[sustran] Re: Busway Operation

[etts at indigo.ie]

Dear Jonathon, 

Just to add a complication, there is at least one other definition of open
and closed busways. 

Some consider that a busway is 'closed' when the use of the busway is
limited to specific routes - normally the ones with the high quality buses.
A designated route could join part way long the busway, or begin further
out than the buway and then run straight onto it, avoiding the need for
passengers to transfer. By contrast, in that definition, an 'open' busway
is one that allows many other routes with regular buses to also use the
busway. Of course, there would be a minimum quality or capacity standard
for who can use the busway.

In my opinion, an open busway - regardless of wich definition we use - will
always have higher capacity and productivity because more buses will use
it. However, an open busway carries the risk of operational disorder due to
bunching of vehicles, queuing at platforms etc. This can be mitigated or
entirely overcome by having passing lanes - e.g. I observed Seoul's median
lane bus lanes with flows of 250 buses per hour each way - or by advanced
operations management techniques to effectively allocate 'slots'. It is
very important to plan from this at the outset and put in place the
organisational and technical supports.

Also in my opinion, a closed busway which has only the route going the
length of the busway has the least advantage for passengers, since it
requires a high percentage of the passengers to interchange. This loses the
greatest advantage of a busway compared to rail-based solutions - that the
bus can act as feeder/distributor both in the suburbs and downtown, and
then become the rapid trunk mode in the middle without forcing the
passenger to interchange. 

There are some excellent publications including the SUTP/GTZ handbook and
some of the TRB and TCRP reports that have good data and arguments. Please
also feel free to contact me directly with some specific questions. 

With best wishes, 


Brendan Finn. 



Original Message:
-----------------
From: Jonathan E. D. Richmond richmond at alum.mit.edu
Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 03:31:30 -0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)
To: Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
Subject: [sustran] Busway Operation



If anyone is an expert in busway implementation and operation and can
help with the following question, could they please be in touch with me.
The specific question I am trying to answer is "What is the difference in
capacity and operational viability and efficiency of an open as against a
closed busway." On an open busway, buses may enter and leave at various
points. With a closed busway, buses are isolated on the busway itself,
and do not enter or leave for distribution at teh residential or city
centre end. Thanks! --Jonathan!


-----
Jonathan Richmond
Transport Adviser to the Government of Mauritius
Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping
Level 4
New Government Centre
Port Louis
Mauritius

1 (617) 395-4360 (for voicemail)

e-mail: richmond at alum.mit.edu
http://the-tech.mit.edu/~richmond/
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