A Value Proposition of Cooperative Bus-Holding Transit Signal Priority Strategy in Connected and Automated Vehicles Environment

In this study, we assess a cooperative bus-holding transit signal priority strategy (C-BHTSP) in a connected and automated vehicles (CAV) environment. The research objectives of this study are to quantify the benefits of C-BHTSP to transit, its impact on opposing non-transit traffic, and the CAV market penetration rate required to neutralize that impact. A simulation model was developed in VISSIM using detailed, high-quality, up-to-date data for transit, non-transit traffic, and signal control parameters. Our assessment shows that the proposed strategy results in about a 60% reduction in transit delay compared to the base scenario. The results also show that a CAV MPR of 32% was found sufficient to overcome the negative impact of C-BHTSP on the opposing non-transit traffic while maintaining transit benefits. Higher MPRs produce substantial improvements in the overall travel time, delay, fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The framework and findings of this study provide a blueprint for the decision-making process of implementing transit priority under varying CAV MPRs.