Enhancing Bus Holding Control Using Cooperative ITS

We introduce a novel hybrid controller, which aims to maintain regularity on bus operations while reducing the number of stops at signalized intersections. The controller combines a rule-based holding criterion with a cooperative intelligent transportation systems based strategy, namely green light optimal dwell time adaptation (GLODTA), which exploits signal phase and timing information to modify dwell times at stops. In order to address the bi-objective criterion, holding control is integrated with transit signal priority (TSP) and an additional driving advisory system, which adjusts speed to reduce stopping at signals. The different controllers are evaluated using simulation of major bus line in Luxembourg City. The results show that buses are efficiently operated without necessarily providing additional priority via TSP, hence without negatively affecting the capacity of the private vehicles system. The new controller improves further the performance in terms of regularity and reduces the number of stops at traffic lights.