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study to cut journey times

MVA leads innovative bus scheme upstream detection
study to cut journey times

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-Research to be presented at Traffic Management Conference in Birmingham-

A team from the UK’s leading transport planning specialist is leading a pioneering bus project which could cut journey times by up to 30 per cent in some places.

MVA Consultancy has been working in partnership with Transport for London’s (TfL) Bus Priority Team, Transport Research Laboratory and the Transport Research Group of Southampton University to develop innovative techniques to improve bus priority at traffic signals. This includes placing bus detectors upstream of bus stops. 

Designed to achieve a step change at difficult sites through investigating new systems, the project focuses on testing controversial counter-intuitive detector siting to deliver significant benefits.

Paul Matthews, traffic engineering and planning projects director at MVA, and managing consultant Max Matteis will be joined by Chris D’Souza, principal engineer at TfL’s Bus Priority Team, to present a research paper at the Traffic Management Conference at the Lakeside Centre, Aston University in Birmingham from 23 to 25 March 2009.

The paper will contain a description of the trials and the validation of the VISSIM micro-simulation models. Bus journey time and reliability savings will also be described and an insight will be given into its impact upon general traffic.

The team will outline its data collection methodology and model development together with results of the trials, design criteria and guideline development and development of possible roll-out programme for London.

Paul explained: “Bus priority at traffic signals has been used for years with detectors placed between the bus stop and the signals which avoids the variability associated with bus stop dwell times. When the detection point is too close to the signals, the system is less effective in improving bus journey times and reliability.

“Our technique relies upon stop dwell times being predictable so that the bus arrival time at the signals can be calculated at an earlier stage. At the 2008 Transport Practitioners’ meeting, we described the technique and have since carried out live trials using the TfL iBUS GPS-based system which has produced encouraging results.”

Information for Editors:

Industry-leader MVA Consultancy provides advice on transport and other policy areas, to central, regional and local government, agencies, developers, operators and financiers

 A diverse group of results-oriented people, we are part of a 500-strong team worldwide. Through client business planning, customer research and strategy development we create solutions that work for real people in the real world.

For further information please contact:

Emma O'Sullivan on 01483 742925
or email eosullivan@mvaconsultancy.com

or

Sarah White on 01483 742975
or email swhite@mvaconsultancy.com

12 March 2009