01385024

Component

'Intermittent Bus Lanes' (IBL) are an innovative concept including variable message signs (VMS) and road pavement flashing lights which inform motorists to avoid transit lanes only when buses are coming. This provides transit priority while limiting impacts on other road users. If feasible, this approach has the opportunity to substantially increase the scope for transit priority in cities. However 'feasibility' of IBL is a major concern. This paper reviews the performance a variation on the IBL concept, the Dynamic Fairway (DF) adopted for trams in Melbourne, Australia. The system was initiated in 2001 and is still operational today. The paper documents the world's first practical on-going experience in IBL/DF operation. A review of future plans for a Melbourne bus based IBL developed called the 'moving bus lane' is also presented. Overall the performance of an earlier trial, the Lisbon IBL trial, appears to be better than that of the Melbourne DF. However circumstances were different including the road configuration, transit mode, levels of congestion and the newness of the technologies involved. Significantly both applications found good driver compliance with transit lanes suggesting the IBL/DF concept has practical performance benefits.

01385061

English

12p

2008-1

Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting

Bus lanes; Bus lanes; Flashing traffic signals; Highway traffic control; Public transit; Right of way (Traffic); Trolley cars; Variable message signs

Lisbon, Portugal; Melbourne (Australia)

Bus lane; Flashing light; Priority traffic; Public transport; Traffic management; Tram; Variable message sign

Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation

ATRI

Aug 22 2012 6:29PM

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• Partnerships for progress: towards sustainable road systems
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• Understanding links between transit ridership and auto gas prices: US and Australian evidence