01553111

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2533-13

Platform overcrowding is a very common but relatively poorly understood occurrence at most bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in cities in the developing world. Most literature on BRT capacity focuses on vehicle throughput for different types of lane and station configurations; relatively little is known about how different station layouts handle specific volumes of boarding and alighting passengers. In this paper, this gap in knowledge was addressed by building a microscopic simulation model to test the ability of a typical Latin American BRT station (median, high-platform, one bus bay per direction) to handle various volumes of passengers under different scenarios. With this modeling exercise, areas in a station most likely to experience overcrowding were first identified: the median refuge island at the main entrance and the turnstiles. The station performance at those critical points was then evaluated for different passenger volumes, with mainly pedestrian density (persons/m²) as an indicator. Results indicated a pedestrian capacity range for a typical BRT station and also quantified the effect of friction between pedestrians entering and leaving the station. Finally, a regression based on the simulation results was estimated and used to develop a predictive equation for crowding as a function of passenger volumes and direction. The results can help BRT planners better adapt their station designs to forecast passenger volumes and ensure that they provide an adequate level of service.

01590197

15-2989

English

pp 118–123

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309369381

Print

Figures (6) ; Photos; References (12) ; Tables (2)

Boarding and alighting; Bus rapid transit; Bus terminals; Crowds; Developing countries; Layout; Level of service; Passenger volume; Pedestrian density

Latin America

Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 1:00PM

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