Transit Signal Priority Optimization for Urban Intersection with the Effects of Downstream Bus Stop

Traffic flow characteristics of intersection will be directly affected by downstream bus service stop, therefore, the effect caused by downstream bus stop should be focused on for optimizing transit signal priority plan of urban intersection. Transit signal priority optimization control unit including signalized intersection and downstream bus stop is identified. Transit signal priority green extension optimization model is proposed, which can optimize transit priority signal timing plan by minimizing total passengers’ travelling delay of the whole control unit. Optimized transit priority signal timing plan is determined by using a signal phase allocation method. The proposed model is evaluated using a VISSIM-based simulation platform calibrated with field traffic volume and traffic signal data of Hangzhongmen Boulevard at Beiwei Road and downstream bus stop in Nanjing, China. The results indicate the promising performance (8.38% passengers’ travelling delay reduction) of the proposed transit signal priority optimization phasing plans, and the evaluation simulated by VISSIM-based platform also reveal the performance. Consequently, the proposed transit signal priority optimization strategy can significantly improve the traveling efficiency of urban transit system.