Lecture 6 Bus Rapid Transit, design elements and operational issues

Dr. Muhammad Adnan

Design Elements

• Corridor Demarcation• Ridership Consideration• Bus-type selection• Alignment and cross-sectional elements• Priority Junctions• Bus Stop Location and its Design• Scheduling and Fleet Size • Fare and its collection system• BRT Terminal Location

Corridor Demarcation

• Result of a Macro-level Planning Model– Four stage Modelling process

• Largely dependent on Potential Ridership• Future Consideration (LRT system Line-Feeder)

Corridor Demarcation

• Yellow Line– Dawood Chowrangi (Korangi/Landhi Industrial Area) to

Numaish Chowrangi through locations such as Qayyumabad Junction, FTC Flyover, Shahra-e-Quaideen)

-General Guidelines from AuthoritiesShould be aligned alongside Road MedianStations utilizing built-up median spaceArticulated Buses (18m length) with off-

board Fare collection

Alignment

• Features;– Identification of stretches for Separate ROW based

on situational analysis or Recky survey– Identification of stretches for operation in mixed

traffic based on situational analysis or Recky survey– Proposed Developments in future– Stretches of Bus Weaving (Left to Right lanes or vice

versa)[AASHTOO recommendation: 250m length availability in congested conditions]

– Signal Priority Junctions Identification

RUNNING WAY TYPE

Outer Exclusive Lanes

Median Exclusive Lanes

Elevated Corridor

Median

Exclusive BRTS Lane

Exclusive BRTS Lane

Outer Exclusive Lanes

MedianBRTS ELEVATED LANES

Elevated Corridor

Exclusive BRTS Lanes

Median Exclusive Lanes (At-Grade)

RUNNING WAY SEPARATION

Lane marking

Curb stones

Barrier with Fence

BRTS Lane

Lane Marking

BRTS Lane

Mixed Traffic Lanes

Mixed Traffic Lanes

BRTS Lane

Raised Curbstones

BRTS Lane

Mixed Traffic Lanes

Mixed Traffic Lanes

BRTS Lane

Barrier / Fence

BRTS Lane

Mixed Traffic Lanes

Mixed Traffic Lanes

Barrier / Fence Options

2.0 m

Normal NJ Barrier

1.2 m Fence

0.6 m

Cost per M = Rs. 15,600

2.0 m

Mini Barrier

1.6 m Fence

0.6 m

Cost per M = Rs. 16,900

1.8 m

0.6 m Cost per M = Rs. 16,600

Curb Stone

Option-1, Fence with Normal Barrier

Option-2, Fence with Mini Barrier

Option-3, Fence with Curb Stone

1.2 m

0.8 m

2.0 m

1.6 m

0.4 m

0.2 m

1.8 m Fence

STATION LOCATION

STATION

Curb Side Station

STATION

Mixed Traffic Lanes

BRTS Lane

BRTS Lane

Mixed Traffic Lanes

STATION

Median Side Station

Mixed Traffic Lanes

BRTS Lane

Mixed Traffic Lanes

BRTS Lane

Curb-side station (2 platforms) Median station (1 platform)

This configuration enables straight flow without bulging for the bus lanes.

Bus lanes have to bulge around median station

Provision of curb side stations leave one lane free for overtaking.

Overtaking is not possible without the provision of an extra lane at the station

Two different platforms have to be provided at every station which increases and maintenance cost.

A single platform involves less infrastructure and maintenance cost .

Separate stations reduce overall passenger friction and results in increased boarding and alighting efficiency.

Single platform increases passenger movement conflicts within station.

Normal passenger buses can also utilize transit corridor enhancing flexibility and allowing phased operation.

Only special BRT buses with doors on right side can use the corridor.

COMPARISION OF STATION LOCATION

LOW FLOOR BUS (+ 0.3 m) HIGH FLOOR BUS (+0.9 m)

Low floor buses 1.5~2.0 times costlier than High floor buses.

Wastages of standees space due to wheel block cut out.

Low Floor buses may easily get inundated while passing flooded street during rains.

Separate emergency door required while stopping away from stations.

COMPARISION OF VEHICLE FLOOR HEIGHT