Abstract
Time headway analysis is crucial in traffic engineering for understanding traffic flow and enhancing safety. Prior studies often neglected the impact of curbside bus stops, but this study explores time headway in vehicular traffic with curbside bus stops, estimating critical time headway using fundamental diagram-derived road section capacity. Field data was collected from various sections, both with and without curbside bus stops, experiencing varying traffic conditions. Headway data analysis showed curve profiles changing due to lane shifts, traffic flow, and interactions between leading and following vehicles. Various factors, including traffic volume, two-wheeler percentage, and lane count, all negatively affected average time headway. In contrast, longer bus dwell times and more heavy vehicles in the traffic stream led to increased time headway across all road sections. A model was proposed to estimate average time headway based on these influencing variables. Moreover, a speed-volume diagram assessed road capacity, revealing critical time headway variations: 0.63 seconds for six-lane divided roads and 1.43 seconds for four-lane divided roads. These differences stemmed from factors including traffic flow, road design, driver behavior, and capacity considerations. The study establishes critical time headway’s vital role in improving safety, reliability, and efficiency at curbside bus stops.
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Pallela, S.S., Mehar, A. Analysis of Time Headway Characteristics at the Curbside Bus Stop on Multi-Lane Divided Urban Arterials under Mixed Traffic Conditions. KSCE J Civ Eng 28, 3520–3532 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-024-0640-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-024-0640-4