An Integrated Modelling Approach for LRT Projects - A Case Study of Edmonton's Valley Line LRT

Various Light Rail Transit (LRT) projects are currently being constructed or planned in several jurisdictions across Canada. With many projects now in the planning stages, agencies are defining how LRT operations are governed, modelled, and evaluated. Different jurisdictions, agencies, and consultants tackle operations differently which can affect the final outputs from a technical perspective. Typically, each LRT line varies in design and operation— from street running with basic Transit Signal Priority to lines with gated operation—requiring modeling unique situations. There are innovations in modelling processes resulting in better outcomes in the planning stage by garnering more confidence in outputs such as the LRT and traffic operational models. The significance of improving outputs reliability, such as LRT run time, traffic Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs) including those for active modes, is that they set the expectation for opening day operations. Depending on the project’s funding and procurement method, the outputs can become part of Project Agreements (PAs) which govern penalties and relief events for operations during the concession period. Jurisdictions, agencies, and practitioners may develop guidelines, tools, and processes to control the quality of traffic forecasts and micro-simulation models. This would help achieve consistency between different models, such as LRT models and traffic models. The Valley Line West is a proposed extension of the Valley Line LRT project currently under construction in Edmonton. The Valley Line West is planned to be a low floor urban integrated LRT concept with many in-street running segments. The planning process involves modelling the interactions between the LRT, vehicular traffic and pedestrians to achieve a balanced approach between all modes. An extensive modelling exercise is currently underway and involves the integration of the following models: Edmonton Region Travel Model (RTM) – An EMME based macroscopic model for travel demand forecasting; City of Edmonton Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) Model – A Dynameq based mesoscopic sub area model for network-wide traffic diversion impact analysis; Valley West LRT VISSIM Model – A microsimulation traffic model for detailed operational analysis; OpenTrack Model – An LRT operational modelling tool. The modelling team has developed an integrated and iterative approach whereby the various models feed into each other. This paper highlights and details of modelling approach undertaken towards meeting the goals of the project. This paper focuses on processes rather than the results. This will include an innovative in-house developed program that integrates VISSIM and OpenTrack to achieve better results for both traffic and LRT modelling.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.cite7.org/wpdm-package/cite-2018-compendium/
• Corporate Authors:

  INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS. DISTRICT 7 CANADA

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Abdelnaby, A
  • McMillan, S
  • Christo, A
• Conference:
  • Edmonton 2018 - CITE Annual Meeting and Conference - Technical Compendium
• Publication Date: 2018

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 1 PDF file, 913 KB, 25p.
• Monograph Title: Edmonton 2018 - CITE Annual Meeting and Conference - Technical Compendium

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Case studies; Conferences; Mathematical models; Planning; Public transit; Transportation operations; Trolley cars
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 8018: Canada; 8531: Case study; 8525: Conference; 6473: Mathematical model; 1144: Operations (transp network); 143: Planning; 744: Public transport; 1284: Tram
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I71: Traffic Theory; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01685378
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TAC
• Created Date: Nov 16 2018 3:32PM