Planning and Deploying Transit Signal Priority in Small and Medium-Sized Cities: Burlington, Vermont, Case Study

Innovations in traffic signal systems have generated a great deal of interest in the provision of preferential traffic signal strategies and treatments for transit buses and other vehicles at signalized intersections in cities of all sizes. The primary objective of this paper is three fold: 1) to synthesize the literature of the lessons learned associated with planning and deploying transit signal priority (TSP) strategies in small and medium-sized cities; 2) to demonstrate the application of a micro-simulation model, VISSIM, to assess transit priority impacts in small and medium-sized communities where the required VISSIM input data are often limited; and 3) to present guidelines to aid traffic engineers and transit planners who are considering TSP strategies in small and medium-sized cities. An underlying aim of this paper is to recognize the differences in transit priority planning and deployment in small and medium-sized cities as compared to major metropolitan areas. Journal of Public Transportation, Vol. 13, No. 3, 2010 102 Introduction Advances in traffic signal technologies and other factors have generated a great deal of interest in the provision of preferential traffic signal strategies and treatments for transit buses and other vehicles at signalized intersections in cities of all sizes. To plan and deploy such signal priority strategies and treatments safely and efficiently, careful analyses should be conducted using fundamental traffic engineering and transit management and operating principles. Based on these principles and other considerations, this paper focuses on providing guidance to aid traffic engineers and transit planners in planning and deploying signal priority strategies in small and medium-sized cities. Objective of the Paper The primary objective of this paper is three fold: 1) to synthesize the literature of the lessons learned associated with planning and deploying transit signal priority (TSP) strategies in small and medium-sized cities; 2) to demonstrate the application of a micro-simulation model, VISSIM, to assess transit priority impacts in small and medium-sized communities where the required VISSIM input data is often limited; and 3) to present guidelines to aid traffic engineers and transit planners who are considering TSP strategies in small and medium-sized cities. The application of VISSIM is part of a case study on the formulation and evaluation of alternative transit signal strategies in Burlington, Vermont (2000 urbanized area population: 105,365). The impacts of concern in the simulation include bus travel time and delay and side-street queue length. An overarching aim of the paper is to assist state DOTs and highway and transit agencies in the design and implementation of signal priority strategies for transit buses in concert with other preferential signal treatments, such as those currently in place and being planned for emergency response, including fire and rescue services. Finally, an underlying aim is to recognize the differences in transit priority in small and medium-sized cities as compared to major metropolitan areas. These differences relate to both technical and institutional issues. TSP Study Results and Lessons Learned Numerous studies have been conducted in small and medium-sized cities in the United States and Europe to evaluate the impacts of transit priority deployments. These studies fall into two categories. The first includes studies that used simula-