TY - CHAP
T1 - Evaluation of transit signal priority and optimal signal timing plans in transit and traffic operations
AU - Muthuswamy, Satyanarayana
AU - McShane, William R.
AU - Daniel, Janice
PY - 2007/12/1
Y1 - 2007/12/1
N2 - Transit signal priority (TSP) systems have been in place for several years. Traffic simulation models are frequently applied to evaluate the benefits of such treatments before implementation. These benefits can take several forms, including reduced travel time for transit customers, improved schedule adherence, and reduced operating costs for the transit provider. This paper reports a case study that highlighted and embodied the following issues: (a) if signal timing is optimized, the TSP may provide only incremental benefits and not be a cost-effective investment; (b) if signal plans are not updated as often as needed, TSP may provide a way of adapting the base signalisation, providing much of the benefit of signal plan updates; (c) side-street traffic does not always suffer because of TSP, nor does main-street nonbus traffic; (d) some critical intersections, with heavy competing volumes, may need to be dropped from the TSP plan to have no excessive adverse impact on the cross street, which may itself be an arterial; and (e) bus travel time reductions can result in fewer buses needed to serve the demand at the same level of service and thus reduce bus transit operating costs. Simulation was an important and cost-effective tool in this case study.
AB - Transit signal priority (TSP) systems have been in place for several years. Traffic simulation models are frequently applied to evaluate the benefits of such treatments before implementation. These benefits can take several forms, including reduced travel time for transit customers, improved schedule adherence, and reduced operating costs for the transit provider. This paper reports a case study that highlighted and embodied the following issues: (a) if signal timing is optimized, the TSP may provide only incremental benefits and not be a cost-effective investment; (b) if signal plans are not updated as often as needed, TSP may provide a way of adapting the base signalisation, providing much of the benefit of signal plan updates; (c) side-street traffic does not always suffer because of TSP, nor does main-street nonbus traffic; (d) some critical intersections, with heavy competing volumes, may need to be dropped from the TSP plan to have no excessive adverse impact on the cross street, which may itself be an arterial; and (e) bus travel time reductions can result in fewer buses needed to serve the demand at the same level of service and thus reduce bus transit operating costs. Simulation was an important and cost-effective tool in this case study.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=40249111572&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.3141/2034-11
DO - 10.3141/2034-11
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:40249111572
SN - 9780309104616
T3 - Transportation Research Record
SP - 92
EP - 102
BT - Transit Marketing, Bus, and Paratransit
ER -