Impact Of Tsp On Bus Delay Reduction, Overall Intersection Delay And Level Of Service: A Microscopic Simulation Approach

This study focused on the impact of transit preferential treatment on bus transportation and how bus delay reduction at signalized intersection will influence community livability. Particularly the study evaluates transit priority treatments such as Transit Signal Priority (TSP) that are used to reduce transit bus delays at signalized intersections. Utilizing field and simulated data for three major intersections along Gallatin Pike corridor in Nashville as a case study, the paper answers the following research questions: To what magnitude does TSP reduce bus delays at signalized intersection? To what magnitude and significance does TSP increase side street delay?  To what magnitude does TSP affect the overall intersection operations and Level of Service (LOS)? And to achieve the research objectives and answer the research questions, the study analyses the transit operations using VISSIM microsimulation software. Field signal operation before and after the introduction of TSP were coded using Vehicle Actuated Programing (VAP) and added in VISSIM to replicate existing signal timing and phasing operations. Findings indicates that TSP has a significant reduction in bus delay, slightly favors other vehicles using the priority approach, increases side street delay and has little or no effect on overall intersection delay and LOS. This indicates that TSP will improve community livability through the use of bus transit services.