Transit Priority Lanes

Purpose 

Improve transit speeds, reliability, efficiency and reduce conflicts between buses and other vehicles by separating/identifying bus travel from general purpose travel lanes.

Description

Roadway lanes with preferential or exclusive usage by buses to improve bus operations and safety. Travel lanes or parking lanes are converted to transit priority lanes with signage and pavement markings indicating “Bus Only”. Transit priority lanes allow buses to operate separately from other vehicles. Delays from congestion or curbside activities are reduced, which could improve transit speeds, safety, and reliability.

Red paint may be used to signify/identify transit priority lanes. Transit priority lanes painted red improve compliance.

Safety Benefits

• Improves transit operations by reducing bus delay.
• Reduces bus conflicts with curbside activities.
• Reduces bus conflicts with other vehicles.
• Makes streets more organized, easier to use.

Street Types and Context

Applicable Street Types

Principal and Minor Arterials, primarily in Urban or Urban Core contexts

Other Location Guidance 

• Roadways with frequent bus service and vehicle congestion.
• Roadways where transit is greatly delayed by traffic.
• Roadways with frequent bus service and extra travel lanes or parking lanes.

Primary User Groups

Key Implementation Considerations

• May be installed next to a bike lane.
• Can be dedicated full-time or during peak periods of the day.
• Turns across transit priority lanes should be carefully managed.
• Traffic signals may be timed to give transit vehicles priority.
• May include barriers or flex posts to provide physical separation between general-purpose and transit priority lanes.
• Red colored pavement markings can be used to distinguish between the transit lane and a general-purpose lane unless there are barriers installed. 

Expected Crash Reduction

50% reduction of head-on fatal/injury crashes for installation of shoulder bus lanes (Gan et al 2005).

Cost

Restriping roadway and installation of new signage. Use of red colored pavement increases installation and maintenance costs.

Timeline

One to three or more years, depending on complexity.

References

• NACTO Transit Street Design Guide
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Arlington County Bus Stop Guidelines & Standards Manual
• District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Bus Priority Toolbox