Bus Lane with Intermittent Priority

1. 2009 International Bus Roadeo Bus Lane with Intermittent Priority Graham Carey PE., AICP BRT Project Engineer, Lane Transit District, Eugene, Oregon QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

2. Bus Lane with Intermittent Priority Concept • BLIMP • BLIP • Dynamic Freeway • Moving Bus lane • Virtual Bus lane • Intermittent Bus lane • Adaptive Bus lane…….

3. Bus Lane with Intermittent Priority Concept • Exclusive bus lane provided when bus is present • BLIMP lane controlled with Overhead Lane-Use Control Signals In-Pavement Lights

4. BLIMP Concept Features BLIMP lane Signal In-PavementLights Bus detection BLIMP End BLIMP Start Lane-use control signals = Lane open to general purpose traffic = Lane open to bus only

5. BLIMP Concept All lanes open BLIMP End BLIMP Start

6. BLIMP Concept Bus approaches BLIMP lane BLIMP End BLIMP Start • Approaching bus detected • Lane-use control signals change • In-pavement lights flash

7. BLIMP Concept General purpose traffic exits BLIMP lane BLIMP End BLIMP Start

8. BLIMP Concept Bus enters cleared BLIMP lane BLIMP End BLIMP Start

9. BLIMP Concept Bus travels along BLIMP lane BLIMP End BLIMP Start • Lane reopens to general purpose traffic after bus travels through each block

10. Where has it been applied • University Avenue, Lisbon, Portugal • Toorak Avenue, Melbourne, Australia

11. Dynamic Freeway, Melbourne, AU

12. University Avenue,Lisbon, Portugal

13. Lisbon

14. Corridor Modeled

17. Base Scenarios Tested • Mixed-flow, no special treatment • Transit signal priority • BLIMP lane • Exclusive bus lane

18. Sensitivity Analyses • Driveway egress control • Left-hand BLIMP lane • Lagging queue jump • Increased traffic volume • Reduced driveway volume

20. Preliminary Results

21. Key Benefits • Bus travel time reduced • Bus schedule reliability improved • Exclusive bus lane provided only when needed! • Strategy fits within existing right-of-way • Existing property access maintained

22. Key Challenges • Public information/education campaign is required • Requires driver compliance • Enforcement may be needed

23. Conclusion • Successfully modeled BLIMP lane operations • BLIMP lane provides benefit of exclusive lane without cost and impact • Applicability where right-of-way is limited • Balance can be found between transit benefits + traffic impacts • Need for real-world pilot application