Identification of Affecting Factors on the Travel Time Reliability for Bus Transportation

Abstract

Public bus transit travel time is affected by many factors, including traffic signals and traffic condition. Transit agencies have implemented transit signal priority (TSP) strategies to reduce transit travel time and improve service reliability. However, due to the lack of empirical data, these factors' collective impact and bus travel time strategies have not been studied at the stop-to-stop segment level. This research focuses on the factors affecting travel time reliability, emphasising the variability between operators and the policy implications of such differences. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical methods have been used to assess the quality implications of public bus transportation time reliability. This research seeks to investigate the factors affecting the travel time (TT) reliability of bus transport. Studies were conducted along three bus routes serving different areas. Factors strongly related to TT reliability include route length, number of signalised intersections, day of the week, bus stops, departure delays, bus lane, passenger boarding and alighting, weather condition, and fare structure. Based on the proposed model factors affecting TT reliability, it was found that TT is strongly affected by the number of bus stoppings and also the length of the route. The reliability of all three routes during the weekday is low because of delays in departure. The number of signalised intersections along the route affects reliability. Meanwhile, more passengers boarding and paying cash increased the travel time reliability of buses.