Users’ Perception on Operation and Performance of Public Transport Systems in African Developing Countries: The Case of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania

Public transport system has been a means of addressing transportation challenges in urban areas, such as traffic congestion, traffic jam and long travel time in cities worldwide. Transportation in Africa is unique in that it has the least developed public transport systems in the world, while also being one of the fastest urbanizing continents. Bus Rapid Transit being one of the public transport systems was introduced in Africa in 2008 as a means to provide solution on urban transportation challenges. Despite of public transport being the main means of transport in African developing countries, there have been a number of challenges that affects efficiency of performance of the system and makes its users uncomfortable. Therefore, the study aimed at exploring the setbacks or challenges associated with operation and performance of the BRT system in the African developing countries and address them. The study employed mixed methods research design that integrates both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analysis. The study findings reveal that, there is an improvement on the perspectives of the commuters on public transport after introduction of BRT system. However, some challenges such as long waiting time, passengers overcrowding during peak hours, as well as safety and security can slowly change the perspective of the commuters. Therefore, to address these challenges it is recommended to reduce the long waiting time and improve accessibility by introduction of passenger information displays (bus information system) and automated fare collection system;reduce travel time by introduction of bus priority signal;and improve safety and security by introduction of signage and CCTV Camera within the bus and bus stops.

Integrated Performance Measures for Bus Rapid Transit System and Traffic Signal Systems Using Trajectory Data

Bus rapid transit (BRT) systems have been implemented in many cities over the past two decades. Widespread adoption of General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS), the deployment of high-fidelity bus GPS data tracking, and anonymized high-fidelity connected vehicle data from private vehicles have provided new opportunities for performance measures that can be used by both transit agencies and traffic signal system operators. This paper describes the use of trajectory-based data to develop performance measures for a BRT system in Indianapolis, Indiana. Over 3 million data records during the 3-month period between March and May 2022 are analyzed to develop visualizations and performance metrics. A methodology to estimate the average delay and schedule adherence is presented along a route comprised of 74 signals and 28 bus stations. Additionally, this research demonstrates how these performance measures can be used to evaluate dedicated and non-dedicated bus lanes with general traffic. Travel times and reliability of buses are compared with nearly 30 million private vehicle trips. Results show that median travel time for buses on dedicated bi-directional lanes is within one minute of general traffic and during peak periods the buses are often faster. Schedule adherence was observed to be more challenging, with approximately 3% of buses arriving within 1 minute on average during the 5AM hour and 5% of buses arriving 6 - 9 minutes late during the 5PM hour. The framework and performance measures presented in this research provide agencies and transportation professionals with tools to identify opportunities for adjustments and to justify investment decisions.

Modeling customer satisfaction for bus rapid transit in Changzhou, China

This paper aims to develop a customer satisfaction model for bus rapid transit （BRT）. Both the socio-economic and travel characteristics of passengers were considered to be independent variables. Changzhou BRT was taken as an example and on which on-board surveys were conducted to collect data. Ordinal logistic regression （OLR） was used as the modeling approach. The general OLR-based procedure for modeling customer satisfaction is proposed and based on which the customer satisfaction model of Changzhou BRT is developed. Some important findings are concluded： Waiting sub-journey affects customer satisfaction the most, riding sub- journey comes second and arriving station sub-journey has relatively fewer effects. The availability of shelter and benches at stations imposes heavy influence on customer satisfaction. Passengers＇ socio-economic characteristics have heavy impact on customer satisfaction.

Impact of viscosity modifier on asphalt properties used for bus rapid transit lanes in Chengdu

In order to find the effect of different viscosity modifier dosages on asphalt binder＇s performance in bus rapid transit lanes in the city of Chengdu, three different viscosity modifiers were analyzed： TAFPACK-super （TPS）, high-viscosity additive （HVA） and road-science- technology （RST）, and four different asphalt binders were investigated through laboratory experiments. The percent- ages of the viscosity modifiers used were： TPS （0%, 8%, 10%, 12%, 14% and 16%） and RST and HVA （8% and 12%） depending on the type of asphalt binder. Technical indicators of modifier asphalt were tested through con- ventional and unconventional binder tests. It has been found out that only a percentage greater than or equal to 14% TPS is reasonable to achieve the requirement set by 20,000 Pa. s for the 60℃ dynamic viscosity on local #70 grade asphalt. The results indicate that conventional bin- ders did not meet the requirements of the 60℃ dynamic viscosity when 12% of TPS or HVA modifiers were used. In addition, the B-type styrene-butadienne-styrene （SBS） modified asphalt binder has better viscosity balance than the A-type SBS modified when 8% of each of the three different kinds of viscosity modifiers is used. Therefore, the B-type modified SBS thus appears to be a suitable choice in asphalt mixtures for bus rapid transit lane with the 60℃ dynamic viscosity.

达喀尔BRT中的智能交通系统

为切实解决非洲地区交通拥堵问题,提高市民的出行效率,非洲国家塞内加尔首都达喀尔采取快速公交(BRT)系统作为一种解决方案,并且结合智能交通系统的应用。通过分析一些重要的智能交通技术在达喀尔BRT中的应用,并从系统构成、系统功能、系统框图等方面进行深入研究。表明智能交通系统在改善达喀尔目前的交通状况、提升出行体验等方面都起到积极的作用。说明达喀尔BRT智能交通系统的应用可充分发挥智能技术在交通领域的优势,为解决交通拥堵和提高交通效率提供可行的解决方案。同时,其成功经验和成果对其他非洲地区改善交通状况和推动城市可持续发展具有重要的借鉴意义。

Dwell time estimation models for bus rapid transit stations

Bus rapid transit （BRT） systems have been shown to have many advantages including affordability, high capacity vehicles, and reliable service. Due to these attractive advantages, many cities throughout the world are in the process of planning the construction of BRT systems. To improve the performance of BRT systems, many researchers study BRT operation and control, which include the study of dwell times at bus/BRT stations. To ensure the effectiveness of real-time control which aims to avoid bus/BRT vehicles congestion, accurate dwell time models are needed. We develop our models using data from a BRT vehicle survey conducted in Changzhou, China, where BRT lines are built along passenger corridors, and BRT stations are enclosed like light rails. This means that interactions between passengers traveling on the BRT system are more frequent than those in traditional transit system who use platform stations. We statistically analyze the BRT vehicle survey data, and based on this analysis, we are able to make the following conclusions： （ I ） The delay time per passenger at a BRT station is less than that at a non-BRT station, which implies that BRT stations are efficient in the sense that they are able to move passengers quickly. （II） The dwell time follows a logarithmic normal distribution with a mean of 2.56 and a variance of 0.53. （III） The greater the number of BRT lines serviced by a station, the longer the dwell time is. （IV） Daily travel demands are highest during the morning peak interval where the dwell time, the number of passengers boarding and alighting and the number of passengers on vehicles reach their maximum values. （V） The dwell time is highly positively correlated with the total number of passengers boarding and alighting. （VI） The delay per passenger is negatively correlated with the total number of passengers boarding and alighting. We propose two dwell time models for the BRT station. The first proposed model is a linear model while the second is nonlinear. We introduce the conflict between passengers boarding and alighting into our models. Finally, by comparing our models with the models of Rajbhandari and Chien et al., and TCQSM （Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual）, we conclude that the proposed nonlinear model can better predict the dwell time at BRT stations.

Combinations of Transportation Policies to Promote BRT Usage Using Artificial Society Model

Various transportation systems have been developed in recent years.In this study,an artificial society model is developed to examine the combination of transportation policies in urban areas.In this model,each trip maker selects the primary and terminal transportation modes.An artificial society model is applied to the southeastern region of Osaka City,Japan.The effects of introducing BRT(bus rapid transit,primary transportation)and on-demand buses(terminal transportation)are investigated.The results confirm that BRT is used by a certain number of users.An increase in the use of BRT will increase the amount of walking,thus resulting in a healthy city.However,on-demand buses are rarely used as terminal transportation.Additionally,the development of bicycle parking stations near BRT stops is shown to be effective in the northern section of the BRT route.

Optimizing Performance of atgrade Intersection with Bus Rapid Transit Corridor and Heterogeneous Traffic

Bus Rapid Transit(BRT)has emerged as a preferred mode of public transport in various countries all over the world for its cost effectiveness in construction as well as in operation and maintenance.The rapid transit feature of BRT is seen as a solution to many traffic problems in these countries.However,in developing countries like India,the right–of-way for most of the roads is restricted and traffic is heterogeneous in nature.Provision of BRT in existing right–ofway reduces the capacity available for other motorized traffic.As the buses travel with a certain frequency on dedicated bus-ways,the dedicated corridor remains unused for most of the period when other traffic on motorized vehicle(MV)lanes suffers from congestion.The problem gets severe at intersections.However,if buses are operated in mixed traffic it is no more rapid transit.Hence,a solution is required to address this problem and optimize the performance of traffic as a whole.This paper presents the effect if dedicated bus-ways end at a reasonable distance before the stop line at a busy signalized at-grade intersection,and bus lanes(beyond that)are made available to all the motorized vehicular traffic(heterogeneous traffic)at intersection.The performance evaluation is done in terms of average queue length,maximum queue length,average delay time per vehicle,vehicle throughput,average speed in network and emission of Carbon monoxide CO,mono-nitrogen oxides NOx and Volatile organic compounds(VOC).It is observed that availability of bus lanes to other motorized traffic for a reasonable distance before intersection considerably reduces the average queue length,maximum queue length,average delay time per vehicle and emission per vehicle,while there is an increase in vehicle throughput and average speed of all the vehicles in the network.Thus it results in reduction of congestion and performance enhancement of at-grade intersections and network.Results of investigation are relevant in international context.VISSIM,a microscopic simulation tool,is used to model the heterogeneous traffic and public transit lines under constraints of roadway geometry,vehicle characteristics,driving behaviour and traffic controls.The effect is investigated with different random seeds to obtain reasonable results for analysis.

Decision-Aiding Transit-Tracker Methodology for Bus Scheduling Using Real Time Information to Ameliorate Traffic Congestion in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

The bustling urban environment of Kathmandu Valley is characterized by unprecedented traffic congestion. Due to its bowel-shaped geography, gusty winds rarely remove vehicular emissions from the urban atmosphere, making Kathmandu one of Asia’s most polluted cities, 100th city in global pollution index. Over 500,000 vehicles travel daily on over 1600 km of roads covering over 675 sq·km urban area. Thousands of low occupancy vehicles are added each year to the urban public transit system (UPTS). Kathmandu faces worse and unreliable traffic from the current UPTS mostly with low occupancy vehicles. Around 4.5 million urban denizens, both permanent and transient residents, suffer from unreliable UPTS. Traffic rules and daily transportation schedules are rarely followed, resulting in frequent traffic jams and accidents. Once experienced, visitors try avoiding the UPTS. Tourism, annually contributing almost 8 percent to Nepal’s total annual GDP, also suffers from poor UPTS. Planners, policy makers, and politicians (P-actors) are seeking ways to improve sustainable UPTS to ameliorate stresses to family life and working hours for the urban majority. Aiming to help P-actors, we propose a transit-tracker model that uses real time information (RTI) in mobile phones and web-embedded devices to inform travelers, drivers, government authorities, and sub-admins. We argue that unreliability in the UPTS motivates urban elites to add more low occupancy vehicles, which in turn reduces already shrunken urban spaces and contributes more per capita air pollution than multi-occupancy vehicles. Since mobile and smart phones are capable of processing RTI to generate meaningful information and inform various stakeholders in communicable languages, we argue that replacing low occupancy vehicles with multi-occupancy buses within a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, on main roads with fixed schedules and strict traffic rules, would not only improve UPTS, but also reduce pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.

BRT项目工程技术经济分析——以中山大道快速公交试验线为例

快速公交(bus rapid transit,BRT)系统是一种介于轨道交通与常规公交之间的新型运营系统。它利用现代化的公交技术配合智能交通的运营管理,使常规的公交系统可以基本达到或接近轨道交通的服务水平,而其投资及运营成本远低于轨道交通。有关数据资料统计显示,BRT投资及运营成本仅为地铁系统的1/10,但就速度、运力、可靠性和形象而言,BRT可以提供类似地铁的服务水平。以广州市中山大道快速公交试验线项目为例,对BRT项目的工程技术经济特点进行分析总结。

基于成本-效益优化的BRT规划方案评价研究

采用不同的元素组合规划快速公交系统,能反映不同的公交服务水平和资金投入．结合国内城市公交需求特点,以缩短乘客全程等待时间和确定合理车队规模为出发点,提出了基于成本-效益优化的BRT规划方案优选模型及算法,为大城市BRT规划方案比选提供了决策支持．

考虑地铁换乘客流的BRT运营调度模型研究

针对高峰期间地铁换乘的大客流对快速公交运营调度的影响,本文以快速公交运送乘客量最大化、乘客成本最小化、运营成本最小化为目标,建立了多目标规划模型,并设计了启发式求解算法.通过案例研究,可以得出最优发车间隔为2 min,但存在客流损失,如果保证客流不损失则发车间隔只能是1 min,但运营成本大幅增加,而且存在严重的运力浪费;在容忍度从5 min到15 min的变化过程中,各项指标值(包括最优解)都没有变化,仅仅乘客等车成本和总成本呈阶梯变化,即在大客流情况下最优发车间隔对容忍度不敏感.在BRT实际运营调度中,应综合权衡各方利益,根据实际需求考虑发车间隔大小.

广州市中山大道BRT主干道的联动分析

为探索BRT方案在高密度开发地区实施的可行性及其运行效益,采用实地调查与案例分析的方法,以广州中山大道BRT干道的设计为例,结合中山大道现有交通组织特点,指出BRT建设可能对其交叉路口交通组织、周边线路的联动和车辆过量占道等方面造成影响,认为实现"人地车"的协调才是城市交通规划的关键;提出促成交叉口BRT优先通行技术和ITS(智能交通系统)技术的应用、进一步优化运营模式、适当限制私人交通、合理规划公交地铁的驳接和大力发展快速公交并构建快速公交网络系统等措施。

基于交叉口双站台的BRT优先控制研究

为解决交叉口因BRT优先影响其他车辆通行问题,提出基于交叉口双站台的BRT优先控制方法.给出交叉口BRT双站台设置方法,对比分析BRT在交叉口单、双站台的平均延误.根据BRT发车时刻、交叉口信号配时、BRT平均车速、交叉口间距及站台停靠时间等,制定BRT站台预停靠方案和行车时刻表.为确保BRT按照预停靠站台及时刻表运行,采用BRT车速引导与信号配时双重补偿修正BRT实际离站时刻与时刻表的偏差.以常州BRT 1号线为例,对应用本文方法的5个交叉口进行分析.结果表明:BRT在每个站台实际离站时刻偏差范围为±5 s、±10 s、±20 s时,本文优先控制方法显著减少BRT停车次数和延误,提高了BRT整体运营效率.

面向BRT车队形成的站台乘车诱导控制模型

分析了乘客乘车诱导控制对公交车辆停站时间的影响.根据BRT站台内乘客的OD需求,利用站台乘车诱导控制方法,以BRT车辆进出站台保持队形为目的,建立了单条与多条公交线路车辆的停站时间模型.给出了停站时间状态方程的矩阵形式,分别设计了全局寻优的遍历方法和局部快速寻优的遗传算法,使得同一进站车队中不同公交车辆的停站时间趋于一致,从而实现了面向BRT车队形成的站台乘车诱导控制.通过案例分析,对比了利用本模型所求诱导控制方案与无诱导方式下客流均分方案的实施效果,验证了本模型在均衡公交站台车辆停站时间的优越性,为实现上下游交叉口间的BRT车队协调控制奠定了技术基础.

快速公交(BRT)智能系统规划与设计研究

快速公交系统作为一种新型的客运模式,以其工程投资少、建设周期短、环境污染小、运输效率高等优点而被认为是解决城市交通拥堵问题的有效方式之一,成为世界范围内城市交通领域研究的热点。以大连市快速公交示范线工程建设为背景,对快速公交系统的规划和设计进行了探讨和应用。

绿色交通背景下我国城市BRT存在问题及发展建议——科学认识BRT及其应用

针对中国城市BRT建设中存在的问题,从功能定位、技术标准、经济性和经营管理等方面进行科学分析,指出应该加深对"优先发展公共交通"的认识,从中国城市的实际出发,从"绿色交通"的要求出发,改革城市公交系统结构,按照公交快车线路的标准改进BRT的建设和管理。

城市快速公交(BRT)专用道客运能力探讨

从分析车辆的制动过程出发,推导出在保证公交车辆安全和满足乘客基本舒适条件下公交车辆最小车头时距的计算方法,在此基础上对理想道路交通条件下(即不考虑停靠站等因素的影响)快速公交系统专用道的理论客运能力进行了研究.通过分析停靠站停靠能力的影响因素,探讨了在考虑停靠站影响条件下BRT实际客运能力的计算方法,并给出了不同车辆配置、不同停靠滞留时间和不同停靠泊位数所对应的BRT实际客运能力值.

实施城市快速公交(BRT)的平面交叉口处理技术

对保障 BRT实施效果的平面交叉口处理技术进行探讨 ,包括对公交专用进口道技术及其设置方法、公交优先的预信号控制技术及其设置方法。

快速公交BRT系统关键技术分析及应用

对快速公交系统设计要素进行了总结,结合普通公交进行对比分析,针对性突出了BRT系统设计关键技术。此外,对工程实例盈港路BRT系统关键技术研究成果进行了介绍,以对其他城市和地区的BRT系统建设提供一定的借鉴意义。