Conference Papers / Δημοσιεύσεις σε Συνέδρια

As the level of traffic congestion rises and the complexity of traffic networks increases, the development of effective transportation strategies becomes the most challenging task for every transport authority. Meanwhile, advancements in computer technology and especially the technique of computer simulation offer a new effective way for testing plausible solutions prior to their implementation. Based on a microscopic traffic simulation model this paper presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of alternative traffic solution interventions on a main arterial in Nicosia, Cyprus. In particular, computer experiments are carried out to test various plausible scenario solutions. The scenarios under evaluation, involve the use of dedicated bus lanes, high occupancy vehicle lanes and road enhancement interventions. The simulation results show that an attractive scenario such as the use of dedicated bus lanes, if not designed properly, could bring disastrous results not only to the private car transport mode but also to the bus transport mode as coupling effects cause buses to get stuck with the rest of the traffic. By going through a computer experimentation process and scenario analysis a viable solution is derived, where restricted lanes for buses and high occupancy vehicles are introduced in combination with road geometry redesign and traffic re-direction at key points.

The number of private vehicles increased dramatically during the last two decades in the island of Cyprus. This phenomenon had a negative effect on the bus transport mode which over the years its use has been considerably reduced. As traffic congestion increased considerably during the same period the need for a high quality public transportation system became clear. This need is also supported by the demand for public transportation by the aging and disadvantaged population. The best way to attract people back to public transportation is to have a reliable bus system with a high quality of service which can compensate for the lack of freedom and exibility a private vehicle can provide. However such a system should not have a negative effect on the traffic network in terms of congestion and travel times but should coexist serving both the needs of people who do not drive and those who use the public transport mode.The purpose of this paper is to present the development and evaluation of a number of scenarios aiming at attracting commuters back to public transportation. This idea stems from the fact that surveys among the Cypriot commuters show that people will use buses if buses provide a fast and reliable service. For this purpose, microscopic simulation models are developed in order to examine several scenarios of dedicated bus lanes and bus priority schemes so that the buses can provide the desired level of service with the minimal impact on the rest of the traffic.

This paper proposes an approach to planing for Bus Rapid Transit Systems via traffic simulation modelling. The approach concentrates on developing a valid traffic network model and consequently evaluating a number of BRT scenarios which include the use of dedicated bus lanes and actuated signal control. This is successfully applied for the case of introducing BRT systems in Nicosia, Cyprus. Key to the success of proposed approach is scenario planning which is achieved by carrying out a series of computer experiments. The results presented in this paper will be useful as a knowledge base in future studies for transportation planning managers and researchers in order to develop effective strategies to enhance the Bus Transport Mode.