Capacity Estimation of On-Street, Mid-Block, Off-Line Bus Stops Considering Yield-to-Bus Rule

Abstract

The effectiveness of an on-street bus facility depends on the volume of general traffic sharing the buses’ travel lane. The Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual (TCQSM) methodology estimates capacity of a bus facility based on the operation of critical stops. The aim of this study is to understand better the performance of an on-street, mid-block, off-line bus stop by relating bus stop capacity to adjacent lane traffic volume. The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, the TCQSM methodology incorporates the effect of adjacent lane traffic volume on bus stop capacity at mid-block bus stops through its effect on re-entry delay, but it does not consider the impact of the bus stop itself on adjacent lane traffic capacity. This paper introduces a novel methodology to estimate the additional time required to accommodate adjacent lane traffic volume under saturated conditions. Second, the TCQSM methodology does not reflect the effect on re-entry delay of a yield-to-bus (YTB) rule, which is mandatory by law in some jurisdictions. This paper modifies the current TCQSM methodology by allowing for the YTB rule. A microscopic simulation model is developed in order to cross-validate the theoretical model developed.