WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE RAIL: LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SIMULATION WITH CORSIM

Light rail transit (LRT) system new starts and expansion are proliferating rapidly in the U.S., and stakeholders and the public have called for increasingly sophisticated analysis of the potential impacts and benefits of LRT. With advances in computing power and software development, the simulation approach has gained a significant role in this analysis. The CORSIM software package is a well-accepted, readily available tool for simulating traffic operations on freeway and arterial networks, but its capabilities are somewhat limited with respect to transit. This paper explores the opportunities and limitations of simulating LRT operations with the CORSIM model. The model's ability to simulate pre-empt and coordinated signal systems is explored for several at-grade alignment options, including operation in street medians and in exclusive rights-of-way. In addition, this paper discusses the ramifications of various CORSIM network representations that can approximate the complex signal operations inherent in LRT systems. Special attention is given to CORSIM queuing and delay estimates, and to the representation of vehicle performance characteristics. The authors conclude that, when used with proper care, CORSIM is a powerful and cost-effective tool that can be used to simulate LRT operations efficiently and accurately in certain situations.

• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Larson, N
  • Rasmussen, C
• Conference:
  • Compendium of Papers. Institute of Transportation Engineers 2000, District 6 Annual Meeting
  • Location: San Diego, California
  • Date: 2000-6-24 to 2000-6-28
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 16p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Arterial highways; At grade intersections; Cost effectiveness; Light rail transit; Operations; Signaling; Simulation; Software packages
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Railroads; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00803423
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 16 2001 12:00AM