Using Combined Bus Rapid Transit and Buses in a Dedicated Bus Lane to Enhance Urban Transportation Sustainability

Chinnawat Hoonsiri,Siriluk Chiarakorn,Vasin Kiattikomol

doi:10.3390/su13063052

Chinnawat Hoonsiri, Siriluk Chiarakorn + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063052

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Abstract

Combined bus rapid transit and buses in a dedicated bus lane (CBBD) is a measure that bus rapid transit (BRT) operators implement to reduce overlapping routes between BRT and fixed-route buses. The CBBD measure can combine the passengers of both systems on the same route, which helps increase passenger demand for the BRT, and reduce fuel consumption and emissions from utilizing the exclusive lanes for the combined route. However, the CBBD could affect some bus and BRT passengers in terms of either losing or gaining travel time-saving benefits depending on their travel pattern. This research proposed a methodology to determine the travel distance initiating disadvantage for BRT passengers (DDB) to justify the potential success of the CBBD operations. The number of passengers gaining a benefit from the CBBD was sensitive to the distance between the CBBD stops and the operational period of the CBBD. The CBBD reform would be beneficial to transit agencies to improve the travel time of passengers and be able to promote environmental sustainability for the public transportation system in urban cities.

Highlights

This study aims to identify decision criteria for the combine the BRT and bus routes (CBBD) reform by analyzing the travel distance initiating disadvantage for bus rapid transit (BRT) passengers (DDB)
The CBBD measure could be beneficial to BRT and bus systems in both direct and indirect ways
The direct benefits of the CBBD are the increase in BRT lane utilization and time saving for bus passengers while the indirect benefits are the energy saving and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction due to the improved operational speed of the regular buses from using the BRT lanes

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Buses are economically competitive for low passenger levels when compared to the rail system. The use of a bus-based public transit system has been in favor of both large and small cities [1,2].

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