Overview
This project tackled the design of a control system capable of providing the necessary functionalities to manage the signalling priority for public transport.
Current traffic control systems are designed to manage the traffic flow through traffic plans, which define traffic behaviour (movement of vehicles) and the time associated with each movement.
This project provides a management plan specifically designed to give priority to tramways.
The objective was to design and develop a traffic control strategy to favour the management of public transport.
The system for tramway priority allows the management of priorities from different points of view. It can be used to favour private transport or public transport, providing at any time alternatives to the traffic management, suited to the different characteristics of urban environments and managers' decisions.
The project designed a control strategy which the responsible public transport managers and traffic managers could adapt to different situations, taking into account the evolution of the road network and the management policies chosen for it.
One key for the management of signalling priority for public transport will be the definition of the balance point where public transport is favoured and private transport is not adversely affected. This balance point can be different according to the different transport modes, cities, routes, etc. It also depends on political decisions, since administrators can have different points of view for the same problem.
All these factors are studied and introduced in the PREFTRAN system.
Funding
Results
Development of a traffic control strategy to favour the management of public transport, allowing tramway priority.
Policy implications
None