Assessing Safety Implications of Bus Priority Systems: A Case-Study of a New BRT System in the Haifa Metropolitan Area

Abstract

Abstract Bus priority systems promote public transport use in urban areas whereas knowledge on their safety implications is as yet insufficient. This study explored safety impacts of a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system that was introduced in the Haifa metropolitan area, Israel, in August 2013. The study examined accident changes on roads with the BRT routes, relative to comparison sites, and safety performance of streets with various BRT configurations, during the first 2 years of the BRT operation. In spite of concerns related to the complexity of BRT settings and high traffic volumes, the BRT operation did not lead to a worsening in road safety, while decreasing trends were observed in some accident types and high shares of severe or pedestrian accidents did not appear. Such results were judged as successful and supporting the appropriateness of the design solutions adopted in the BRT system. The findings did not indicate significant differences in safety performance of streets with various BRT configurations, thus, leaving space for continued use of various forms. The major safety problem is seen in pedestrian accidents at BRT junctions, for which new engineering solutions are needed. More safety evaluation studies are required to support evidence-based decisions in planning BRT routes.