Analyzing the impacts of Vehicle Assist and Automation systems on BRT

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2006

Subject Area

infrastructure - vehicle, land use - impacts

Abstract

This paper summarizes research that was conducted to develop an analysis framework with which to analyze the cost effectiveness of implementing Vehicle Assist and Automation (VAA) applications, a category of Intelligent Transportation System technologies, in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. Seven typical BRT operating scenarios were developed based upon the Federal Transit Administration’s Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision-Making report. The seven scenarios are representative of BRT service throughout the U.S. and are used to demonstrate which VAA applications will be cost effective within the context of real-world operating environments. The analysis examined overall benefits in terms of increased operating speed and reduced travel time compared to the cost of deploying VAA. Based upon the analysis framework, most of the operating scenarios show positive benefits over the life of the technology. The analysis also showed that deploying applications together (e.g., precision docking plus vehicle guidance) provided greater benefits since both applications use the same vehicle-based equipment. National impacts of implementing VAA applications were also analyzed based upon 75 BRT systems throughout the United States.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract given by the Journal of Public Transportation.

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