AT-GRADE BUSWAY STUDY

This research investigates the issues related to the implementation and operations of the South Dade Busway, the first at-grade busway in the United States. Busway applications in North America and through the world are also analyzed and presented through an extensive literature review. A case study about the South Dade Busway is also presented in this report. Traffic data collection before and after the operation of the South Dade Busway were performed and analyzed to study the effect of the at-grade busway on traffic on adjacent streets. System characteristics of at-grade busway are compared with comparable systems. The at-grade South Dade Busway is proven to be an attractive means of transportation. The South Dade Busway ridership increased by 39% in the first month, and the combined busway and Metrorail ridership increased by 17% in the same period. Accidents due to the operation of the South Dade Busway were also analyzed and new traffic control devices are proposed to ensure safer operations of the busway. The main advantages of at-grade busways include that they may be implemented quickly and incrementally and thus are responsive to growing road congestion. Important aspects of at-grade busway design and operations are safety, convenience, signal preemption for transit vehicles, and proper traffic control device design and operations.