Route 149 - Intensive bus priority.

Author(s)
Pye, R. & Bode, C.
Year
Abstract

As part of recent bus priority programmes in London, bus route 149 has been the subject of the design and implementation of intensive bus priority measures. Investigations have been undertaken into how to optimise the use of the existing highway for buses. The types of measures to achieve this optimisation are the standard well-established bus priority techniques together with traffic signal control strategies to control traffic conditions on the route, enforcement strategies and complimentary traffic management measures in side roads. On the route an assessment has been made of the potential bus journey time improvements that could be achieved through the introduction of a package of bus priority measures. On a section of the route micro-simulation modelling (VISSIM) has been used to identify the primary influences on bus journey times and reliability and the extent of these influences. The main influences on bus journey time and reliability have been found to be: Signal timings/operation; Kerbside controls/activity; Bus stop spacing; Bus lanes. VISSIM models have been built for the existing situation (base model) and for a number of different scenarios: Differing levels of kerbside activity; Varying methods of signal control (in particular a study has been undertaken on the journey time impacts of the introduction of 'all green to pedestrian' facilities at signal junctions) New and extended bus lanes; Changed kerbside controls. From these different scenarios and by using varying flow levels (undersaturated through to oversaturated) it has been possible to begin to assess and understand the impact of the application of different techniques on bus journey times and reliability. In addition to the investigative and modelling work, bus priority measures have been implemented on-street. This has enabled the actual impact of the measures to be compared to the theoretical assessments of the potential reduction in journey times using before and after monitoring surveys. The bus journey time surveys broke down the journeys into their constituent parts enabling it to be determined where the actual changes in journey time were coming from. As well as having information on changes in bus operation resulting from the introduction of the bus priority measures, surveys have also covered other activities on the route. Survey results are available to indicate the impact of the measures on: General traffic journey times and reliability; Kerbside activity. The other element of this project has been how to continue to manage this route and 'lock-in/protect' the benefits that have been achieved for bus services. For the covering abstract please see ITRD E135207.

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Publication

Library number
C 43106 (In: C 42993 CD-ROM) /72 / ITRD E135325
Source

In: Proceedings of the European Transport Conference ETC, Strasbourg, France, 18-20 September 2005, Transport Policy and Operations - Traffic Engineering And Street Management - Innovations In Urban Traffic Management And Control. 2005. 15 p., 2 ref.

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