Bus Rapid Transit Route Research Articles

Managing oversaturation in BRT corridors: A new approach of timetabling for resilience enhancement using a tailored integer L-shaped algorithm

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is a high-capacity public transport system that typically operates along urban transit corridors with dense travel demand. Maintaining the efficiency and stability of the BRT is paramount for daily transport operations. Owing to the difficulty in ensuring an exclusive right-of-way along the entire route, stochastic congestion events may occur resulting from road segments without dedicated BRT lanes. This may lead to volatility in travel time and resulting in passenger stranding, determined as common-case disruptions in this study. These common-case disruptions frequently occur in the daily operation of oversaturated BRT routes. To manage and mitigate their negative impacts, a novel timetabling problem for enhancing the resilience of a BRT system was proposed to assess the ability of the system to withstand and recover from these disruptions. We formulated the problem as a two-stage stochastic mixed-integer optimization model and designed an exact algorithm based on a tailored integer L-shaped method. We then analyzed the structural properties of our model and developed several acceleration techniques to further improve the efficiency of the algorithm. The computational results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the commercial solver in large-scale instances and can provide near-optimal solutions when the commercial solver is invalid. Besides, external comparisons with dynamic programming also demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm in solution efficiency. Compared with the benchmark timetabling problem, which aims to reduce passenger waiting time, the proposed method can efficiently reduce the duration of the oversaturation period by 35.3%.

Passenger‐based adaptive transit signal priority for BRT systems with multiple loading areas

AbstractAn adaptive transit signal priority strategy is presented in this paper with the objective of passenger delay minimization at isolated intersections serving conflicting bus rapid transit (BRT) routes. The proposed passenger‐based adaptive signal priority for BRT systems (PASPB) is designed to optimize both green times and phase sequences at the start of each cycle and for a prespecified decision horizon. Since a public transportation (PT) vehicle travel time model capable of estimating the dwell time at stops with multiple loading areas has not yet been developed, PT vehicle dwell time is modeled in this study by analyzing the cases of passenger service by single or double PT vehicles. The problem is formulated as a mixed‐integer nonlinear program (MINLP) and at each execution, the optimization is conducted by genetic algorithm. The model is deployed to a real‐field intersection with conflicting BRT routes under the SUMO microsimulation environment. The results show that PASPB outperforms the SYNCHRO optimal solution and phase insertion strategy regarding PT passenger delay. Besides, the sensitivity analysis proves that at high demand levels of the PT system or general traffic, PASPB presents the best performance in terms of general traffic, PT, and total passenger delay compared to other models.

Energy-saving speed profile planning for a connected and automated electric bus considering motor characteristic

Speed profiles play an important impact on the operational energy consumption of electric buses (EBs). In this study, an eco-driving method is proposed for a connected and automated EB serving on the bus rapid transit (BRT) route. Considering the effect of speed and road load conditions on motor efficiency in estimating energy consumption, a nonlinear programming model is proposed to optimize the energy-saving speed profile. Then the sparrow search algorithm is used for the solution to ensure that the computing time is less than the predetermined time gap. Finally, a real BRT route is taken as an example to carry out comparative and sensitivity analyses. Results indicate that: (i) the average motor efficiency can be improved by 2.11% after taking into account the effect of speed and road load conditions on motor efficiency in estimating energy consumption; (ii) the number of driving stages with uniform speed on each segment is recommended as 2 for balancing the computation time and solution quality; (iii) planning the energy-saving speed profile while regulating the signal timing at intersections improves the operational efficiency and exploit the energy-saving potential of the CAEB; (iv) as bus operation punctuality constraints become tighter, there is an increase in the operational efficiency, but a decline in the energy-saving potential of the CAEB.

Investigation of ambient BTEX concentrations along a bus rapid transit route in Tabriz: Spatio-temporal variations and health risk assessment

Urgent actions are imperative to assess ambient BTEX concentration in urban areas and increase awareness of the significant health risks linked to exposure to these volatile compounds. This study examines the spatiotemporal variations of BTEX concentration in BRT stations and provides a health risk assessment in Tabriz, located in the northwest of Iran. We collected samples repeatedly from four BRT stations and three areas between stations (N = 86). The mixture BTEX compounds had average concentrations ranging from 6.7 to 52.9 μg/m3, with the highest concentration belonging to o-xylene. Additionally, the average ratios of toluene/benzene, m-xylene/benzene, and o-xylene/benzene were 2.4, 2.3, and 3.0, respectively. Total BTEX concentrations were significantly higher in BRT stations than areas between stations. Furthermore, the concentration of total BTEX doubled in the evening compared to the morning. Although the maximum concentrations of BTEX were recorded in winter, there were no significant seasonal differences. The lifetime cancer risk (LCR) of benzene exposure was 1.07 × 10−7 and 1.52 × 10−5 for passengers and residents located in the vicinity of the BRT lane, respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests that emissions from BRT buses are one of the main contributors to BTEX in Tabriz.

Evaluation of Bus Rapid Transit System: Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia

Al Riyadh city, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is experiencing significant economic and population growth, it is also a major metropolitan area in Saudi Arabia and in the Gulf regions. This has led to a high level of car ownership and use of vehicles, and this has led to the construction of a series of slow-moving roads and roads around the city. Traffic congestion is a major problem, where road behavior has an economic and psychological impact on people. The Riyadh Bus stations and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System Project is an integral part of the current Riyadh metropolitan area including the new Riyadh Metro. The main objective of this paper’s is to study the “Bus Rapid Transit” network in the city of Al Riyadh and to assess the functioning of this network using geographic information systems and the theory of graphs. A centralized geodatabase has been built for BRT lines and stations. A geometric network was conducted for BRT routes to facilitate moving from any location to another within Riyadh city. The assessment and evaluation of BRT routes focused on routes and station distribution regarding Riyadh city and how BRT solved population needs in Riyadh city. Using the powerful GIS network analysis functions, a navigation system was developed to assist passengers in planning their trips from one station to another giving detailed information about route directions and different BRT lines used. The study reinforces the value of good design techniques for accessible public transportation systems. The utilization of accessible vehicles, such as low-floor buses, is needed but lacking for such an accessible system, planners and operators should be aware.

Persepsi Masyarakat Terhadap Berhentinya Program Bus Rapid Transit

The research was inspired by the cessation of Bus Rapid Transit program in Mataram which basically the program first goal was to facilitate the Mataram people’s mobility and activities to travel. In addition, the Bus Rapid Transit program, commonly referred to as Trans Mataram Bus, was also aimed to reduce congestion and the number of private vehicles. By reducing the private vehicles on the road, it was expected that the air pollution would also be reduced. The fact that the program is no longer running, considering the large fund spent to build the program and some goals mentioned, this research aim is to find out why the Mataram Bus Rapid Transit program is currently not running using the perception of Mataram people. The research method used Descriptive with a Quantitative approach. The data was taken using observation, interview, literature review and questionnaire. The results show that the Bus Rapid Transit program in Mataram is not working due to the lack of public interest in public transportation services. There are some reasons related which are the Bus Rapid Transit routes or services, at that time, did not cover all areas in Mataram, there is no specific lane for Bus Rapid Transit, the location of the bus stop is far from the residential area and the lack of socialization related to the program so that many communities did not get clear information.

MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMIZATION FOR BRT ROUTES USING GENETIC ALGORITHM: NEW CAIRO CASE STUDY

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is a cost-effective public transport mode suitable for mega cities compared to other modes. In the planning process, route selection is a main target considering the available infrastructure, modes, land-use, and socio-economic characteristics. Additionally, the environmental, social, and economic objectives should be considered to achieve sustainability. In this research, a new multi-objective optimization algorithm for BRT route selection using Genetic Algorithm is presented. The proposed algorithm involves four stages: generating sufficient initial set of feasible routes, considering the more effective parameters, selecting the optimum route considering constraints and objective functions, and adopting the resulting optimum routes to select the following optimal route. New Cairo City, Egypt, through its VISUM transport model, was investigated as a case study where its road network is evaluated after considering the nominated BRT routes compared with the Do-Nothing scenario. The comparison shows 8% reduction in travel time in the city and 10% reduction in traffic emissions. Keywords: Bus Rapid Transit, Route Optimization, Genetic Algorithm, Visum DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.1.60

Land use impacts of implementing a bus rapid transit system: case of Beirut southern corridor

This study investigates and forecasts the effects of implementing a newly proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Lebanon on the urban land use evolution between the years 2019 and 2049. It contributes to the emerging scientific literature by proposing a technique intended to identify the potential urban land use impacts of BRT. The identification of these impacts as part of the feasibility study for the BRT is considered important for policymakers, local officials, and urban planners. The impacts are identified by conducting the Analytical Hierarchy Process, based on data collected via survey and interviews with real estate experts. The outcomes show that implementing a BRT service complemented with bus feeder services will: (i) reshape the urban fabric, in proximity to BRT routes and particularly around the stations, by triggering the Transit-Oriented Development and increasing the attractivity of urban development by 6 to 9% according to the distance from BRT route; and (ii) increase the attractivity of urban development projects by 11% in areas distant from the highway if these areas are characterized by high coverage of bus feeder services, low possibility of an increase in estate prices, and medium to high public acceptance of the proposed BRT.

Impacts of Beijing Bus Rapid Transit on Pre-owned Home Values

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has gained increasing popularity worldwide in the last few decades. However, few studies have investigated BRT’s impacts on property values in Chinese cities. This research, taking BRT route 1 (BRT1) and BRT route 3 (BRT3) in Beijing as examples, showed that proximity to BRT3 stops is weakly related to pre-owned home prices along the route, whereas BRT1 has induced a significant price premium. For BRT1, the impact is not linear. Specifically, pre-owned home prices for homes within 5–10 minutes’ walking distance to BRT stations is 5.35% higher than those located closer to or farther away. The difference between the two routes can be explained by resident income differences and BRT route alignments. For homes very close to the subway route, the impacts of BRT vanish.

Integrating Livability Principles into Transit Planning: Screening Chicago Bus Rapid Transit Opportunities

Pilot Chicago Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes proposed in 2008 were impractical to build, did not meet Institute for Transportation and Development Policy defined “gold standard” BRT, and were selected without considering the Livability Principles guiding investment by the U.S. government. Streets incompatible with BRT and not meeting basic constructability standards were eliminated. The remaining contiguous street sections were scored on the weighted performance of 14 quantitative proxies for the Livability Principles. Transit connectivity considerations further refined the pool to produce potential BRT routes. For discussion purposes, these routes were organized into a hypothetical BRT network to complement the existing rapid transit system; potential 2010 travel demand impacts were modeled. This study identified 10 potential BRT routes for further consideration. The integration of the Livability Principles into the study was promising but had limited impact because of the greater than anticipated influence of right-of-way width requirements.

Exploring Comparative Ridership Drivers of Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit Routes

A major research gap is the relative ridership performance of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), and streetcar (SC). This paper assesses ridership influences of 101 routes in Australia, Europe, and North America using multiple regression examining the influence of transit mode, vehicle capacity, service level, employment/residential density, car ownership, speed, stop spacing, right-of-way, vehicle accessibility, and integrated fares on ridership (boardings/vehicle km; BVK). Average ridership is higher for LRT/SC routes than for BRT routes, and although service levels vary greatly, they are lower on BRT systems. Residential/employment density is higher for LRT/SC routes compared to BRT. A regression model predicting BVK was significant (R2 = 0.83) with six predictors: being in Europe, speed, vehicle capacity, employment density, service level, and integrated ticketing. Results suggest that the transit mode does not directly impact ridership but rather acts through vehicle size and service levels. Limitations and opportunities for future research are identified.

The route not taken: Equity and transparency in unfunded transit proposals

Transportation equity research and assessments undertaken by academics and practitioners stretches back decades. Despite the abundance of work, questions still remain about how decisions are made in the transportation planning process, including how routes are analyzed and prioritized. To understand this, we examine the potential equity outcomes of bus rapid transit routes that were neither funded nor constructed in three Canadian case studies (Ottawa, ON; Winnipeg, MB; and York, ON). Through a mixed-methods approach including spatial analysis, content analysis, and interviews, we analyze the equity implications of both built and unbuilt route options, and transparency in the planning processes. Relying primarily on publicly-available data may have limitations for understanding decision-making, yet it also provides insight into the transparency of processes. While in some cases, built BRT routes serve a larger proportion overall of high-need census tracts than proposed options, several unbuilt route options would have likely provided greater improvements for equity-seeking groups in these cities. Despite the push towards increased public engagement in transportation planning, we find a lack of explicit or systematic documentation as to why routes were discarded. With multiple priorities shaping transportation planning and decision-making, planners and policy-makers should be explicit in both the selection criteria used and how they are weighted.

Exploring changes in individuals travel behaviour after bus Rapid Transit implementation in Dar es Salaam

The use of Informal Public Transport (IPT; i.e., minibuses, motorcycles, and tricycles) for activity participation in Dar es Salaam is associated with mobility difficulties, e.g., traffic congestion, unscheduled services, and lack of safety of the journey. The introduction of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in May 2016 aimed at reducing mobility difficulties by improving public transport (PT) with scheduled services and fully dedicated lanes to improve access to the Central Business District. This study compares individuals' travel behaviour before and (2 years) after BRT implementation using a GPS-app to explore changes in spatial mobility demands, i.e., (new) visited places, frequency of travel, trip distances, and departure times. Short surveys were used to record the socio-demographic characteristics. Results: the use of IPT remained a necessary means of transport for low-income individuals to commute outside the BRT corridor in multiple destinations, as the use of the BRT route is spatially limited. The new BRT system had become the main option for trips conducted to fixed destinations along the corridor and within service hours. The spatial mobility patterns showed that individuals are now adding BRT to their trip chaining, enabling them to access amenities, make more trips and travel farther distances. The results provide insights for transportation planners who tend to focus mainly on BRT as the only solution for all mobility demands. Each transport system has its own spatial mobility benefits to offer. An integrated PT within a framework of a multimode system is vital for inclusive mobility.

Exploring the safety level of a signalized roundabout with crossing BRT: an observational pilot, in Israel

Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems promote public transport use in big cities, but their implementation requires substantial changes in urban infrastructure, with impacts on road user behaviours and safety. In Israel, recently, a BRT system called "Matronit" was introduced in the Haifa metropolitan area. The extension of the BRT network included a new setting - a signalized multi-lane roundabout with a bi-directional BRT running through its center and traffic lights for the circular traffic when crossing the BRT route. Such a setting was not familiar to Israeli drivers and thus the initial operation of the roundabout was accompanied by an observational pilot. The study focused on safety-related behaviours of road users, e.g. drivers' compliance to the red-light; vehicle behaviours in the roundabout entrance areas; giving right-of-way to pedestrians. A before-after comparison was not possible, thus, the study aimed to characterize the safety level of the new setting by estimating the rates of risky behaviours observed and comparing them with indicators reported in the literature for similar traffic settings. The data were extracted from video-records of the traffic control center, in four areas of the roundabout, two near the traffic lights and at two entrance areas. The results showed that red-light violations were committed by 14% of the vehicles in one traffic-light area, with no cases in the other. On average, one-two red-light violations can be expected per hour, the frequency comparable with signalized intersections. Furthermore, 86% of the cases occurred during the first two seconds of the red-light, with no "near-collisions" between the vehicle and the BRT. In both entrance areas, when traffic was present inside the roundabout, 10%-20% of entering vehicles did not slow down, and this behaviour was more frequent under the red-lights. However, in most cases, the distance between the interacting vehicles was sufficient, while conflicts (with braking) were rare, in 1% of cases. Pedestrian appearance on the crosswalks was rare, but many of them (38%) were ignored by entering vehicles, while such behaviour is common for multi-lane roundabouts. In summary, the pilot demonstrated that the safety level of the roundabout was comparable to other settings, but risky driver behaviours were present both near the traffic lights and in the entrance areas. The findings seem to be site-specific and further research is needed to better fit infrastructure design solutions to various traffic volumes at roundabouts with crossing BRT.

The Use of Geographic Information System to Analyze Stations Locating for Proposed Rapid Bus Route in AL KUT City.

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) It is one of the public vehicle systems in modern cities that provides fast, convenient, and cost-saving transport services. It operates on separate lines. The activation of the BRT system depends on the locations of the stations within its route. If the stations were located in suitable locations, it would attract a large number of passengers, this contributes to an increase in the use of public transport and thus reduces traffic congestion, road accidents and environmental pollution in the city. In this research, station locations for the proposed BRT route in Al Kut city will be studied and analyzed. 10 candidate sites were selected for BRT stations. Criteria that were used to analyze the sites of these stations are the locations of government institutions, health and educational services, stopping points for current means of transportation, and the population density of city areas. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) technology was used to represent these criteria spatially on the map to be processed and prepared for analysis using the Services Coverage Tool (Service Area) and allocation Tool (Allocation – Location) available in the network analysis toolbar and overlay tool (intersect) in the Toolbox menu. The results of the analysis showed that the sites of (10) BRT stations are within good and reasonable services coverage areas in relation to the services distribution sites in the city and the BRT route site, as the stations cover (76) government site, (69) educational institutions, (10) health sites, and (11) stops for the current transportation lines. The results of the statistical analysis also showed that the coverage of BRT stations is 88% of the total population density in the city.

A Heuristic Method for Bus Rapid Transit Planning Based on the Maximum Trip Service

Bus rapid transit (BRT) is characterized by higher speed, higher comfort level, and larger capacity than conventional bus service. Although many cities worldwide have adopted BRT in recent years, there is an absence of scientific and quantitative approach for BRT network planning. The problem of BRT planning in an existing transportation network is very complex with constraints of road geometrics, regulations, right of way, travel demand, vehicle operations, and so on. This paper focuses on developing an optimization model for BRT network planning, where an integer programing model is established to identify station locations and route layout with the objective of maximizing the number of trips served by the network, subjected to constraints including distance between stations, cost of construction, road geometrics, etc. The detour factor of the BRT route, which is an important indicator but widely ignored in previous studies, is also taken as a constraint. A heuristic method is applied to generate optimal solutions to the integer programming model, followed by a case study using the transportation network and travel demand data in Luoyang, China. The numerical results show that the method is valid and can therefore be applied to improve BRT network planning and the sustainable transportation system development.

A Planning Method for Partially Grid-Connected Bus Rapid Transit Systems Operating with In-Motion Charging Batteries

This paper presents an electrical infrastructure planning method for transit systems that operate with partially grid-connected vehicles incorporating on-board batteries. First, the state-of-the-art of electric transit systems that combine grid-connected and battery-based operation is briefly described. Second, the benefits of combining a grid connection and battery supply in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems are introduced. Finally, the planning method is explained and tested in a BRT route in Medellin, Colombia, using computational simulations in combination with real operational data from electric buses that are currently operating in this transit line. Unlike other methods and approaches for Battery Electric Bus (BEB) infrastructure planning, the proposed technique is system-focused, rather than solely limited to the vehicles. The objective of the technique, from the vehicle’s side, is to assist the planner in the correct sizing of batteries and power train capacity, whereas from the system side the goal is to locate and size the route sections to be electrified. These decision variables are calculated with the objective of minimizing the installed battery and achieve minimum Medium Voltage (MV) network requirements, while meeting all technical and reliability conditions. The method proved to be useful to find a minimum feasible cost solution for partially electrifying a BRT line with In-motion Charging (IMC) technology.

Understanding the Effectiveness of Bus Rapid Transit Systems in Small and Medium-Sized Cities in North America

In response to a lack of existing academic literature in relation to bus rapid transit (BRT) system success in small and medium-sized cities, this research examines the operational, demographic, and socioeconomic aspects of BRT at the route and system level in 16 small and medium-sized cities across North America. The results are compared with BRTs of large North American metropolitan areas to establish how the determinants of and requirements for BRT success differ. A wide array of factors collected from transit agencies, the Canadian and American 2016 censuses, and General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data are analyzed alongside ridership, which represents the primary determinant of BRT system success. The findings suggest that BRT routes of larger cities generally enjoy higher ridership levels compared with smaller and medium-sized cities in North America. Operational variables including service frequency were considerably higher in larger cities, with shorter route lengths, compared to small and medium cities. Higher population density, local accessibility, and percentage of rented households can also be observed in larger cities’ BRT system catchment areas in comparison with smaller cities. However, some BRT routes of smaller and medium-sized cities in North America exhibit comparable ridership levels with those in large cities. These routes have similar levels in relation to rentership, route length, and headway, with good local accessibility, while falling behind in population density. This paper expands on previous research on BRT systems, helping transit planners and policymakers to better understand the relationship between the city size and BRT ridership levels.

Longitudinal jerk and celeration as measures of safety in bus rapid transit drivers in Tehran

Traditionally, analysis of individual differences in road traffic crash risk has relied on after the fact crash data. Nowadays with the help of technologies like GPS, new measures are developed to assess driving risk, inferred from naturalistic driving behaviour of drivers. In this study, two main ways of modelling driver behaviour in naturalistic driving research were discussed and compared to each other. For this purpose, 176 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) drivers were investigated during their normal driving on Tehran BRT routes. Their speed was continuously recorded by a smart phone app from which was derived deceleration, jerk and celeration measures. Analysis showed that all of the proposed measures had positive correlations with culpable crashes and that one of the jerk variables yielded the highest correlation. Measurements of speed derivatives like jerk and celeration can help to identify dangerous driving styles in public transportation and reduce the number of crashes. Although the results of this study are encouraging, further studies for longer periods are needed to improve the reliability of the measures.

Proposing Major BRT Routes for Rajshahi City Towards Increasing Public Transport Demand and Alleviation of Congestion Level to Achieve A Sustainable Urban Public Transport System

Rajshahi is the fourth largest city of Bangladesh having a population of around 8 lakhs with a high urbanization rate of 32.93%. The transportation system of Rajshahi is comprising of motorized transport (bus, mini-bus, truck, car, auto-rickshaw, auto-tempo, motorcycle, etc.) and nonmotorized transports (viz. rickshaw, rickshaw van, bicycle, pushcart, etc.). The rapidly increasing population along with the diversified land-use patterns generating considerable transport demands on the transportation system and the higher number of transport vehicles causes numerous problems in the city such as traffic congestion, road accidents, less effective and inefficient traffic movement, inadequate traffic management, environmental pollution, sound pollution and so on. The number of private vehicles is increasing day by day because there is no public transport system with an effective public transport network within the city. As a result, major shares of the roads are occupied by the small vehicles make complexities for efficient traffic movement. According to a recent analysis of RCC (Rajshahi City Corporation) the annual average growth rate of these traffics is motorized (8.50%), auto-rickshaw (12.30%), motorcycle (12.60%), truck (5.30%) and car (5.70%). So, the upcoming future of the transport sector in Rajshahi city is going to face an uncertain challenge through the increasing population and rapidly growing motorized traffics which will affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the transport systems. In view of the worsening traffic congestion and deterioration inaccessibility, level of service, safety, and operational efficiency, it is time to introduce the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). In this paper, an attempt has been made to provide an overview of the public transportation system of Rajshahi city and five major BRT routes have been proposed for ever-increasing public transport demand towards alleviation of congestion level and achieving a sustainable urban public transport system.