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Instructor Information: Peter Koonce, P.E.

Course Length: 1.5 Hours

Co-sponsored by ASCE's Transportation & Development Institute and ASCE Continuing Education. 

Transit signal priority (TSP) is not a new concept. Traffic engineers were providing transit priority in the 1960s. Even before the advent of detection for transit, traffic signal timing was adjusted in some cities to favor transit’s operating characteristics. This webinar discusses different types of transit, passive transit priority, elements of traffic signal priority systems, emerging new design standards, how to determine where and when to apply the new standards, and implementing these treatments. Examples of where these treatments have been implemented are provided.

Purpose and Background

Traffic engineering for transit is an effective strategy for reducing costs for transit agencies. Physical improvements come in a variety of forms and have been deployed with a wide variety of success throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world. Advances in technology have provided engineers with opportunities to facilitate the movement of in-service transit vehicles, either buses, streetcars or light rail vehicles through signalized intersections. TSP offers a cost effective approach to pursuing a number of valuable objectives including: reduced transit travel times, improved schedule adherence, improved transit efficiency, and increased road network efficiency as measured by person mobility.

New advances in Global Positioning Systems, detection and communication, and control strategies have overcome many problems with early systems and increased interest in implementing TSP for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and other transit operations. The increased capabilities of these advanced systems have led to a dramatic increase in operational and planned TSP deployments across the U.S. TSP has come to be considered a key component of the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) initiative to use ITS and other innovations (e.g. vehicle design, right of way improvements) to attain the features of rail rapid transit systems (e.g. minimum delay, reliability, identity).

Primary Discussion Topics

- Different types of transit (bus, streetcar, light rail, commuter rail)
- Elements of passive priority and traffic signal priority systems
- Current and emerging  standards and reference material
- Determining where and when to apply these treatments
- Evaluation when implementing these facilities/treatments
- Examples where these facilities/treatments been implemented

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to :

- Become familiar with the history of transit signal priority
- Demonstrate understanding of Concept of Operations
- Understand the relevant National Transportation Communications for ITS Protocol standards associated with signal priority
- Understand the various design considerations when developing these facilities

Webinar Benefits

- Learn about current state of the practice
- Plan and design for more efficient transportation system
- Understand the relationship between TSP and preemption and applicability
- Learn about partnerships that are necessary between agencies (traffic and traffic)

Assessment of Learning Outcomes

Students' achievement of the learning outcomes will be assessed via a short post-assessment (true-false, multiple choice and fill in the blank questions).

Intended Audience

- Transportation engineers/planners
- Transit professionals
- Government officials

Webinar Outline

- Overview of traffic signal design and transit considerations
- Discussion of relevant policies that emphasize person movement as opposed to vehicles
- Summary of various forms of passive priority and transit signal priority system components
- Summary of context within larger bus rapid transit or larger scale investment 
- Overview of relevant NTCIP standards
- Examples of Implementation
- Summary of benefits
- Conclusions
- Questions