Analysis of Managed Bus Lane Strategies Based on Microcosmic Traffic Simulation

Abstract:

In order todetermine the optimum Managed Bus Lane (MBL) strategies under different traffic conditions, it is essential tocompare the before-after traffic performanceswhen a MBL strategyis produced. Microscopictraffic simulation is often used to evaluate the effects of operation strategies on traffic performances. In addition to the commonly used bus lane strategies, the dedicated bus lane (DBL),intermittent bus lane (IBL) strategies were also studied byVISSIM in this study. Delay and time occupancy wereadopted as evaluation indexes in the evaluation. The analysis results showed that traffic condition has a great influence on the traffic performances for different managed bus lane strategies.Specifically, volumeplays a higher influence on the bus lane performance as compared tobus ratio. It is also shown that the DBL has the advantage of free buses from traffic interference but has the disadvantage of disrupting traffic. IBL strategies also can improve bus service and maintaingood car service. In addition, it is found that when both volume and bus ratio arelow, there is no need to implementany bus lane strategy;if the bus ratio is at a medium level, intermittent bus lanes-near intersection(IBL-NI) strategy is preferred; when the volume is high, intermittent bus lane-basic road segment(IBL-BRS) performsbetter. The results indicate that different MBL strategies should be consideredbased ontraffic conditions.This studycan provide some valuable information for traffic managers to address traffic congestion fromaperspective of transit priority.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 1079-1080)
• Pages: 440-447
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1079-1080.440
• Online since: December 2014
• Authors: Ling Ding, Ning Zhang, Zhen Dong Qian
• Keywords: Dedicatedbus Lane, Intermittent Bus Lane, Microscopic Trafficsimulation, Strategies, Traffic Performances

References

[1] Kim and Schonfeld, Integrated Analysis of Toll Lanes and Bus-priority Lanes. Journal of the Transportation Research Record, 2008. 2076: pp.70-80.

DOI: 10.3141/2076-08

[2] Surprenant-Legault, J. and El-Geneidy, Ahmed M. Introduction of a reserved bus lane: Impact on bus running time and on-time performance. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, 2011. 3: pp.10-18.

DOI: 10.3141/2218-02

[3] Thamizh Arasan, V. and P. Vedagiri, Microsimulation study of the effect of exclusive bus lanes on heterogeneous traffic flow. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 2010. 136(1): pp.50-58.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9488(2010)136:1(50)

[4] Shalaby, A., Simulating Performance Impacts of Bus Lanes and Supporting Measures. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 1999. 125(5): pp.390-397.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-947x(1999)125:5(390)

[5] Vedagiri, P. and V.T. Arasan, Estimating modal shift of car travelers to bus on introduction of bus priority system. Journal of Transportation System Engineering and Information Technology, 2009. 9(6): pp.120-129.

DOI: 10.1016/s1570-6672(08)60092-6

[6] Patil, S. e. a., Value of travel time savings on managed lanes for urgent situations, in Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. 2010. pp.10-30.

[7] Thamizh, A.V. and P. Vedagiri, Microsimulation Study of the Effect of Exclusive Bus Lanes on Heterogeneous Traffic Flow. Journal of Urban Planning and Development, 2010. 136(1): pp.50-58.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)0733-9488(2010)136:1(50)

[8] Chung, C. -L. and W.W. Recker, Evaluation of Operational Effects of Joint Managed Lane Policies. JOURNAL OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING, 2012. 138(7): pp.882-892.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)te.1943-5436.0000385

[9] Sun, L. and K. Yuan, On the layout of urban bus lane based on Vissim. Technology & Economy in Areas of Communications, 2013. 15(1): pp.12-13.

[10] Yao, J. and F. Shi, Combinatorial Optimization of Exclusive Bus Lanes and Bus Frequencies in Multi-Modal Transportation Network. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 2012. 138: pp.1422-1429.

DOI: 10.1061/(asce)te.1943-5436.0000475

[11] Zhu, H.B., Numerical study of urban traffic flow with dedicated bus lane and intermittent bus lane. Physical A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2010. 389(16): pp.3134-3139.

DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2010.03.040

[12] Eichler, M. and C.F. Daganzo., Bus lanes with intermittent priority: Strategy formulae and an evaluation. Transportation Research Part B, 2006. 40: p.731–744.

DOI: 10.1016/j.trb.2005.10.001

[13] Zhang, Y., The strategy research on managed bus lanes of extra large city Communications Standardization, 2013(4): pp.88-90.

[14] Sun, F. and D. Wng, Threshold values of traffic flow for the provision of exclusive bus lanes. Journal of Beijing Institute of Technology, 2013. 22(3): pp.342-349.

[15] D. Chowdhury, D.E. Wolf, M. Schreckenberg, Physica A, 1997. 235.