Evaluation of Alternative Guided Bus Designs: Results for Kingston Upon Hull.

This paper describes the background and methodology employed in research funded by the EPSRC to assess the traffic management implications of guided bus schemes. One central aim of the project is to demonstrate how simulation tools can be adapted to account for the special features of guided bus schemes and demonstrate their applicability on an actual planned scheme. Traditional bus priority measures are first assessed for their benefits and these are contrasted with those from the planned guided bus scheme. Variations to the planned scheme are also considered.

A sophisticated microsimulation model is used to assess the impact of incorporating guided bus infrastructure into three planned schemes. Two of these are from Leeds and Kingston-upon-Hull and are largely within the existing Road infrastructure, whilst the third is from Chester and is largely segregated from the existing road infrastructure.

This paper deals exclusively with the Kingston-upon-Hull scheme. The network under consideration is due north of Hull city center and contains two main arterials, the Beverley Road and Stoneferry Road, together with a network of connecting roads. The traditional bus priority measures are concentrated on the Beverley Road, which is currently the main bus arterial of the two roads. When the guideways are constructed the intention is that the Stoneferry Road would become a more important bus arterial than it currently is. The planned guided bus scheme exists in four variants: two-way at the kerb; two-way in the median; tidal in the median and an elevated section located in the median. This paper describes the evaluation of the base network; the individual traditional priority measures; the combined traditional priority measures and the four planned guided bus schemes.