DESIGN OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PRIORITY SYSTEMS INCORPORATED IN THE UTMS

The Universal Traffic Management Society of Japan (UTMS) established a Public Transportation Priority System Subcommittee for the purpose of studying support systems for securing the priority of public transportation such as buses. Four themes were adopted: 1) a bus priority signal control system; 2) a bus lane availability support system; 3) an information supply system; and 4) a bus management support system. The functions, structures, and expected effects of each of these themes have been studied. Questionnaires on the new systems were sent to main bus operators nationwide and some of their suggestions were adopted. When developing the new system, two-way communication technology using infrared vehicle detectors, which is the key technology in the UTMS, will be fully utilized to enhance the functions. Experiments involving 300 buses aimed at implementation of a new system will be conducted in 1996.