The capacity of two neighbour intersections considering the influence of the bus stop

In this paper, we use a two-lane CA model to investigate the effect of a bus stop between two neighbouring intersections on the capacity of the bus. Both the case of a bus stop with a special stopping lane and that of one without are considered. The capacity versus the distance LBLB(LDLD) between the stop and the upstream (downstream) intersection is studied, with respect to the entering probability PePe and the traffic light cycle TT. It is found that a bus stop near an intersection can act as a bottleneck and cause a drop in the capacity when the LBLB (or LDLD) is below a critical point LBc1LBc1(or LDc1LDc1). However, the situation when the stop is located near the downstream intersection is worse than that of the upstream one. Furthermore, the simulation results show that the negative effect varies with the increase of the cycle time TT and the capacity can be maximized by adjusting TT. Comparisons between the two cases suggest that the stopping lane can improve the capacity to some extent. These results mean that the capacity can be exploited by changing the position of the bus stop or the cycle time, and adding a stopping lane if necessary. These findings may be useful in offering scientific guidance for the management and design of traffic networks.