VISSIM-Based Simulation Approach to Analysis of Synchronization Between Operation and Traffic Controls in Beijing Bus Rapid Transit System

Intersection signal control strategies have great impacts on the effectiveness of Bus Rapid Transit's (BRT) operation. The objective of this research is to develop a new method to coordinate BRT's operation and traffic controls with an attempt to reduce travel times of BRT vehicles. VISSIM is selected as a simulation tool to examine the coordination rules between BRT's operation and traffic parameters of intersection signal controls. Issues related to the optimized relationships among BRT schedules, BRT vehicle headways and intersection signal cycles, effective green time, and offset between the BRT vehicle departure time and the starting time of green phase are examined. After the field survey of the first-stage operational route of North-South Central Axis BRT system in Beijing, a micro-simulation platform is developed on which the simulation parameters are calibrated with the field data, simulation scenarios are designed, simulation runs are automated, and performance measures are defined. Simulation results indicate that: (1) With respect to an isolated intersection with a fixed signal control strategy, the changes of cycle, effective green time and offset between the BRT vehicle schedule and the starting time of green time have significant influence on the operational performances of BRT and other vehicles along the North-South Central Axis corridor; and (2) with respect to intersections under coordinated control for the BRT green wave, the offset between the BRT vehicle schedule and the starting time of green time of the first intersection could be adjusted to synchronize the BRT's operation and the signal timing of green waved intersections. Based on results from the simulation, recommendations are provided for the BRT scheduling on the North-South Central Axis Street.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Chen, Xumei
  • Yu, Lei
  • Yu, Liu
  • Guo, Jifu
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus rapid transit; Headways; Highway operations; Microsimulation; Public transit; Traffic control devices; Traffic signal control systems; Traffic signals; Traffic simulation
• Identifier Terms: VISSIM (Computer model)
• Geographic Terms: Beijing (China)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01049245
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-1114
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 8 2007 5:44PM