Public transport priority and traveller information

Summary

To speed up public transport in Zagreb and make it more attractive the city provided passengers with information on arrival times to a specific station. This was achieved by demonstrating the public transport priority system and introducing a system that allows management to know the exact position of public transport vehicles.

Implementing sustainable mobility

Mobility requirements in Zagreb before and during CIVITAS ELAN implementation were not being met in their entirety. When congestion and traffic jams occur, several coordinated traffic routes in the city cannot be controlled remotely. Traffic problems in Zagreb cannot be solved by the mere construction of new traffic infrastructure and by isolated technical solutions. The Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering (ZFOT), has produced a Design of Intelligent Mobility System for Zagreb, a document that requires further elaboration, but still represents a good starting point. Research has also been conducted by ZFOT on the introduction of LED displays at numerous points within the city, giving information on the availability of spaces in public parking garages.

Progress

Data on the present situation has been collected and a simulation model of the existing Savska cesta corridor with traffic network geometry, motorised and tramway traffic flows and traffic signalling plans was completed using PTV Vision Planning and Simulation software and calibrated with collected data. Micro-simulation and a preliminary evaluation of the impact of adaptable traffic lights on traffic flow at an intersection of the Savska cesta traffic corridor computer model were completed. The construction of a simulation computer model using dynamic assignment of extended Savska cesta corridor to Šarengradska cesta corridor (parallel corridor planned to be constructed) and its impact on public and motorised traffic distribution is in progress.

The scaling of the Savska cesta and Šarengradska cesta corridors background plan and drawing of traffic network links and connectors in the models were realised. Vehicle volumes at network endpoints based on data collection campaigns were then entered into the Savska cesta corridor model, along with routing decision points at intersections and associates routes. Signal controls with timetables of signal groups, disposition of signal heads in the network and timing of traffic lights derived from obtained existing signalling plans were then added. Controllers for vehicle actuated signal control and detectors for intersections controlled by traffic actuated signal control were inputted, followed by tramlines and the placement of stops in the Savska cesta corridor network.

After deriving appropriate signalling schemes for selected intersections the PT priority system was demonstrated. Apart from PT priority system, the measure implemented the traveller information system which included the establishment of a control centre and the installation of 40 LED display panels on PT stops in the corridor. Only the display panels were part of ELAN activities.

Outcomes

• Improvement in tram performance. Average tram operation time decreased by 6.46%; the cumulative running time of a tram decreased by 7.3%; tram operating speed increased by 6.9%; the cumulative intersection delay for trams in the whole Savska cesta decreased by 17.84% and the intersection delay for trams on Deželićeva intersection was reduced by 84%. This improved flow resulted in a decrease of the average number of vehicles on all intersections in Savska cesta by 1.86%. Hence, all quantifiable targets were exceeded with one exception: decrease of number of vehicles by 3% was only partially achieved.
• LED information display panels introduced. 40 LED information display panels were installed in the corridor.
• The share of very satisfied users, by the sub-criterion Are you satisfied with the availability of information on PT stops, is increased from 6.25% in 2009 to 11.44% in 2011.
• The number of very satisfied users, by the sub-criterion Are you satisfied with the availability of information about incidents in PT, clearly indicates the positive change (their share is increased from mere 2.67% in 2009 to almost 11% in 2011).
• The percentage of very satisfied users with the accuracy of PT vehicles is more than double with the share of 15.21% in 2011.