Helsinki, Finland
The Benefits of a Pilot Implementation of Public Transport Signal Priorities and Real-Time Passenger Information
Summary Information
This study evaluated a pilot project designed to provide real-time passenger information and signal priority to tram and bus lines in the City of Helsinki, Finland. Automated vehicle location (AVL) and computer assisted dispatch (CAD) systems were installed on Tram Line-4 and Bus Line-23. In addition, transit signal priority was provided on each route, and real-time schedule information was displayed at each transit stop.
Field measurements were collected from April 1998 to May 2000 in order to evaluate the technical performance of each system in terms of service accessibility, travel times, punctuality, and regularity. The evaluation was conducted using records of in-vehicle data, interviews, surveys, simulations, and a representative test ride observations before and after system deployment.
Fuel Consumption and Emissions
Simulations were used to evaluate fuel consumption and emissions for buses before and after system deployment. The calculations considered the average total length of delays, and the amount of time buses were in motion and standing still. The simulation model (VEMOSIM) indicated the following:
- Fuel consumption decreased by 3.6 percent.
- Nitrogen oxides decreased by 4.9 percent.
- Carbon monoxide decreased by 1.8 percent.
- Hydrocarbons decreased by 1.2 percent.
- Particulate matter decreased by 1 percent.
