Alain L. KornhauserProfessor, Operations Research & Financial Engineering

Director, Program in Transportation Faculty Chair, PAVE (Princeton Autonomous Vehicle Engineering)

Princeton University

Minneapolis' Bus 2.0 and its

Implications for New Jersey

Committee for a Smart New Jersey

The New Jersey State Chapter of ITS America2012 Annual Symposium

December 14, 2012

2005 2007

Link to Presentation Not Easy 20072005Old House

Beginning of Serious Vehicle Automation

Real Evolution Since the DARPA Challenges..

From the Stanford team…

Feet offHands off

Google Team: ~50 People ~ $15M/yr (chump change)

They’re Addressing the fact that…

We really don’t want to drive…

Addressing the fact that…

We aren’t that good…

>90% crashes involve human error

Google’s :

DOT HS 810 767 Pre-Crash Scenario Typology for Crash Avoidance Research

More on Google: Levandowski Presentation

Real Evolution by the Auto Makers

• Self-parking systems video (1st version Toyota ’03; US ‘06) MB Park Assist

• Lane Departure Warning Systems – Continental LWDS; Bendix AutoVue LDWS; Ford Driver Alert; Bosch Lane Departure and Lane Keeping Support ; Continental Driver Assistance Systems

• Frontal Impact Warning Systems Volvo video

• MBML350 Safety Features *; Mercedes Benz ; MB Lane Keeping Assistance; MB Active Lane Keeping Assist YouTube*• MB Attention Assist YouTube;

Evolution by Specialized Road Vehicles: Snow Plows

• Minnesota: Snowplow Technology Integration for Driver Assistance http://www.cts.umn.edu/Research/ProjectDetail.html?id=1999005

• Alaska: Smart Snowplows http://www.govtech.com/e-government/Smart-Snowplows-Keep-the-Highway-to-Valdez-Alaska-Clear.html

• California: Filed-Ready GPS-Based Guidance Methods and Systems for Winter Maintenance Vehicles http://ahmct.ucdavis.edu/pdf/UCD-ARR-09-09-30-03.pdf

Evolution in Transit Buses

http://www.bus2.me.umn.edu/

Objective: Efficient Utilization of Narrow Bus-Only Shoulders

Methodology: Driver Assistance via • Virtual Images,• Haptic Feedback, and • Tactile Feedback

(It Knows Enough to Steer the Bus, but doesn’t)

Bus 2.0: Initial Demonstration ofTransit-based Driver Assistance

Fleet of 10 Gillig low floor busesMorning and evening express services22 mile (one-way) travel distanceReliable travel times in all weather and traffic conditions

Bus 2.0: Transit-based Driver AssistanceHow Do They Do It?

Bus 2.0: Transit-based Driver AssistanceHow Do They Do It?

It Just Works!

• Fact: For over 40 years New Jersey has had the World’s Best “Bus Rapid Transit” System!

• It Consists of:• Efficient Boarding/Alighting @ Port Authority Bus Terminal

– 223 Departure Gates– Readily Accommodates 700 Buses/hr

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Fact: For over 40 years New Jersey has had the World’s Best “Bus Rapid Transit” System!

• It Consists of:• Efficient Boarding/Alighting @ PA Bus Terminal• Direct Access/Egress to Exclusive Lanes in the

Lincoln Tunnel

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Fact: For over 40 years New Jersey has had the World’s Best “Bus Rapid Transit” System!

• It Consists of:• Efficient Boarding/Alighting @ PA Bus Terminal• Direct Access/Egress to Exclusive Lanes in the Lincoln

Tunnel• 3+ HOV Lanes on the NJ Turnpike that are, by

default, essentially bus-only

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Fact: For over 40 years New Jersey has had the World’s Best “Bus Rapid Transit” System!

• It Consists of:• Efficient Boarding/Alighting @ PA Bus Terminal• Direct Access/Egress to Exclusive Lanes in the Lincoln

Tunnel• 3+ HOV Lanes on the NJ Turnpike that are, by default, essentially bus-only • Many Strategically Located Park&Ride Lots

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Pieces are Connected by:• “495-viaduct” Counter-flow Exclusive Bus Lane

(XBL)– 2.5 miles

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Pieces are Connected by:• “495-viaduct” Counter-flow Exclusive Bus Lane

(XBL)– Lane Segregation is by Removable Plastic Peg– Yet exceedingly Safe

» 3 (?) accidents in 41 years, no fatalities.

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Pieces are Connected by:• “495-viaduct” Counter-flow Exclusive Bus Lane

(XBL Movie)– Daily (6am->10am): 1,800 Buses; 65,000 pax– Peak Hour: 700 Buses; 35,000 pax– Peak Hour: At Capacity!

» Physical Driver Limit» Av. 5 sec. headway

The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

– Additional Demand Exists for “BRT 2 NYC”– How to increase capacity of XBL?

• “Take a 2nd Lane”?– Political suicide!

• Widen the Viaduct and Helix?– Very expensive/disruptive

• How about Driver Assistance?– Extend Bus 2.0 Technology

Improving The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Go Beyond Bus 2.0:– add Intelligent Cruise Control with Lane Assist to the

2,000 buses…• e.g. Daimler Benz Distronic Plus with Traffic Jam Assist• even at an incremental $100,000/bus this is just $200M

• Could achieve sustained 3.0 second headways– Increases practical throughput by 50%

• from 700 -> 1,000 buses/hr; 35,000 -> 50,000 pax/hr

– Increased passenger capacity comparable to what would have been provided by $10B ARC rail tunnel

• Institutionally manageable:– All Express Buses are leased for 1$/yr from PANY&NJ– Facilities (XBL, LT, PABT) are controlled by PANY&NJ DoT

• Ideal test facility available: – Ft. Monmouth

Improving The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

• Concept Not New:

• Concept Makes Even More Sense Now!

Improving The World’s Best Bus Rapid Transit System

Thank You