Bus Rapid Transit Technologies: A Virtual Mirror for Eliminating Vehicle Blind Zones

The FTA has identified the concept of Bus Rapid Transit as a means to increase the efficiency of transit operations while maintaining transit's proven safety record. According to the FTA website www.fta.dot.gov, " BRT combines the quality of rail transit and the flexibility of buses. It can operate on exclusive transitways, HOV lanes, expressways, or ordinary streets. A BRT system combines intelligent transportation systems technology, priority for transit, cleaner and quieter vehicles, rapid and convenient fare collection, and integration with land use policy. " Because of the limited right-of-way available to build new the FTA has identified lane assist as an emerging technology, which the premise behind lane assist technology is to unique environments, such as narrow lanes. Lane assist technology will allow desired higher operating speeds while maintaining the safety of the passengers, BRT public. Vehicle and the motoring BRT vehicles to operate at the increase the safety of BRT vehicles as they operate in the more will enable deployment of BRT systems. (and possibly dedicated) lanes for BRT operations. The third objective will be to develop long term relationships with Metro Transit, the Federal Transit Administration, bus manufacturers, and technology providers to develop and implement strategies to improve transit operations. For instance, improving the ability of a bus driver to merge into and out of traffic is a high priority. Improved bus guidance technology will make bus only shoulders a viable alternative throughout the country. Progress towards meeting this objective has been made, but considerable effort will have to be expended to make lane assist technology ubiquitious throughout the transit industry. Administration provided much of the financial support for this project. Second, Metro Transit supported this work by providing the " Technobus " research vehicle and much of the computer and electronic equipment found on board. Aaron Isaacs and Steve McLaird of Metro Transit have constantly supported the project and have provided Mn/DOT drivers for many Technobus demonstrations. Lenny Pawelk and his staff at the Heywood Garage have answered all of our technical and operational questions, and have kept the bus fueled, cleaned, and maintained. In two years of service, the bus has yet to let us down. We greatly appreciate a bus we can rely upon. Thanks are also due to Mn/DOT whose innovative use of DGPS allowed the IV Lab to use the Trimble Virtual Reference Station DGPS system during the development of the lane assist …