MICROCOMPUTERS IN TRANSPORTATION. SIMULATING THE OPERATION OF BUSES ON BUSWAYS

The paper discusses the Karachi (Pakistan) Mass Transit Study that investigated alternatives to a recommended transitway, a busway designed for conversion to light rail, grade separated from other traffic except for bus entry or exit locations. The alternatives evaluated were an elevated light rail route, and a Brazil-type busway at grade in a street median with signalized intersections. This paper describes one aspect of the evalutation: the use of simulation of inidvidual vehicle operation to compare operational performance of the two busway types. The model concept is described, as well as model format and methods, and future refinements. General conclusions drawn from the busway analysis are presented.