During the A.M. peak period, transit signal priority on an arterial route in Arlington, Virginia could increase carbon monoxide emissions by 5.6 percent and decrease nitrogen emissions by 1.7 percent.
Date Posted
02/19/2003
Identifier
2003-B00256
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Evaluation of Transit Signal Priority Benefits Along A Fixed-Time Signalized Arterial

Summary Information

This study used the INTEGRATION simulation model to estimate the impact of implementing transit signal priority (TSP) on a 3.95 mile section Columbia Pike in Arlington, Virginia. Baseline corridor and cross street traffic flows were determined from field data collected between June 12 and 14, 2000. Saturated traffic flow parameters were estimated based on corridor geometry.

The model was designed to reflect the geometric location and configuration of multiple bus stops and intersections on the corridor. The transit signal priority scheme gave priority to buses traveling on Columbia Pike or entering the corridor from major cross streets. The signal priority logic enhanced the existing optimized fixed-time signal control system by enabling transit vehicles to receive a five second green extension if approaching an intersection at the end of a green cycle. The model considered vehicle movements only, and did not account for pedestrian clearance intervals or the impact of emergency vehicle signal preemption. In addition, if two transit vehicles called for priority simultaneous at the same intersection, no priority was given.

The simulation model was run to determine the impacts of TSP on AM peak and midday traffic flows. Peak period person delays were calculated based on the assumption that passenger cars carried 1.2 persons per vehicle, and transit vehicles carried 23 persons per vehicle. During non-peak hours, transit vehicle were assumed to carry 16 persons per vehicle.

FINDINGS

In general, transit vehicles benefited from transit signal priority at the expense of all other traffic on cross streets.

At congested intersections there was little spare green time, therefore, small changes in the signal timing easily increased delay for a large number of vehicles. The author noted that adaptive signal control systems may help reduce this delay if transit signal priority can be denied at times when traffic sensors detect heavy congestion on side streets. However, adaptive signal control systems were not evaluated during this study.

The list below shows the range of energy and environmental impacts transit signal priority had on prioritized vehicles during AM peak periods for five different scenarios (Express buses, Regular buses, Express with Regular buses, Cross Street Buses, and All buses)
  • Fuel consumption decreased between 1.8 percent (Express buses scenario) and 2.8 percent (Cross street buses scenario)
  • Hydrocarbon emissions increased 4.0 percent during the Cross street buses scenario, and were “not statistically significant” for other scenarios.
  • Carbon monoxide emissions increased 5.6 percent during the Cross street buses scenario, and were “not statistically significant” for other scenarios.
  • Oxides of nitrogen emissions decreased 1.7 percent during the Regular buses scenario, and results were “not statistically significant” for other scenarios.

The list below shows the range of energy and environmental impacts transit signal priority had on all traffic during the AM peak period for five different scenarios (Express buses, Regular buses, Express with Regular buses, Cross Street Buses, and All buses)
  • Fuel consumption increased between 0.3 percent (Express buses scenario) and 2.9 percent (All buses scenario)
  • Hydrocarbon emissions ranged from a decrease of 0.3 percent (Cross street buses scenario) to an increase of 0.7 percent (Express with Regular buses scenario)
  • Carbon monoxide emissions decreased between 0.6 percent (Express with Regular buses scenario) and 1.0 percent (All buses scenario)
  • Oxides of nitrogen emissions increased between 0.18 percent (Express buses scenario) and 1.1 percent (Regular buses scenario).
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