Design Considerations for BRT Level Boarding

Station Platforms

Christopher Hemmer, PESupervising EngineerParsons Brinckerhoff

Portland, Oregon

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

Isabella Bejarano, PELead Engineer

Parsons Brinckerhoff Portland, Oregon

What is Level Boarding?

• The boarding areas are designed to provide horizontal and vertical gaps compliant with ADA requirements or easily traversed with a short bridgeplate.

• Platform heights of 10 inches or greater

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Why Level Boarding is Advantageous

• Reduced Dwell Times• Improved Accessibility• System Branding

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Docking Technologies

• Precision Guidance Techniques:

Special CurbsMechanical GuidanceElectronic Guidance

• Manual Docking

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Methodology

• Turning Templates – Turning templates were generated using AutoTurn version 6 software from Transoft Solutions

• Bus models – Most modeling efforts used a custom generated template based on the New Flyer BRT articulated vehicle (63- foot length) in use in Eugene, Oregon and Cleveland, Ohio.

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Bus Pullouts

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Approach Considerations

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Approach Length vs. Rear Door Gap

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Vehicle Gap (ft) at Rearmost Door 40-ft Bus

(40-ft Platform) Articulated BRT (60-ft Platform)

Platform Approach Tangent Length

(ft) To

Platform

Difference with Front

Door To

Platform

Difference with Front

Door 0 1.80 1.55 2.05 1.80

10 1.48 1.23 1.47 1.22 20 1.04 0.79 1.20 0.95 30 0.80 0.55 0.83 0.58 40 0.58 0.33 0.53 0.28 50 0.46 0.21 0.39 0.14 60 0.35 0.10 0.34 0.09

* Front door gap equals 0.25 feet (3 inches)

Departure Considerations

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Springfield Transit Station

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Springfield Transit Station

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Dedicated EmX BRT Bay

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Level Boarding Platform

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Deployed Ramp

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Level Boarding Platform Design Considerations

• Vehicle • Turning Movements • Defined Layout Limits • Clearance Considerations

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Clearance Considerations

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Departure Maneuver Conflict

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Platform Configurations

• Superstop

• Sawtooth

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Recommended Sawtooth Geometry

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Sawtooth Configuration for Level Boarding

Platforms (3” vehicle gap)

Sawtooth Taper Rate

(1:X)

Sawtooth to Vehicle Ratio

(1:D)

Length (L) (lin. ft)

Tangent Length (T)

(lin. ft) 1:1 0.59:1 13 37.25 2:1 1.18:1 26 24.25 3:1 1.77:1 39 11.25 4:1 2.36:1 52 0 5:1 2.96:1 65 -0.49*

Springfield Transit Station – Lessons Learned

• Sawtooth Configuration• Vehicle Characteristics• 3D • Bellows• Bus Test

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW

Next Steps

• Data gathering

• Expand model

2009 Bus Rapid Transit Conference

QUALITY TRANSIT -- NOW