Integrated Performance Measures for Bus Rapid Transit System and Traffic Signal Systems Using Trajectory Data

Mathew, Jijo K.; Li, Howell; Saldivar-Carrranza, Enrique; Duffy, Matthew P.; Bullock, Darcy M. · 2022 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.4236/jtts.2022.124046

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Summary

This study addresses the need for integrated performance measures that allow transit agencies and traffic signal operators to evaluate Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems alongside general traffic. Motivated by the widespread adoption of General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) and high-fidelity connected vehicle data, the research aims to develop a framework for assessing travel time, reliability, and schedule adherence. The study focuses on the IndyGo Red Line in Indianapolis, Indiana, a 13.1-mile all-electric BRT route featuring various running ways, including dedicated lanes, contraflow lanes, and mixed traffic sections. The route includes 74 traffic signals equipped with active GPS geofence-based transit signal priority and 28 bus stations. The methodology utilizes trajectory data collected over three months (March–May 2022) on weekdays. The dataset comprises approximately 3 million bus records and nearly 30 million anonymized private vehicle trips from connected vehicles. The authors developed a spatial analysis framework using linear referencing to snap trajectory points to roadway routes. Custom polygon geofences were created for each of the 74 intersections to estimate average delay and schedule adherence, accounting for specific conditions such as dedicated lanes, near-side bus stations, and reporting frequencies. Bus delay was calculated by comparing actual travel time through intersection polygons to free-flow conditions, while schedule adherence was derived from GTFS attributes. These metrics were aggregated into 15-minute time bins to visualize performance variations throughout the day. The results demonstrate significant differences in performance based on lane type. On College Avenue, which features a dedicated bi-directional bus lane, median travel times for buses were comparable to general traffic (approximately 7.5 minutes), with buses often traveling faster during peak periods, achieving a median time savings of roughly one minute at 17:00. In contrast, on Shelby Street, where buses operate in mixed traffic, buses experienced longer median travel times (8.5 minutes vs. 8 minutes for vehicles) and lower reliability, indicated by a wider interquartile range. Schedule adherence proved challenging; only about 3% of buses arrived within one minute of schedule during the 5 AM hour, while 5% arrived 6–9 minutes late during the 5 PM hour. The analysis also highlighted that dedicated lanes improved travel time reliability, reducing the travel time range from six minutes in mixed traffic to four minutes in dedicated lanes. The significance of this work lies in providing transportation professionals with a data-driven framework to identify opportunities for signal retiming and transit signal priority adjustments. By comparing bus performance against general traffic using high-fidelity trajectory data, the study offers tools to justify investment decisions in dedicated infrastructure and optimize system operations. The findings underscore the effectiveness of dedicated running ways in enhancing bus speed and reliability, while also revealing specific challenges in maintaining schedule adherence that require further operational tuning.

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