PowerPoint Presentation

TRB National Transportation Planning Applications ConferenceColumbus, OH May 2013Estimating Bus and Rail Travel TimesFor Transit Corridor StudiesPresented by:James Baker, Vice PresidentConnetics Transportation Group1Baking Transit Ridership Forecasts

IngredientsAlignmentStation LocationsDemographicsService PlansAuto Travel TimesTransit Travel Times 2Travel Time Estimatesin Relation to Project Development Travel Time Detail Increases with Project DevelopmentIdeaConceptFeasibilityAlternativesAnalysisPreliminaryEngineeringFinalDesignConstructionOpeningDay!

3Rail SimulationProgramsAverage SpeedAssumptionsSpreadsheetApplicationsIdeaConceptFeasibilityAlternativesAnalysisPreliminaryEngineeringFinalDesignConstructionOpeningDay!

4Travel Time Estimatesin Relation to Project Development Travel Time Detail Increases with Project DevelopmentAverage SpeedAssumptionsSpreadsheetApplicationsRail SimulationProgramsTravel Time Estimates Used forRidership ForecastsOperating SchedulesVehicle RequirementsOperating & Maintenance Cost EstimatesSpeed ProfilesSingle Track AnalysisPower/Substation RequirementsNoise Impact Analysis5Travel Time ComponentsVehicle SpeedsAlignmentStation DwellsTraffic Congestion and Signal Delays6Objective:Build a Travel Time Estimate With Reasonable Planning Level Assumptions for Each ComponentVehicle Speeds

ModeTypical Max. SpeedRange of RatesBus65-70 mph1.5 to 2.0 mphpsStreetcar40-45 mph2.0 to 2.5 mphpsLight Rail 55-65 mph2.5 to 3.0 mphpsHeavy Rail65-75 mph2.5 to 3.0 mphpsCommuter Rail70-80 mph1.0 to 1.5 mphpsDiesel Multiple Unit70-80 mph1.5 to 2.5 mphpsTypical Maximum Vehicle Speeds &Range of Acceleration and Deceleration Rates7Vehicle Speeds

8Acceleration Time:(Final Velocity/100)/acceleration rate/60

Deceleration Time:(Initiial Velocity/deceleration rate/60

Vehicle Speeds

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AlignmentPlan and Profile Drawings Identify:Station/Stop LocationsStart and End of Horizontal CurvesMaximum Speeds Through CurvesVertical Grades

10Station Dwell Times Factors that Impact Station Dwell TimesPassenger Boarding & Alighting VolumesPayment MethodPassenger Volume Inside VehicleNumber of Doors on VehicleLevel vs. Step Boarding & AlightingADA Boardings/AlightingsBicycle Loadings11Station Dwell Times: Fare Collection Service TimesSituationObserved RangeSuggested DefaultBOARDING(sec. per pass.)Prepayment2.25-2.752.5Single ticket or token3.4-3.63.5Smart card3.0-3.73.5Exact change3.6-4.34.0Swipe or dip card4.24.2ALIGHTING(sec. per pass.)Front door3.33.3Rear door2.12.1TCRP Report 90 Passenger Boarding and Alighting Rates(Seconds per Passenger)Note: Rates can vary depending on # of standees and type of bus (low floor)12Station Dwell Times: Suggested RatesSuggested Dwell TimesBRT: 10-30 secondsHRT, LRT and Streetcar: 15-30 secondsCommuter Rail and DMU: 30-60 seconds

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Traffic Congestion & Signal DelaysRoadway Congestion ImpactsMaximum Speed Adjustments Based on Road LOS Intersection Delay ImpactsCycle LengthGreen time/cycle time (g/c) ratioVolume/capacity (v/c) ratioBus Priority Treatments (TSP, queue jumpers)

14Traffic Congestion & Signal DelaysIntersection Delay Curves in TCRP Report 11860, 90 and 120 second cycle length curvesCurves for g/c ratios of 0.40, 0.50 and 0.60 TCRP Report 118 Delay curves for 120 second traffic signal cycles15

Traffic Congestion & Signal DelaysTransit Signal Priority Improves g/c ratio (e.g., from 0.40 to 0.50 g/c)Queue Jumper LanesReduces v/c ratio (e.g., from 0.70 to 0.40)

16Reductions Calculated with TCRP Report 118 Traffic Signal Delay Curves

Example Calculation of Traffic Signal Delay 17Intersection CharacteristicNo TreatmentWith TSPWith Queue JumperSignal Cycle Length120 seconds120 seconds120 secondsg/c Ratio0.400.500.40v/c Ratio0.700.700.40Estimated Delay36 seconds28 seconds28 secondsExisting Travel Time Observations Should Be Used to Validate AssumptionsExample Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives AnalysisMajor East/West Arterial Road in Broward County, FL Potential Modes are BRT and StreetcarAlignment Options include Mixed Traffic, Business Access and Transit (BAT) Lane, and Exclusive Lane18

Example Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives Analysis19Modes/Vehicles Being ConsideredBus Rapid Transit (2.0 mphps accel/decel rates)Streetcar (2.5 mphps accel/decel rates)Alignment15.4 miles16 StopsStop Dwell Times15-20 seconds

Example Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives Analysis20Signalized Intersection Delays

Roadway CongestionFactors to Posted Speed Limits

Example Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives Analysis21Example Portion of Travel Time Worksheet

Example Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives Analysis22Eastbound Travel Time Summary

Example Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives Analysis23Eastbound Travel Time Summary

Example Application #1Oakland Park Blvd. Alternatives Analysis24Eastbound Cumulative Travel Times

Example Application #2Cotton Belt Corridor Regional Rail ProjectProposed Crosstown Corridor Rail Project in North Dallas Suburbs from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport to PlanoProposed Mode: Diesel Multiple UnitsShared Track with Freight Operations Some Single Track Segments25

Example Application #2Cotton Belt Corridor Regional Rail ProjectMode/VehicleStadler GTW DMU 2-2/6 Low Floor Vehicle2.2 mphps acceleration/2.5 mphps decelerationAlignment 26.7 to 27.5 miles9 to 12 stationsUp to 5 segments with single track operationsStation Dwell Times 30 to 60 secondsRoadway Congestion and Intersection Delay Not Applicable26Example Application #2Cotton Belt Corridor Regional Rail Project27

Cotton Belt String Line DiagramExample Application #2Cotton Belt Corridor Regional Rail Project28Cotton Belt Speed Profile (Both Directions)

For More Information29James Baker678-461-0969, Ext. 13jbaker@ctgconsult.comThank You!