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Exploring the effectiveness of bus rapid transit a prototype agent-based model of commuting behavior

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  • McDonnell, Simon
  • Zellner, Moira

Abstract

The introduction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), typically involving the use of exclusive bus lanes and related bus priority measures, is increasingly advocated as a flexible and cost-effective way of improving the attractiveness of public transit in congested urban areas by reducing travel times and variability. These schemes typically involve the reallocation of road space for exclusive use by buses, presenting commuters with potentially competing incentives: buses on BRT routes can run faster and more efficiently than buses running in general traffic, potentially attracting commuters to public transit and reducing congestion through modal shift from cars. However, a secondary impact may also exist; remaining car users may be presented with less congested road space, improving their journey times and simultaneously acting as an incentive for some bus-users to revert to the car. To investigate the potential for these primary and secondary impacts, we develop a prototype agent-based model to investigate the nature of these interactions and how they play out into system-wide patterns of modal share and travel times. The model allows us to test the effects of multiple assumptions about the behaviors of individual agents as they respond to different incentives introduced by BRT policy changes, such as the implementation of exclusive bus lanes, increased bus frequency, pre-boarding ticket machines and express stops, separately and together. We find that, under our assumptions, these policies can result in significant improvements in terms of individual journey times, modal shift, and length of rush hour. We see that the addition of an exclusive bus lane results in significant improvements for both car users and bus riders. Informed with appropriate empirical data relating to the behavior of individual agents, the geography and the specific policy interventions, the model has the potential to aid policymakers in examining the effectiveness of different BRT schemes, applied to broader environments.

Suggested Citation

  • McDonnell, Simon & Zellner, Moira, 2011. "Exploring the effectiveness of bus rapid transit a prototype agent-based model of commuting behavior," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(6), pages 825-835, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:18:y:2011:i:6:p:825-835
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Forsey, David & Habib, Khandker Nurul & Miller, Eric J. & Shalaby, Amer, 2013. "Evaluating the impacts of a new transit system on commuting mode choice using a GEV model estimated to revealed preference data: A case study of the VIVA system in York Region, Ontario," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 1-14.
    2. Karthik, P.N. & Rathod, Nihesh & Yasodharan, Sarath & Lobo, Wilson & Sahadevan, Ajeesh & Sundaresan, Rajesh & Verma, Pratik, 2023. "Bus priority lane in Bengaluru: A study on its effectiveness and driver stress," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 39-62.
    3. Wan, Dan & Kamga, Camille & Liu, Jun & Sugiura, Aaron & Beaton, Eric B., 2016. "Rider perception of a “light” Bus Rapid Transit system - The New York City Select Bus Service," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 41-55.
    4. Dan Wan & Camille Kamga & Wei Hao & Aaron Sugiura & Eric B. Beaton, 2016. "Customer satisfaction with bus rapid transit: a study of New York City select bus service applying structural equation modeling," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 8(3), pages 497-520, December.
    5. Yao, Jia & Cheng, Zhanhong & Shi, Feng & An, Shi & Wang, Jian, 2018. "Evaluation of exclusive bus lanes in a tri-modal road network incorporating carpooling behavior," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 130-141.

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