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Title:Evaluation of Transit Signal Priority Strategies for 400 South Light Rail Line in Salt Lake County, UT: Part II
Authors:Peter T. Martin, Aleksandar Stevanovic, and Milan Zlatkovic
University:University of Utah
Publication Date:Nov 2010
Report #:MPC-09-213B
Project #:MPC-313
TRID #:01448624
Keywords:highway traffic, light rail transit, microsimulation, signalized intersections, traffic delays, traffic signal control systems, traffic signal preemption, transit traffic, travel time
Type:Research Report – MPC Publications

 

Abstract

The goal of this study is to evaluate light rail priority strategies along the 400 S / 500 S corridor in Salt Lake County through analyzing benefits and impacts of the priority on transit and vehicular traffic through microsimulation.

The results show that the existing priority strategies have no impacts on vehicular traffic along the corridor, while at the same time help reduce train travel times 20% to 30%. Left turns along the main corridor are more affected by the priority than the through movements. Depending on the side street, the priority strategies can cause minor to major impacts on vehicular traffic through increased delays, while they help reduce train delays by 140%. Enabling priority at the 700 E intersection, where the priority is currently not active, would help reduce delays for trains an additional 10%, while increasing delays for vehicles approximately 7%. However, the coordinated north-south through movements would experience minimum impacts.

Three recommendations have emerged from the study. The first is to enable priority at 700 E. This would help transit without major impacts on vehicular traffic. The second is to reset priority parameters at intersections adjacent to LRT stations so that the priority call encompasses station dwell times. The last recommendation is to consider removing the queue jump strategies to reduce delays for the corridor through movements and help preserve coordination patterns.

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How to Cite

Martin, Peter T., Aleksandar Stevanovic, and Milan Zlatkovic. Evaluation of Transit Signal Priority Strategies for 400 South Light Rail Line in Salt Lake County, UT: Part II, MPC-09-213B. North Dakota State University - Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Fargo: Mountain-Plains Consortium, 2010.

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