Intersection Principles Concepts for designing intersections that promote efficient mass mobility and safe transit access. Read More
Signals & Operations Because delay at traffic signals often accounts for one-quarter to one-third of a transit route’s total trip time, it is important to consider settings and technology that optimize the performance of the system—ideally, to keep transit vehicles moving between stops. Read More
Transit Signal Progression Transit signal progressions, a form of pre-timed or “passive” transit signal priority, are signal progressions (green waves) set to realistic travel speeds for on-street transit, often in the 12–20 mph range. Read More
Active Transit Signal Priority Transit Signal Priority (TSP) tools modify traffic signal timing or phasing when transit vehicles are present either conditionally for late runs or unconditionally for all arriving transit. Read More
Short Signal Cycles When transit has unpredictable dwell times, or where there is no coordinated signal progression, shortening signal cycle length can greatly reduce the time spent by transit vehicles waiting at red signals. Read More
Turn Restrictions Prohibiting turns where they present issues, and shifting turn volume to the intersections where they can be best accommodated—with signal phases and turn lanes—can improve transit performance, general traffic performance, and walking and bicycling safety at the same time. Read More
Intersection Design for Transit Making intersections efficient for transit operation and safe for people both inside and outside transit vehicles requires that a variety of design elements work well together: stop location and type, management of mixed-traffic turns, and bikeway location and design. Read More
Shared Transit/Right-Turn Lane On streets with a right-side dedicated transit lane that accommodates a moderate volume of right-turn movements, the transit lane can permit right turns approaching an intersection. Read More
Right-Turn Pocket Where right-turn volumes are high enough to interfere with transit operations but cannot be prohibited, providing a right-turn pocket to the right of the through transit lane reduces bus and streetcar delays. Read More
Dropped Transit Lane On some narrow transit streets, mixed traffic is expected to use the transit lane both for right turns and to occasionally divert around vehicles waiting to turn left. Dropping the transit lane approaching an intersection can clarify which movements are Read More
Queue Jump Lanes Queue jump lanes combine short dedicated transit facilities with either a leading bus interval or active signal priority to allow buses to easily enter traffic flow in a priority position. Queue jumps can reduce delay considerably, resulting in run-time savings Read More
Transit Approach Lane/Short Transit Lane Short transit lanes on the approach to major intersections, sometimes paired with active signal priority, allow transit vehicles to bypass long queues that form at major cross streets. Read More
Virtual Transit Lane Virtual right-turn lanes permit right turns only when a transit vehicle is not present. When a transit vehicle approaches, right turns are prohibited. Transit signals are triggered to allow transit vehicles to pass through the intersection. Read More
Bicycle Rail Crossings With or without bike lanes, streetcar and light rail streets attract bicycle traffic. Making these streets safe for people using bikes is critical for preserving local destination access, and is often important for bike network connectivity. Read More
Transit Route Turns While buses and light rail vehicles may require more, or dedicated, street space, thoughtful intersection design can yield more efficient transit service facing fewer conflicts. Read More
Turn Radii At intersections, geometric decisions must balance efficient accommodation of transit turns with pedestrian safety. Curb radii should be designed as tightly as possibly to reduce pedestrian crossing distance without adversely affecting transit operations. Read More
Recessed Stop Line Buses may face challenging turning geometries when routed through small intersections, especially when transit service is operated in the curbside lane. Pulling the stop bar back from the intersection allows large transit vehicles to use two lanes around tight curb Read More
Transit-Only Turns Bus- or streetcar-only turn restrictions provide the safety and operational benefits of general motor vehicle turn prohibitions while permitting a critical bus movement. Read More
Dedicated Turn Channel Unlike slip lanes, a dedicated turn channel is designed specifically for transit vehicles, and can be designated exclusively for their use, preventing excessive vehicle speeds. Read More