Minister of Transport, Sri Lanka Amal S. Kumarage, Professor & Head, Department of Transport & Logistics Management Janaka Weerawardana, Researcher Transport Research & Study Centre University of Moratuwa Moratuwa Sri Lanka 20th April 2009 Contents 1 Scope of the Research ................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Overview on the Problems at Present ........................................................................... 1 1.2 Solutions and their Viabilities ...................................................................................... 2 1.2.1 Road Capacity Development ............................................................................ 2 1.2.2 Travel Demand Management ........................................................................... 3 1.3 The New Policy on Traffic Management ..................................................................... 5 1.4 Scope of the Study ....................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Data Sources Used ........................................................................................... 7 1.4.2 Summary of Executions ................................................................................... 8 2 Characteristics of Travel Demand in Colombo ...................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Growth of Road Traffic in Colombo .......................................................................... 10 2.3 Present Road Traffic Condition in Colombo .............................................................. 12 2.4 Timely Variation of Demand ..................................................................................... 17 2.5 Purpose of Traveling to Colombo City....................................................................... 17 3 Assessment of Premium Service .............................................................................. 19 3.1 Introduction: ............................................................................................................ 19 3.2 Necessity of a premium service ................................................................................. 20 3.3 Potential users of premium service ............................................................................ 22 3.4 Route Planning Criteria ............................................................................................. 22 3.4.1 Trip generating and attracting areas of potential users .................................... 23 3.4.2 Destinations for the services ........................................................................... 24 3.4.3 Intermediate Pick & Drop Points for the Service ............................................ 27 3.5 Operational Aspects of the Services ........................................................................... 29 3.6 Public Opinions on the Premium Service ................................................................... 29 4 Assessment of Variable Work Hour Program ........................................................ 32 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Flex-Hours ................................................................................................................ 32 4.3 Compressed Work Week ........................................................................................... 33 4.4 Staggered Work Hours .............................................................................................. 34 4.5 Variable Work Hour Programs’ impact on Transportation ......................................... 35 4.6 Administrative Considerations ................................................................................... 36 4.6.1 Flex-Hour Considerations .............................................................................. 36 4.6.2 Compressed Work Week Considerations ........................................................ 37 4.6.3 Staggered Work Hour Considerations ............................................................ 37 4.7 Execution of Program ................................................................................................ 38 4.8 Public Opinions on Variable Work Hours .................................................................. 41 4.8.1 National Transport Commission ..................................................................... 41 4.8.2 Ceylon Electricity Board & Department of Inland Revenue ........................... 47 4.8.3 National Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka ................................................... 50 Responders who are experiencing Variable Work Hours at present.................................. 51 Responders who are experiencing Normal Work Hours at present ................................... 52 i 5 Assessment of Present Route Network & Re- routing ............................................ 54 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 54 5.2 Present Bus Route Network in CMC.......................................................................... 55 5.2.1 Orientation of the Network............................................................................. 55 5.2.2 Bus Routes and Frequencies ........................................................................... 56 5.2.3 Bus Stopping and Terminals .......................................................................... 57 5.3 Behavior of Bus & Rail Passengers ........................................................................... 59 5.4 Considerations for Re-Routing .................................................................................. 60 6 Assessment of BRT-Battaramulla-Dematagoda ..................................................... 62 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 62 6.2 Present Accessibility Options to Battaramulla Area ................................................... 62 6.2.1 Zones for Passenger Flow Analysis ................................................................ 62 6.2.2 Approach from Colombo West to Battaramulla .............................................. 62 6.2.3 Approach from Colombo North to Battaramulla ............................................. 62 6.2.4 Approach from Colombo South to Battaramulla ............................................. 64 6.3 Potential Passenger Trips between Battaramulla and Rest of Greater Colombo Area . 64 6.3.1 Passenger Trips in Public Bus Transport Modes (Route Buses) ...................... 65 6.3.2 Rail Transport ................................................................................................ 71 6.3.3 Private Transport Modes ................................................................................ 72 6.4 Estimation of Passenger Demand for Proposed MRT Trace ....................................... 73 6.4.1 Estimated diversion of Bus Passengers ........................................................... 73 6.4.2 Estimated passenger diversion of Private vehicles .......................................... 75 6.4.3 Total Passenger Demand for Proposed Corridor of MRT................................ 76 7 Fuel Conservation Capacity of New Introductions ................................................. 77 7.1 Contribution of New Services in brief ........................................................................ 77 7.2 Introduction of Premium Service ............................................................................... 77 7.2.1 Program Impact to Vehicular Flow ................................................................ 77 7.2.2 Estimated reduction of private vehicle kms and Fuel Consumption ................ 80 7.3 Introduction of Car/Van Pooling ................................................................................ 81 7.3.1 Program Impact to Vehicular Flow ................................................................ 81 7.3.2 Forecasted reduction of private vehicles and Fuel Consumption ..................... 82 7.4 Bus Rapid Transit (Battaramulla-Dematagoda) .......................................................... 82 7.4.1 Program Impact to Vehicular Flow ................................................................ 82 7.4.2 Forecasted reduction of private vehicles and Fuel Consumption ..................... 82 7.5 Introduction of Variable Working Hours ................................................................... 83 7.5.1 Program Impact to Vehicular Flow ................................................................ 83 7.5.2 Forecasted reduction of private vehicles and Fuel Consumption ..................... 83 7.6 Contribution of new services for the improvement of flow speed ............................... 84 7.6.1 Program Impact to Improve Flow Speed ........................................................ 84 7.6.2 Forecasted reduction of Fuel Consumption..................................................... 84 ii List of Figures Figure 1-1: Analytical Representation on Present Transport Issues in Colombo City ............. 2 Figure 2-1: Comparison of Passenger