Enhancements of CORSIM Model in Simulating Transit Operations

Abstract

A CORSIM-based microscopic simulation model is developed, which provides transit planners and operators with the ability to simulate bus operations on transit routes. Several modules in CORSIM for processing bus operations are modified to calculate bus dwell times at stops. The bus dwell time is dynamically determined by the passenger arrival rate, average boarding time, and vehicle interdeparture time (headway). Bunching of buses—due to variations in passenger demand at stops, travel times on streets, and delays at intersections—deteriorates the quality of service and operating efficiency, which can be observed from the simulation results. The input requirements and the modular nature of the proposed model are highlighted. Outputs, including bus arrival and departure times, dwell time, and average passenger waiting time at each stop, are generated for the evaluation of bus operations. The proposed simulation model is calibrated and validated by two sets of data collected from bus route 39 of the New Jersey Transit Corporation.