2013 Session: 592

• Analytical Procedures for Estimating Capacity of Weaving Sections for Median Exclusive Bus Lanes on an Urban Expressway
  Abstract: The installation of the exclusive bus lane (XBL) on an urban expressway will likely cause multiple turbulences of traffic flow in weaving sections near the exit/entrance, which exhibits more complexities than the configuration without an exclusive bus lane. However, an analytical procedure for estimating the capacity of weaving sections for exclusive bus lanes on an urban expressway is no existent. This paper attempts to present a micro-simulation approach for developing the analytical procedure for the capacity of weaving sections with an exclusive bus lane. First, with a thorough analysis of the operation of weaving sections, three factors that influence the capacity are identified. Then, a VISSIM based micro-simulation framework is developed. The regression analysis of factors influencing the capacity is conducted for the median XBL. Further, simulation experiments are designed. Finally, the analytical model on the Capacity Reduction Factor (CRF) is established, which considers the impact of both roadway allocation from XBL and more complex weaving behavior due to the installation of XBL. A randomly chosen weaving section along the third ring road in Beijing was used to validate the proposed model. Because there has not been an XBL installed on the expressway ring road, a simulation model is developed for this chosen weaving section, in which the median XBL is installed and the capacity is calculated by the proposed model. The results are compared with those from the simulation model, demonstrating that capacities obtained from the proposed model are close to the simulated ones with small relative errors. Thus, the proposed model is shown to provide a reliable capacity estimation for weaving sections of the median exclusive bus lanes on an urban expressway.
  Authors: Chen, Xumei; Yu, Lei; Jia, Xianchao; Gong, Huibo
  Authors: Chen, Xumei; Yu, Lei; Jia, Xianchao; Gong, Huibo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-1752
• Effectiveness of Reserved Bus Lanes in Arterials
  Abstract: There were two main goals in this investigation; first, modeling capacity for articulated buses in Arterials, and, second, the analysis of the representative parameters and their interrelationships in relation to the degree of platform reserve and bus lane segregation. Two cases in Madrid-Spain are considered, and a thord in Merida-Venezuela: In Madrid, bus lines 27 and 70, and the only bus line 1 of the Trolleybus Transport System (TTS), in Merida. These systems are selected under basic criteria that simplify the analysis: similar mode that suppresses inherent factors from vehicle design; bus stop infrastructure using two fare payment methods; and bus-lane with different reserve degree and segregation elements. The available methodology in the Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual (TCQSM) was used, and a solid bus dwell-time assessment due to boarding and alighting passengers –as the most influential parameter in the capacity– was measured. These new prediction laws were considered in the methodology. Results show the effectiveness of each system and allowed the calculation of the maximum theoretical capacity and its variability range in robust form. The work is part of a wider project to analyze the influence of reserved bus lane in operational parameters.
  Authors: Moreno, Emilio; Romana, Manuel G.; Martinez, Oscar
  Authors: Moreno, Emilio; Romana, Manuel G.; Martinez, Oscar
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-2283
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Pedestrian Route Choice of Vertical Facilities in Subway Stations
  Abstract: Transit infrastructure is under pressure and as the trends toward greater urbanisation and more sustainable mobility continue, that pressure is likely to increase over time. Finding ways to more efficiently accommodate passengers within existing transit facilities will become of ever-greater importance, as will the tools and techniques to assess pedestrian movement. The suite of pedestrian analysis tools is reliant on first principles knowledge and research. Gaps do exist in this body of knowledge. This paper describes research that has been completed to fill one such gap, namely rider choice at vertical circulation. Field research was conducted on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway system and a literature review was completed. Synthesis of literature and data analysis is presented. Key explanatory variables were identified and tested for significance, including height rise, utilisation (density of flow) and the rate of opposing flow. Based on this analysis, a series of aggregate logistic regression models are proposed to explain pedestrian choice at co-located elements of vertical transport, specifically stair-vs.-escalator choice. Validation data is presented and indicates that the model generates values that provide a good fit with observed data.
  Authors: Srikukenthiran, Siva; Fisher, Daniel; Shalaby, Amer; King, David James
  Authors: Srikukenthiran, Siva; Fisher, Daniel; Shalaby, Amer; King, David James
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-4417
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Estimating Capacity of High-Volume Bus Rapid Transit Stations
  Abstract: A critical element in estimating the capacity of a bus rapid transit (BRT) line is the flow capacity of the running way measured in buses per hour. In this paper, we estimate capacity in high volume bus services by using a simulation model. The inputs to the model include the mean dwell time of arriving buses, the dwell time variability, the headway variation of arriving buses, the configuration of the boarding locations and the presence or absence of a traffic signal. The output of the model is an estimate of the number of buses which can serve the stop per hour with a tolerable failure rate. The failure rate is the probability that arriving buses will not be able to access a boarding berth due to its being occupied by a previously arriving bus. The capacity of various stop configurations such as number of berths and queuing areas is also examined.The model does not require extensive data collection to yield reasonable results. The paper includes tables showing the capacity for a range of input options. The procedure was applied to the operation of Transmilenio in Bogota, Colombia.
  Authors: Reilly, Jack; Aros-Vera, Felipe
  Authors: Reilly, Jack; Aros-Vera, Felipe
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-4702
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Analytical Procedures for Estimating Capacity of Weaving Sections for Median Exclusive Bus Lanes on an Urban Expressway
  Authors: Chen, Xumei
  Authors: Chen, Xumei
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-1752
• Effectiveness of Reserved Bus Lanes in Arterials
  Authors: Romana, Manuel
  Authors: Romana, Manuel
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-2283
• Pedestrian Route Choice of Vertical Facilities in Subway Stations
  Authors: Srikukenthiran, Siva
  Authors: Srikukenthiran, Siva
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-4417
• Estimating Capacity of High-Volume Bus Rapid Transit Stations
  Authors: Aros-Vera, Felipe
  Authors: Aros-Vera, Felipe
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 592
  Paper Number: 13-4702