metrorapid transit signal priority—using technology to improve service quality
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MetroRapid Transit Signal Priority—Using
Technology to Improve Service Quality
UT CTR Annual Symposium– March 2, 2015
Todd Hemingson, AICP
Capital Metro, VP Strategic Planning & Development
Austin, Texas
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MetroRapid
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MetroRapid Purpose:• Provide high-quality, faster,
more frequent and reliable transit mode for major travel corridors
Benefits:• Improved transit time,
reliability, convenience• Improved transit visibility• Attract new riders• Increases efficiency of transit
service
MetroRapid To Date
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• More than 1,000,000 trips provided to date
• Almost 10,000 trips per weekday
But…
• On-time performance below target
• Travel times longer than expected
MetroRapid and Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
• During project design, Capital Metro sought to include as many elements of Bus Rapid Transit as possible, including TSP
• Coordination with City of Austin required for TSP
• Multiyear effort
– Citywide upgrade from optical system to centralized system using GPS
– Interagency agreements to jointly fund
– Testing and deployment ahead of MetroRapid launch
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Where is TSP used in Austin?
• Along four major transit corridors where MetroRapid service operates
– North Lamar
– South Congress
– Burnet Road
– South Lamar
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What is Transit Signal Priority?
• TSP is an operational strategy that facilitates the movement of transit vehicles through traffic-signal controlled intersections.
• Objectives of TSP include:
– improved schedule adherence
– improved transit travel time efficiency
– minimizing impacts to normal traffic operations
• It is NOT signal pre-emption!
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How Does TSP Work?
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TSP has Four Main Components
There is (1) a detection system that lets the TSP system know where the vehicle requesting signal priority is located.
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TSP has Four Main Components
The detection system communicates with a (2) priority request generator that alerts the traffic control system that the vehicle would like to receive priority.
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TSP has Four Main Components
There is software that processes the request and decides whether and how to grant priority based on the programmed (3) priority control strategies.
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TSP has Four Main Components
And there is software that (4) manages the system, collects data, and generates reports.
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So How’s it Working?
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So How’s it Working…Really?
• The system is seeing from 2400-3000 vehicle “check-ins” per weekday
• Under current operating practices, that results in 275-450 “green extensions” per weekday
• Need much more in-depth analysis!
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Where We’re Headed
• Analysis of data on TSP requests (by route, signal location, individual vehicle, average time by route, average by direction, day of week/time of day)
• Analysis of data on TSP activations(locations where granted, day/time, did the bus make it through the intersection?, why denied?, where in the signal cycle did request occur?)
• Comparison of performance differences between routes
• End-to-End Dashboard/Reporting
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Conclusions
• Successes
– First ever use of TSP in Central Texas
– System installed, tested and implemented on-time and within budget
– System is working to improve MetroRapid
• Challenges and Opportunities
– Detailed analysis of operations lacking
– Resource availability for analysis and optimization
– Partnership with academic institutions!?
– And, how to augment TSP for improved operations?
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Thanks!
Todd Hemingson, AICP
Capital Metro, VP Strategic Planning & Development
Austin, Texas
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