Station facilities and noise assessment: A multilevel analysis on light rail train stations

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-372
Author(s):  
Yalcin Yildirim ◽  
Diane Jones Allen
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Message Boards ◽  
Sound Levels ◽  
Noise Assessment ◽  
Ticket Vending Machines

Noise is one of the most frequent consequences of traffic. Public transportation systems, such as the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) authority provides various modes of transportation. Even though the availability of commuting service for the public is a boon to communities, mass transit systems are potential sources of excessive sound levels in daily urban life. This article examines the nexus between the transit station facilities of light rail train (LRT) stations and noise implications at both station and neighborhood scales by studying selected LRT stations. A multilevel linear analysis was conducted to understand the degree of train station amenities and neighborhood characteristics that affect sound levels. Using a type II sound pressure level (SPL)meter, sound measurements were obtained during the weekdays and weekends over several weeks. Upon examining the station amenities, and built environment and sociodemographic characteristics of the neighborhood, findings of this comprehensive research reveal significant implications for sound levels. Stations with ticket vending machines and informative message boards include a higher degree of significance on SPLs, while shelters, crew rooms, bike lockers, restrooms, and windshields are significantly and negatively associated with the noise levels. Additionally, neighborhoods with dense roads, higher speed limits, more neighborhood facilities, and a higher number of transit routes have an increased likelihood of noise levels. Recommendations include creating transformative policies for implementation, and approaches addressing noise for transit authorities, transportation engineers, and planners are presented. Planning and engineering aspects of comfort, aesthetics, safety, and public health, as train stations are daily use spaces for commuters and surrounding communities, should also be considered.

Light Rail Versus Guided Light Transit in Medium-Sized Cities: A Comparative Study for Ioannina, Greece

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-274
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou ◽  
Eleni Vlahogianni ◽  
Nikolaos Giannoulis ◽  
Aristeidis G. Karlaftis
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Lower Cost ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Social Benefits ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Additional Advantage ◽  
Transportation Services ◽  
High Investment

Light rail transit systems (LRTs) are attractive options for modern communities as they offer high quality, sustainable public transportation services. However, investment costs often may make their application for medium-sized cities prohibitive, particularly if no significant social benefits are achieved. Guided light transit (GLT) has been introduced in the recent years, as a lower cost alternative to LRT, with the additional advantage of being suitable for urban environments with space limitations. In this study, a systematic comparison of LRT and GLT is offered, in the context of a mid-size city in Greece. Results indicate that high investment costs, coupled with low ridership can have a negative impact to the introduction of LRT in a medium-sized city. However, under certain conditions, GLT may be a viable alternative, while its nature and characteristics are not that different to those of LRT.

Assessing the Existing Bursa Light Rail Transportation System

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (10) ◽  
pp. 250-260
Author(s):  
Mehmet Rizelioğlu ◽  
Turan Arslan
Keyword(s):  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Transportation System ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Bus Rapid Transit ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transportation ◽  
Transit System ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Negative Impacts

As car ownership soars, traffic congestion and its associated negative impacts have become real concerns in many cities around the world. Therefore, transportation systems that perform better in eliminating or reducing traffic congestion and related problems to tolerable levels have become imperative. Alternative transit systems should be assessed properly to accommodate the expected demand in the long term, at least, to some significant extent. However, this is generally neglected in developing countries and, among many possible alternatives, a popular transportation system is usually preferred within the available budget. As an example, Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey, has recently implemented a light rail transportation system (LRT) on its major east–west corridor as the main transit system. In this study, the existing LRT is assessed and its performance is compared with a hypothetical bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which is a strong contender and comparatively a lower-cost alternative. This is done to assess whether the LRT was the better choice in relation to the current demand. Therefore, in this study, the existing LRT system is first defined in the PTV VISSIM simulation environment. Then, the hypothetical BRT system is considered on the same route with the current demand. The capability and capacities of the existing LRT and the BRT system are assessed and compared in many aspects. The results are compared, and important findings are outlined.

scholarly journals A NEW PASSENGER ORIENTED PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC RAIL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Sercan KESTEN ◽  
Kemal Selçuk Öğüt
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Performance Index ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Railway Systems ◽  
Measurement Framework ◽  
Individual Index ◽  
Public Transportation Systems

This paper presents a practical approach for monitoring public transportation systems' performance by focusing on customer evaluations. Within the framework of the developed method, 22 indicators are aggregated for 6 different measures, which are time, cost, accessibility and transfer, comfort, safety – security and quality of service respectively. Passenger Oriented Performance IndeX (POPIX) has been developed and applied to the Istanbul Metro, Light Rail and Tram systems. The goal of this research is to propose a new customer oriented performance index for transportation systems, enabling a reliable and objective base for monitoring system performance by setting performance goals and identifying priorities. Meanwhile, the proposed methodology also allows for the investigation of the performance changes of a particular transportation system and for performance comparison of different systems directly from the customer point of view. The data of the index is attained by the Customer Satisfaction Survey of Istanbul Public Railways' 2005, 2006 and 2007. The POPIX methodology has been defined and the corresponding POPIX scores are calculated for the systems investigated. Furthermore, the % POPIX concept has been developed for the comparison of different systems. Lastly, the shifted POPIX concept has been proposed for more reliable comparison between different years. The framework has been implemented to the public railway systems and individual index scores are calculated for each indicator, measure and overall system. The measures of cost, accessibility and transfer and comfort have lower index scores. Metro index scores are superior in comparison to the Tram and Light Rail for all the years analyzed.

Impact of Bus Routes on Crash Frequency in Metropolitan Areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (3) ◽  
pp. 305-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Guadamuz ◽  
Vikash V. Gayah ◽  
Rajesh Paleti
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Parametric Method ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Safety Performance ◽  
Transportation Safety ◽  
Crash Frequency ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
Public Transportation Systems ◽  
The Impact

Although research in transportation safety is abundant, very few studies have examined the relationship between public transportation systems and safety performance. Most studies on the subject have focused on the impact of infrastructure countermeasures related to bus rapid transit systems. However, the impact of city-street buses on safety performance remains unknown. This research explores the pseudo-causal impact of the presence of bus routes and bus traffic on observed crash frequencies by developing safety performance functions (SPFs) that include the presence of a bus route and estimated weekly bus traffic as input variables. The SPFs were developed using the propensity score–potential outcomes (PS-PO) framework to reduce unobserved biases that might exist between segments that have and do not have bus routes. The results suggest that PS-PO reduced standardized biases significantly, allowing stronger causal inferences to be obtained. The results revealed that the presence of a bus route was associated with a 27% increase in expected crash frequency after controlling for other infrastructure-related variables. Weekly bus traffic was also found to be a significant predictor of overall crash frequency, with a 1% increase in ] weekly bus traffic associated with an expected increase in crash frequency of 0.016%. A non-parametric approach is also presented for comparison with the results from the SPFs; this confirmed the findings from the parametric method used.

scholarly journals Exploring the Interoperability of Public Transport Systems for Sustainable Mobility in Developing Cities: Lessons from Johannesburg Metropolitan City, South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trynos Gumbo ◽  
Thembani Moyo
Keyword(s):  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
The State ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Moran's I ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
The Public ◽  
Metropolitan City ◽  
Local Moran’S I Index

There have been growing concerns with regards to the state public transportation systems, particularly in the cities of developing countries. Chief among these concerns has been the lack of well-coordinated, efficient, and reliable transportation systems. The city of Johannesburg, just like any other fast-growing municipality in developing and emerging economies, has not been spared with regards to incessant public transport challenges. Consequently, there have been collective efforts from both public and private stakeholders to invest immensely in both innovative rail and road transport systems in the past decade. This article sought to achieve twin objectives. First, the work identified the state of connectivity between the rapid rail transportation and rapid bus transit systems based on Geoweb 2.0 data. Second, the work visualized the level of connectivity between these two modes to develop and formulate policy frameworks in integrating public transit systems in cities of the developing world, learning from the metropolitan city of Johannesburg. A mixed-method approach consisting of spatial and quantitative aspects was used to examine the state of connectedness and the promotion of access and mobility between the two modes. The local Moran’s I index was used to compute node clusters within the public transport system. Results from the analysis demonstrated that both high-clusters and low-clusters exist in the public transportation network, which have a high degree of centrality. It was revealed that commuters navigate from these nodes/stops with relative ease due to the short walking radius. However, the work revealed that most rail networks and bus routes, as well as the stations and bus stops, are not connected and are not significant in the local Moran’s I index, thus, making it difficult for commuters to conveniently move from the Gautrain to the Rea Vaya bus. There are, therefore, gaps with regards to the sharing of infrastructure between the two public transport modes and systems.

Benefits of Using Modern Axle Counters in CBTC and Light Rail Projects

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard Grundnig ◽  
Christian Pucher
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Operating Costs ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Track Circuits ◽  
Framework Conditions ◽  
Public Transportation Systems

Wheel detection and axle counting systems provide the basic information for track vacancy detection, for controlling level crossing systems and a range of switching tasks or trigger functions. This technology is established throughout the world for standard gauge railways and is increasingly replacing track circuits. The requirements and the framework conditions in rail-based public transportation systems do, however, differ significantly from those in the standard-gauge railway and long distance track sectors. Nevertheless, in this segment too there is a clear trend towards wheel detection and axle counting systems. New lines and projects are increasingly being equipped with modern axle counting systems due to the benefits in terms of functionality and operating costs. Nowadays even in railed public transport systems, there is a clear move from track circuit systems to wheel detection and axle counting technology.

scholarly journals Analysis of Aerial Ropeways by following various Indian and International Codes for Urban Mobility with some Structural Modifications in Monocable Ropeways to make it Safe, Secure, Economical and all Weather Durable

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (VI) ◽  
pp. 1539-1548
Author(s):  
Bhat Omair Bashir
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Urban Transport ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Structural Modifications ◽  
Transit Service

Cable-propelled transit’ (CPT), in particular detachable aerial ropeways are widely employed as transportation systems in alpine areas. In recent years, these transport systems have also been increasingly used in urban areas and are no longer a niche public transportation technology (Hoffmann 2006, Alshalalfah, Shalaby, and Dale 2014). Cable cars systems compete with performance characteristics of other more common urban transport technologies and have the potential to enhance the existing transport provision in cities (O'Connor and Dale 2011). While many applications can be found as transportation systems in airport facilities, and to provide access to tourist attractions, several metropolitan areas have even incorporated gondolas and aerial tramways into their public transport networks. This paper focuses on aerial ropeway systems that operate as a mass transit service (similar to buses, BRT, LRT, etc.) and are part of the public transit systems in their respective cities. Therefore, the analysis and case studies presented in the paper concern systems that are used as a public transit service

Planning and Design of a Taxipooling Dispatching System

2005 ◽  
Vol 1903 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ker-Tsung Lee ◽  
Da-Jie Lin ◽  
Pei-Ju Wu
Keyword(s):  
Public Transportation ◽  
Traffic Congestion ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Intelligent Transportation System ◽  
Transportation Systems ◽  
Urban Traffic ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Dispatching Algorithm ◽  
Public Transportation Systems ◽  
Parameter Values

Shifting people from driving to using public transportation has been important in alleviating urban traffic congestion. Intelligent transportation system technologies applied to public transportation can provide useful data to system operators and users and increase the use and productivity of high-occupancy vehicles. Integration of metropolitan rapid transit, feeder buses, and taxipooling can attract more public transportation users. Advanced taxipooling transfer assignment systems, a type of advanced public transportation systems program, aims to apply advanced technologies to taxi operations, including dynamic taxi fleet management, taxipooling strategies, and safety monitoring systems. Success in using taxis as a feeder service to mass transit systems requires advanced information technologies such as the Global Positioning System, geographic information systems, wireless communications, and, most important, an efficient taxi dispatching algorithm. The objectives and background of a dedicated taxipooling fleet in a metropolitan area are given. Also, a real-time, two-step taxipooling dispatching system is presented. A case study with parameter values obtained from Taiwan is explained; the simulation result is interpreted to illustrate the feasibility of the algorithm. Sensitivity analysis proves the robustness of the dispatching algorithm and shows the flexibility decision makers can have to serve certain purposes. Assumptions and constraints of the proposed dispatching system are evaluated, and the possibility of system expansion is discussed.

Infrastructure imaginaries: The politics of light rail projects in the age of neoliberalism

Urban Studies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 1811-1826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Olesen
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Transportation Network ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Transit Systems ◽  
Spatial Strategies ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The City

In the last decade light rail transit systems have become a popular mode of public transport in many cities around the world to upgrade the existing public transportation network, but also, and perhaps more importantly, to support neoliberal urban development strategies. The paper takes its starting point in the growing critical literature discussing the politics of light rail and related transport infrastructure projects in the context of neoliberalism. The paper uses the case of Aalborg, Denmark, to demonstrate how light rail projects are embedded in particular infrastructure imaginaries, which reflect wider political agendas of promoting urban development and economic growth. In the case of Aalborg, the city’s spatial strategies have played an important role in constructing an imaginary of the city as the region’s ‘growth dynamo’, which in turn have led to a growth-fixated conceptualisation of the city’s spatiality, and contributed to rationalising the need for investments in light rail. The paper argues that light rail projects are first and foremost politically rationalised as important investments for facilitating urban development and supporting entrepreneurial city strategies of urban and economic growth, whilst their social objectives of providing affordable public transportation play a less prominent role in the contemporary imaginary of the city.

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