scholarly journals Transit Signal Priority in Smart Cities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bahman Moghimi ◽  
Camille Kamga
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Service Reliability ◽  
Transit Signal Priority ◽  
Vicious Cycle ◽  
Urban Networks ◽  
Transit Agencies

Giving priority to public transport vehicles at traffic signals is one of the traffic management strategies deployed at emerging smart cities to increase the quality of service for public transit users. It is a key to breaking the vicious cycle of congestion that threatens to bring cities into gridlock. In that cycle, increasing private traffic makes public transport become slower, less reliable, and less attractive. This results in deteriorated transit speed and reliability and induces more people to leave public transit in favor of the private cars, which create more traffic congestion, generate emissions, and increase energy consumption. Prioritizing public transit would break the vicious cycle and make it a more attractive mode as traffic demand and urban networks grow. A traditional way of protecting public transit from congestion is to move it either underground or above ground, as in the form of a metro/subway or air rail or create a dedicated lane as in the form of bus lane or light rail transit (LRT). However, due to the enormous capital expense involved or the lack of right-of-way, these solutions are often limited to few travel corridors or where money is not an issue. An alternative to prioritizing space to transit is to prioritize transit through time in the form of Transit Signal Priority (TSP). Noteworthy, transit and specifically bus schedules are known to be unstable and can be thrown off their schedule with even small changes in traffic or dwell time. At the same time, transit service reliability is an important factor for passengers and transit agencies. Less variability in transit travel time will need less slack or layover time. Thus, transit schedulers are interested in reducing transit travel time and its variability. One way to reach this goal is through an active intervention like TSP. In this chapter a comprehensive review of transit signal priority models is presented. The studies are classified into different categories which are: signal priority and different control systems, passive versus active priority, predictive transit signal priority, priority with connected vehicles, multi-modal signal priority models, and other practical considerations.

Market-Segmentation Study of Future and Potential Users of the New Réseau Express Métropolitain Light Rail in Montreal, Canada

2021 ◽  
pp. 036119812110145
Author(s):  
Nicolette Dent ◽  
Leila Hawa ◽  
James DeWeese ◽  
Rania Wasfi ◽  
Yan Kestens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Market Segmentation ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Transport Infrastructure ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Urban Core ◽  
New Public ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Under Construction

Goals for public transit agencies and new public transport infrastructure projects include attracting new riders and retaining existing system users. An understanding of the public transport market and its preferences, habits, and attitudes can help public transit agencies reach these goals by shedding light on how to increase customer satisfaction. To understand potential users of one of Montreal’s most recent major transport projects, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), we conducted a survey in Fall 2019 while the light-rail system was under construction. Drawing on vetted transport market-segmentation frameworks, this study employs an exploratory factor analysis to reveal factors that affect respondents’ propensity to use the REM. A k-means cluster test is applied to the factors to articulate market segments. The analysis returned four clusters that form a clear spectrum of least likely to most likely REM users: car-friendly non-users, urban core potential users, transit-friendly users, and leisure and airport users. Positive opinion, proximity, and desire to use the REM for leisure or non-work trips are three key characteristics of likely users. There is a visible relationship between clusters who are likely to use the REM and clusters who agree that the REM will benefit their neighborhood. Improving people’s perception of the potential benefit of the REM to their neighborhood, better accommodating leisure use, emphasizing and communicating appealing destinations, and highlighting transit connections are four core ways that planners could work to potentially increase the number of people who are likely to use the REM.

scholarly journals Platooning of Autonomous Public Transport Vehicles: The Influence of Ride Comfort on Travel Delay

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teron Nguyen ◽  
Meng Xie ◽  
Xiaodong Liu ◽  
Nimal Arunachalam ◽  
Andreas Rau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Autonomous Vehicles ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Ride Comfort ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Vehicle Speed ◽  
System Delay ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Travel Delay

The development of advanced technologies has led to the emergence of autonomous vehicles. Herein, autonomous public transport (APT) systems equipped with prioritization measures are being designed to operate at ever faster speeds compared to conventional buses. Innovative APT systems are configured to accommodate prevailing passenger demand for peak as well as non-peak periods, by electronic coupling and decoupling of platooned units along travel corridors, such as the dynamic autonomous road transit (DART) system being researched in Singapore. However, there is always the trade-off between high vehicle speed versus passenger ride comfort, especially lateral ride comfort. This study analyses a new APT system within the urban context and evaluates its performance using microscopic traffic simulation. The platooning protocol of autonomous vehicles was first developed for simulating the coupling/decoupling process. Platooning performance was then simulated on VISSIM platform for various scenarios to compare the performance of DART platooning under several ride comfort levels: three bus comfort and two railway criteria. The study revealed that it is feasible to operate the DART system following the bus standing comfort criterion (ay = 1.5 m/s2) without any significant impact on system travel time. For the DART system operating to maintain a ride comfort of the high-speed train (HST) and light rail transit (LRT), the delay can constitute up to ≈ 10% and ≈ 5% of travel time, respectively. This investigation is crucial for the system delay management towards precisely designed service frequency and improved passenger ride comfort.

Identifying the Determinants of Light Rail Mode Choice for Medium- and Long-Distance Trips

2012 ◽  
Vol 2275 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lieve Creemers ◽  
Mario Cools ◽  
Hans Tormans ◽  
Pieter-Jan Lateur ◽  
Davy Janssens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Transport System ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Mode Choice ◽  
Light Rail ◽  
Rail Transit ◽  
Light Rail Transit ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Vehicle Travel Time

The introduction of new public transport systems can influence society in a multitude of ways ranging from modal choices and the environment to economic growth. This paper examines the determinants of light rail mode choice for medium- and long-distance trips (10 to 40 km) for a new light rail system in Flanders, Belgium. To investigate these choices, the effects of various transport system–specific factors (i.e., travel cost, in-vehicle travel time, transit punctuality, waiting time, access and egress time, transfers, and availability of seats) as well as the travelers' personal traits were analyzed by using an alternating logistic regression model, which explicitly takes into account the correlated responses for binary data. The data used for the analysis stem from a stated preference survey conducted in Flanders. The modeling results are in line with literature: most transport system–specific factors as well as socioeconomic variables, attitudinal factors, perceptions, and the frequency of using public transport contribute significantly to the preference for light rail transit. In particular, the results indicate that the use of light rail is strongly influenced by travel cost and in-vehicle travel time and to a lesser extent by waiting and access–egress time. Seat availability appeared to play a more important role than did transfers in deciding to choose light rail transit. The findings of this paper can be used by policy makers as a frame of reference to make light rail transit more successful.

scholarly journals Evaluating accessibility of small communities via public transit

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 59-72
Author(s):  
Antonio Danesi ◽  
Simone Tengattini
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Educational Work ◽  
Small Communities ◽  
Schedule Delay ◽  
Total Travel Time ◽  
Travel Impedance ◽  
The City

Accessibility to and from urban centres allows small communities’ dwellers to participate in primary activities and use essential services that are not available on-site, such as educational, work and medical services. Public transport networks are supposed to enhance accessibility and pursue equity principles, overcoming socio-economical differences among people that can exacerbate during crisis. In this paper a methodology is proposed and implemented to assess small communities’ accessibility via public transit. A metric is defined based on the calculation of total travel time, taken as a proxy of travel impedance, with consideration of in-vehicle time, schedule delay and users’ arrival and departure preference curves (i.e. time-of-day functions). A “rooftops” model is specified and implemented under the assumption that travellers cannot accept (scheduled) late arrival or early departure time penalties before and after the participation in their activities in the main urban centre, as many activities rarely admit time-flexibility. Also, a public transport specific impedance factor (PTSIF) is proposed, in order to account for travel impedance determinants, which are a consequence of service scheduling and routing decisions and not due to inherent geographical and infrastructural disadvantages affecting car users too. An application of the methodology for the city of Cesena, Italy, and 90 surrounding small communities is presented. The city is served by train and bus services. Assessment of small communities' accessibility based on both total travel time and PTSIF is presented and discussed. This practice-ready quantitative method can help transport professionals to evaluate impacts on small communities’ accessibility in light of public transport service changes or reduction. Quantitative approach to support strategic decisions is needed, for example, both to assess public transport strengthening politics against depopulation of rural and marginal mountainous areas and to mitigate the effects of possible increasing concentration of services towards high-demand lines, which may follow as a consequence of budget cuts or contingencies, such as vehicle capacity reductions required by sanitary emergencies.

scholarly journals Identification of Factors to Improve Public Transit Services (A Case Study of Prithvi Chowk to Talchowk Section of Prithivi Highway)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saroj Baral ◽  
Prem Nath Bastola
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Transport System ◽  
Transit Services ◽  
Transport Carrier ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Causes Of Delays

This research presents studies on a segment of highway to determine the quantitative factors that inuence transit services. Travel time and delay study is one of the method to determine quantitative factors. Tour time is described as the average period of time required to journey from one region to some other. Total departure time consists of gadgets which include total working time, places and general delay time. The examine section was done in Prithvi chowk to Tal chowk of Prithvi Highway which is turned to be 12.5 km long. Additionally, it has been found that the principle variables affecting travel time are: postpone time because of forestall selecting and choosing up passengers, bus model and bus size.32 trips public transport carrier and a 10 trips non-public automobile journey have been held during peak hours. Models are developed the use of SPSS software to become aware of the relationship between the causes of delays and the overall-time delays. Travel time and learning delays can help reduce the number of private vehicles operating and increase the number of public vehicles in order to reduce congestion and improve the e efficiency of the public transport system. It turned into determined that there was a full-size distinction in tour time among the use of the public transit services and the car.

scholarly journals Identification of Affecting Factors on the Travel Time Reliability for Bus Transportation

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-30
Author(s):  
Ahmed Hassan Mohamed ◽  
Ibrhim A I Adwan ◽  
Abobaker G. F Ahmeda ◽  
Hamza Hrtemih ◽  
Haitham Al-MSari
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Weather Condition ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Service Reliability ◽  
Travel Time Reliability ◽  
Affecting Factors ◽  
Traffic Condition ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Transit Agencies ◽  
Bus Transportation

Public bus transit travel time is affected by many factors, including traffic signals and traffic condition. Transit agencies have implemented transit signal priority (TSP) strategies to reduce transit travel time and improve service reliability. However, due to the lack of empirical data, these factors' collective impact and bus travel time strategies have not been studied at the stop-to-stop segment level. This research focuses on the factors affecting travel time reliability, emphasising the variability between operators and the policy implications of such differences. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical methods have been used to assess the quality implications of public bus transportation time reliability. This research seeks to investigate the factors affecting the travel time (TT) reliability of bus transport. Studies were conducted along three bus routes serving different areas. Factors strongly related to TT reliability include route length, number of signalised intersections, day of the week, bus stops, departure delays, bus lane, passenger boarding and alighting, weather condition, and fare structure. Based on the proposed model factors affecting TT reliability, it was found that TT is strongly affected by the number of bus stoppings and also the length of the route. The reliability of all three routes during the weekday is low because of delays in departure. The number of signalised intersections along the route affects reliability. Meanwhile, more passengers boarding and paying cash increased the travel time reliability of buses.

scholarly journals The congestion relief benefit of public transit: evidence from Rome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin W Adler ◽  
Federica Liberini ◽  
Antonio Russo ◽  
Jos N van Ommeren
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Experimental Methodology ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Point Reduction ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Bus Travel Time ◽  
Public Transport Service

Abstract We estimate the effect of public transport supply on travel times of motor-vehicle and bus users in Rome, Italy. We apply a quasi-experimental methodology exploiting hourly information on public transport service reductions during strikes. We find that a 10-percentage point reduction in public transit supply increases the travel time of motor-vehicles by about 1.6% in the morning peak. The effect on bus travel time is similar. The congestion-relief benefit of public transport is thus sizeable and bus travel time gains account for an important share of it.

scholarly journals On the Accuracy of Schedule-Based GTFS for Measuring Accessibility

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nate Wessel ◽  
Steven Farber
Keyword(s):  
Travel Time ◽  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
North American ◽  
Statistical Models ◽  
Public Transit ◽  
Time Estimation ◽  
Travel Time Estimation ◽  
Robust Methods ◽  
Automatic Vehicle Location ◽  
Transit Agencies

In this paper we assess the accuracy with which General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) schedule data can be used to measure accessibility by public transit as it varies over space and time. We use archived Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data from four North American transit agencies to produce a detailed reconstruction of actual transit vehicle movements over the course of five days in a format that allows for travel time estimation directly comparable to schedule-based GTFS. With travel times estimated on both schedule-based and retrospective networks, we compute and compare a variety of accessibility measures. We find that origin-based accessibility even when averaged over one-hour periods can vary widely between locations. Origins with lower scheduled access tend to produce less reliable estimates with more variability from hour to hour in real accessibility, while higher access zones seem to converge on an estimate 5-15\% lower than the schedule predicts. Such over- and under-predictions exhibit strong spatial patterns which should be of concern to those using accessibility metrics in statistical models. Momentary measures of accessibility are briefly discussed and found to be weakly related to momentary changes in real access. These findings bring into question the validity of some recent applications of GTFS data and point the way toward more robust methods for calculating accessibility.

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