Micro-simulation based evaluation of Queue Jump Lane at isolated urban intersections: an experience in Kolkata

Maitra, Bhargab; Bhattacharyya, Kinjal; Jose, Roshan; Boltze, Manfred · 2015 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1590/2238-1031.jtl.v9n3a2

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Summary

This study addresses the challenge of improving bus service quality in urban India, where declining bus patronage is driven by poor travel times and congestion. Due to physical constraints limiting road infrastructure expansion, the authors evaluate the Queue Jump Lane (QJL)—a short bus lane upstream of signalized intersections—as a practical bus priority measure. The research aims to determine the effectiveness of QJLs in heterogeneous traffic environments typical of Indian cities, specifically assessing impacts on delay for buses and other vehicles. The researchers employed the micro-simulation software VISSIM 5.40 to model traffic operations at three representative four-arm isolated signalized intersections in Kolkata: Exide, Hazra, and Rashbehari. Field data collected during peak hours included traffic volumes, vehicle composition, turning movements, pedestrian interference, and vehicle performance characteristics. The simulation models were calibrated and validated against field measurements, achieving acceptable Root Mean Square errors in delay estimates (maximum of 10.2 seconds). The study compared scenarios with and without QJLs, simulating traffic volumes at 100%, 90%, 75%, and 50% of observed peak hour levels. Key metrics included person delay, vehicle delay, bus delay, and car delay, with passenger occupancy data used to calculate person-based impacts. Results indicate that QJLs generally reduce person delay across all intersections, though effectiveness varies significantly based on traffic volume, vehicle composition, and road geometry. At Exide intersection, QJL benefits decreased as traffic volume dropped, becoming redundant at 75% volume or lower. Hazra intersection, characterized by high congestion, showed increased effectiveness at lower traffic volumes despite higher delays at 100% volume. Rashbehari intersection demonstrated mixed results, with QJLs effective at 90% and 75% volumes but offering no benefit at 100% or 50% volumes. Notably, at Exide intersection under high volume, QJL implementation unexpectedly reduced car delay by streamlining vehicle movements on narrow roads. The study found that QJLs are most effective at moderate traffic volumes and where bus shares are higher, while they become ineffective or detrimental at very low volumes. The study concludes that QJLs are a viable instrument for reducing person delay in heterogeneous urban traffic, provided they are implemented with consideration for specific intersection characteristics. The findings highlight that QJL effectiveness is not uniform and depends heavily on traffic volume and geometry. The authors recommend further field validation and investigation into the domain of applicability for QJLs in urban India, emphasizing the need to optimize implementation based on local traffic conditions to maximize bus priority benefits without significantly adversely affecting non-priority traffic.

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• traffic density