Transit Planning Committee #1 March 19, 2015
Scope of the Transit Priority Project Review of the 2010 plan Analysis of Transit Priority Measures Preliminary plans for rapid transit Recommendations for short-, mid-, and long-term improvements to Guelph Transit system Stakeholder involvement: transit riders, businesses, University of Guelph, Transit Planning Committee Final report: July 2015 Presentation to City Council: late summer 2015
Rapid Transit: What Is It? Rapid Transit a mode of public transportation that gets riders from one place to another faster than conventional, local bus service. Can include subways, light rail, or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Brampton Cape Town St. Paul
Common Features of Bus Rapid Transit To decrease travel times: Fewer stops than local routes Dedicated right-of-way Bus priority at intersections Other transit priority measures Calgary Los Angeles Waterloo
Common Features of Bus Rapid Transit To speed the boarding process: Off-board fare collection Platforms level with the floor of the bus To enhance the transit-riding experience: Stops with greater amenities, high-quality shelters, and more service information Larger-capacity vehicles for less crowding Smoother ride Santiago, Chile York Region
BRT Lite : What It Can Look Like Euclid Ave Cleveland Note: Not all features may be applied in Guelph SIGNAL PRIORITY REAL-TIME PASSENGER INFO SHELTERED WAITING AREAS OFF-BUS TICKETING VARIOUS OPERATORS BUS LANES LOW-FLOOR BUSES LEVEL WITH PLATFORMS
Expected Benefits of Rapid Transit / BRT Transit / Traffic Operations - Reduces travel times - Greater reliability of service - Increased ridership and mode share translates to fewer cars on the road - Improves overall traffic safety Quality of Life - Potential for increased development along BRT lines - Intensification of land use means less sprawl - More people using transit equals fewer carbon emissions and better air quality and health Source Kane County, Illinois; countyofkane.org
Rapid Transit Corridors Being Considered for Guelph Gordon / Norfolk / Woolwich (Woodlawn to City Limit) Stone Road (Watson to Hanlon) Speedvale Avenue (Elmira to Victoria) Woodlawn Road (Elmira to Victoria)
Transit Priority Measures: What Are They? Potential tools for giving priority to transit vehicles in addition to moving traffic more quickly through the City: Regulatory Measures Special rules for transit Transit Signal Priority Passive and active signal phasing for the benefit of buses Physical Measures Allow buses to avoid traffic congestion For maximum effectiveness, use TPMs in combination and over the length of a transit corridor.
Transit Priority Measures: Opportunities Common examples: Transit Signal Priority Transit-only Signals Queue Jump Lanes Reversible Lanes Reserved Bus Lanes High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes Roundabouts
Transit Signal Priority (TSP) Source http://www.actransit.org/project-elements Buses communicate with traffic signals If a bus is behind schedule, green phase is extended to allow bus to proceed through intersection Useful for far-side bus stops Not useful for frequent buses (can t extend every cycle) May increase delay for cross (minor) street Signal takes a few cycles to get back into sync
Transit-only Signals Buses can use their own signals or phases to make turns or move unhindered by general traffic.
Queue Jump Lanes Buses get a head start at a red light over queued cars Can use queue jump to allow buses to turn left from a right-side stop Advance signal long enough to clear right turning cars (if queue jump is shared between buses and cars) Bus operates conventionally if approaching on a green phase Source http://www.actransit.org/project-elements/
Reversible Lanes Tidal flow operation, with more lanes in the peak direction during peak periods. The extra lane can be dedicated to transit use Left turns usually prohibited during peak periods Brisbane Toronto
Reserved Bus Lanes Bus-only lanes to avoid transit delays in mixed traffic (24/7 or peaks) Markham / Vaughan New York Nantes Brisbane
High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes Reserved lanes for priority vehicles Buses Carpools (2+ or 3+) Taxis Bikes, motorcycles, taxis, electric vehicles may be allowed 24/7 or peak-only Curb, median, or queue-jump Complement TDM measures
Roundabouts Not a TPM per se, but reduced delay can benefit buses Statistically much safer for drivers and pedestrians than conventional intersections Less idling = reduced emissions Cut-through roundabout (below) can be built for transit vehicles
Potential Locations of Traffic Priority Measures (TPMs)
Transit Priority Measures When do They Work? Does the TPM contribute to one or more of: Strategic Benefit Support City policies Travel Time and Service Reliability Improve speed Allow buses to run to timetable Reliable trip times respond to key customer concern Cost Efficiency Encouraging transit use relieves pressure on road capacity Better transit fleet utilization Passenger Comfort Improved amenities attract users
Next Steps in the Project Collect and analyze data, establish warrants and guidelines Determine best locations, costs, and timelines for implementation of Transit Priority Measures Develop preliminary plans for rapid transit Continue stakeholder involvement Complete final report and make recommendations to City Council Planning Committee Session # 2: Thursday, May 28 2:00 to 3:00 pm Public Event: Wednesday, June 3 6:00 to 9:00 pm; City Hall