Evaluation of Transit Signal Priority Strategies for Small-Medium Cities

Transit Signal Priority (TSP) has mainly been applied in larger metropolitan areas where demand for transit service is moderate to high and bus headways are less than 15 minutes. TSP in larger metropolitan areas is implemented to expedite the movement of buses with high occupancy, thus justifying any negative impacts on other traffic and lowering the overall person-delay at intersections. Transit agencies in small-medium size cities, on the other hand, have fewer users and operate at less frequency (i.e., headway greater than 30 minutes). During peak periods, traffic congestion causes missed connections at transfer points and can increase the transit rider’s total trip time by as much as one hour. Therefore, TSP could be used in small-medium size areas to alleviate missed connections, enhance service, and attract more transit riders. This study provides a theoretical evaluation of TSP strategies in a small-medium size urban area. Several scenarios are evaluated, involving two TSP strategies; existing and reduced bus headways; and two traffic peak periods. The study findings could give practitioners information concerning TSP implementation in a small-medium size city. The microscopic traffic simulation model, VISSIM, was used to accurately model a downtown region of Fargo, North Dakota, with several bus routes. Results indicated potential bus travel time savings as high as 14 percent, with a decrease in bus stopped delay as high as 38 percent. Impacts to the local system were investigated as well; side-street person-delay increased as much as 14 percent during the afternoon peak.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=396
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052
• Authors:
  • Ova, Kiel
  • Smadi, Ayman
• Publication Date: 2001-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 84p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus routes; Evaluation and assessment; Forecasting; Headways; Implementation; Medium sized cities; Peak periods; Small cities; Traffic delays; Traffic signal priority; Traffic simulation; Travel time
• Identifier Terms: VISSIM (Computer model)
• Geographic Terms: Fargo (North Dakota)
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01685410
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DP-142
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 19 2018 9:29AM