This paper describes work in progress on bus priority at traffic signals, within the context of the European Union (EU) project INCOME (Integration of Traffic Control with Other Measures). It concentrates on some of INCOME's early applications in London and the results obtained there. INCOME applies Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) to improve the attractiveness and efficiency of public transport. Preceding this project, a preliminary evaluation of SPRINT trials in 1996 emphasised several aspects that should lead to system and survey improvements. The expansion of automatic vehicle location (AVL) in London, and the ageing and limitations of existing bus technology, have led to the development of new systems architectures. Selective priority data will operate on real-time bus location and timing data provided by AVL/COUNTDOWN, where bus routes will be divided into user-defined sections containing similar bus operating characteristics. Alternative headway algorithms have been evaluated using the purpose-built SPLIT (Selective Priority for Late buses Implemented with Traffic signals) simulation package, applied to a site in London. Congestion management strategies for buses will be tested at another site in London. Several feasibility studies are exploring strategic integration of different functions.
Abstract