Evaluation of Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Downtown Houston

As part of the METRO Solutions program, the authors evaluated the impact of three Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines on traffic operations in downtown Houston. They modeled the interactions of automobile and bus traffic with three LRT lines (Red Line, East End Line, and Southeast Line). They performed traffic projections to approximate future year traffic demands, applied a trip reduction factor to account for the Downtown transit facilities, and analyzed AM and PM peak hours for future year conditions for the with interline and without interline scenarios. In the with interline scenario, the East End trains merge onto the Red Line alignment to reach the intermodal terminal while Southeast trains continue all the way to the western terminus. In the without interline scenario both East End and Southeast trains travel to the western terminus. Some of the key factors identified in this analysis to efficiently operate the LRT system include train control system, signaling coordination, effective geometric design, increasing driver awareness, effective signal timing, effective driveway control, effective signage, preemption locations, and integration between the traffic signal system and the train signal system. The authors recommended deploying a train control system that would modulate station dwell times as a means of continuously optimizing train headways on each of the three routes that pass through the study area. This also minimizes clustering of trains and degradation of intersection level of service. The authors' traffic models and analysis have served as useful tools for stakeholders to further understand the impact of the downtown LRT system.

• Record URL:
  http://www.ite.org/library/annualmeeting/compendium12/pdf/AB12H3302.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from the Institute of Transportation Engineers
• Corporate Authors:

  Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)

  Washington, DC  United States 
• Authors:
  • Lahon, Dhruva
• Conference:
  • ITE 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibit
  • Location: Atlanta Georgia, United States
  • Date: 2012-8-12 to 2012-8-15
• Publication Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 1-10
• Monograph Title: ITE 2012 Annual Meeting & Exhibit

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus traffic; Control systems; Dwell time; Forecasting; Highway operations; Light rail transit; Rail transit stations; Signaling; Traffic models; Travel demand management
• Geographic Terms: Houston (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads; I70: Traffic and Transport;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01495106
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 26 2013 11:50PM