EFFECTS OF ROAD SIDE BUS STATION AND TAXI STOPS ON TRAFFIC FLOW OF

SHASHEMENE TOWN

M.Sc. RESEARCH PROPOSAL

BY

JEMAL BEDANE HALKIYO

ADVISOR: Dr. ALEMSEGED

AUGUST, 2017
ARBA MINCH, ETHIOPIA

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 EFFECTS OF ROAD SIDE BUS STATION AND TAXI STOPS ON TRAFFIC FLOW OF
SHASHEMENE TOWN

BY

JEMAL BEDANE HALKIYO

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL

ENGINEERING, INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE
STUDIES, ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ROAD AND
TRANSPORT ENGINEERING

AUGUST, 2017
ARBA MINCH

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Description of study location: ............................................................................................................. 4
2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: ................................................................................................... 5
3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY: ......................................................................................................... 6
3.1 General Objective: .............................................................................................................................. 6
3.2 Specific Objective: .............................................................................................................................. 6
4. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ............................................................................................ 6
5. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 7
4.1 Sampling Method:............................................................................................................................... 7
4.2 Methods of Data Collection: ............................................................................................................... 7
4.2.1 Method of Conducting Capacity Studies ..................................................................................... 7
4.2.2 Methods of Conducting Speed studies: ........................................................................................ 8
4.2.3 Methods to Develop Urban Average Traffic Flow Speed Model ................................................ 8
6. EXPECTED RESULT .......................................................................................................................... 9
REFERENCE................................................................................................................................................ 9

Lists of figures

Fig 1.1 Congested traffic flow at one side of Awasho Bus station…………………………………………………………….4

Fig 1.2 Different vehicle types at in front of Awasho bus station entrance………………………………………………5

Fig 1.3 Abosto Taxi stop showing taxis vehicles parking...............................................................5

Fig 2.1 Method of conducting speed studies……………………………………………………………………………………………8

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
The presence of roadside bus stations and taxi stops along urban street will disturb the traffic flow
in the vicinity of bus stations and taxi stops. Bus stations and different types of taxi stops have
high impact on the operation of different road users and urban traffic flows. Accordingly, in
Shashamene town a number of roadside bus station and improper allocation of taxi stops is
expanding. As result the availability of roadside bus station is obstructing the vehicles speed flow

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in urban area. Additionally the number of traffic flow increases daily, seasonally and even yearly
such that it require proper boarding and alighting station like bus station to effectively serve the
passengers.
To describe and analyze how different types of bus station near major roads and taxi stops
influence the travel speeds, travel time and safety of other vehicles. The common vehicles using
the roads are three wheeler taxis or bajajs, trucks, minibus, motorcycles, bicycles and buses. An
evaluation on the impact of different bus station and taxi stops on the operations of traffic flow
can provide useful information to the city planners for the design of bus stops under different traffic
and environmental conditions.

1.2 Description of study location:

The study site are Awasho bus station, Awasho taxi-stops, and Abosto taxi-stops are located in
shashemene town. The description of each bus station and taxi stop is given as follows.
1. Awasho Bus Station: the Awasho bus station located and constructed at roadside of main road
which link Shashemene-Bale Robe road gateway. Intersection also exist at edge of station such
that bus station possessing traffic characteristic like traffic delay, congestion, conflicts, parking of
vehicle on roadway and pedestrian on roadway increasing timely.

Fig 1.1 Congested traffic flow at one side of Awasho Bus station

2. Awasho Taxi-Stop: the Awasho taxi stop located near to Awasho bus station along
Shashemene-Bale road corridor. The taxis and bajaj parked at the edge of road and get on-off
passenger. At Awasho taxi stops the roadway section used by different vehicle like high-roof,
abba-dula, bajaj, bicyle, donkey cart, automobile and pedestrians. Along taxi stop, the road get

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congested and different traffic problems like accidents, delays and other traffic conflicts increasing
in town.

Bus station entrance

Fig 1.2 Different vehicle types at in front of Awasho bus station entrance

3. Abosto Taxi Stop: The taxis and bajaj uses edge of road to get on and get off the passenger.
As result the roadway width occupied by pedestrians and the vehicle travel speed obstructed and
the drivers of vehicle enforced to reduce the travelling speeds.

Fig 1.3 Abosto Taxi stop showing taxis vehicles parking

2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:

Inproper allocation and construction of roadside bus stations and taxi-stops causes different traffic
problems like reduction of traffic flow speed, traffic congestions and reduction of roadway
capacity. In shashemene town; Abosto bus station, Awasho taxi-stops and Abosto taxi stops affects
the movement of vehicles. As result the speed of vehicle is affected by various factors like effective
width of road, existence of pedestrians on roadway and traffic density. In town the roadside bus
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station and taxi stops have significant influence on vehicle travel speeds. As result of obstruction
of vehicle travel speed, the road nearer to bus station and taxi stops not delivering the required
service in its design period of time and the roadway capacity reduced. In addition the taxi vehicles
park at edge of urban road and causing reduction of effective road width & capacity of roadway at
nearer to bus and taxi stop stations.

3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

3.1 General Objective:
 To investigate the effect of urban roadside bus stations on vehicular speed of different
traffics in the town
3.2 Specific Objective:
 To compare the effect of bus station and taxi stops with respect to capacity of roadway
 To describe the effects of road side bus station and taxi stops on traffic flow speeds
 To Model urban average traffic flow speeds representing urban traffic flow conditions

4. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The of impact of bus stop on urban traffic characteristics studied and the review of findings
describe that the Buses do not many times stop at their intended stops because of numerous side
activities like passengers waiting for the bus on the carriageway instead of waiting inside
the bus shelter, presence of auto rickshaws, vendors, etc. These fringe conditions force the bus
drivers to not stop the buses at their designated stops. Curb side bus stops create a temporary
bottleneck to the traffic flow and when buses stop at these type of bus stops, they force
the vehicles following the bus to change their lanes. Due to this, the speeds of the vehicles
following the bus and others buses travelling in the adjacent lanes decrease (Sai, C., & Satish, C.,
2014).

Traffic congestion will significantly affects economic performance of the nation and living
standards of the people. In majority of urban areas, travel demand exceeds highway capacity
occasionally during peak periods. These temporary capacity losses have significant impact on
delay, reduced mobility, and reduced reliability of the roadway network. They may also cause the
drivers to change their routes or reschedule their trips (Fangwei et al., 2014).

The study reveals that most of the road accidents in Arba Minch Town occurring in the mid-day
of the week with involvements of various types of vehicles such as three wheelers, automobiles,

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freight vehicles with passenger bus, Motor bike with pedestrians, three wheelers with taxi, Taxi
with bus, due to lack of awareness about severity of road accidents and obey of traffic rule and
regulations along road corridors. The road corridor along Arba Minch bus station and other areas
identified and prone location of town. As per the study show that, out of total number of accidents
studies 62.42% of accidents are caused due to human factors and reaming percent 38.58% is
vehicles defects, geometrical design defects and environmental factors (Halkiyo et al., 2017).

The Influences of Various Types of Bus Stops on Traffic Operations of Bicycles, Vehicles and
Buses studied on Bhavan bus station and AP Transco bus station, India. Different types of bus
stops could have distinct impact on the operation of different road users. The study show that on
urban streets the arrival of buses and taxi vehicles from service stations could disturb the traffic
flow, makes traffic delay and congestion along corridor side in the vicinity of bus stations (Zhang
et al. (2014).

The vehicles operating around roundabout and roadside bus stops that when buses stop suddenly
at the bus stop near round about, few vehicles pass the stopped bus from left side of the bus.
Passengers boarding and alighting the transport bus may face conflict with these vehicles. Finally,
study concluded that on-street bus stops will interfere with vehicles movement if bus demand
exceeds the bus stop capacity, resulting in some buses queuing and congestion (Chethan, N. T., &
Rajendra, K., 2015).

5. METHODOLOGY
4.1 Sampling Method:
Non-probability sampling method will be used which based on convenience of samples and
purposive study. From two different locations of bus stations and five taxi-stops will be identified.
After further investigations on traffic flow characteristic in shashemene town, one bus station and
two taxi-stops will be selected based on significance for the study. For selected stations detail
survey will be conducted and traffic data are recorded for the evaluation of roadside bus station
and taxi-stops on traffic flow speed of vehicles.
4.2 Methods of Data Collection:
4.2.1 Method of Conducting Capacity Studies: Capacity of the road is a function of traffic volume
and traffic Speed on that road. To evaluate the Capacity of any road, it is required to conduct traffic
Volume studies and traffic Speed studies on that road at a time and the data has to be collected.

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With the help of this data, a plot has to be drawn by taking Average Speeds of vehicles on Y- axis
and Traffic Volume on X- axis. The Scattered points obtained has to be joined by a smooth curve
and should be extended up to Y- axis at one end and x- axis at another end. The point where the
extension of curve line touches the Y- axis indicates the Free Flow Speed. The volume
corresponding to half of free flow speed gives the Capacity of the road. In this way, the Capacity
of road will be evaluated.
4.2.2 Methods of Conducting Speed studies: Speed studies by direct timing procedure method: In
this method, study is conducted by measuring the entry and exit timings directly at the selected
location. The study has to be conducted both in the peak and non- peak hours for every 15 minutes
consecutive intervals. Two base lines across the given road are to be marked for the purpose of
study. The distance between base line 1 and base line 2 should not exceed more than 50 meters.
Then, the speed of vehicle in kilometer per hour is ratio of distance study in meter to journey time
in sec.

𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑠(𝑚)

𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑(𝑣) = 3.6 ∗ 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑒𝑦 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 3.6 ∗ Equation (1)
𝑡𝑖 (𝑠𝑒𝑐)

Fig 2.1 Method of conducting speed studies

4.2.3 Methods to Develop Urban Average Traffic Flow Speed Model: Many applications of
regression analysis involve situations in which there are more than one independent variable. The
study the reduction of speed is dependent variable and the factor by which the speed of traffic
vehicle depend is called independent variables like number of vehicles on street parking, number
of pedestrians and effective road width. Therefore we can use the natural logarithm value of
independent variable of vehicular speed while developing regression equations by using
MINITAB statistical software.
 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 = 𝛼0 + 𝛼1 × 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 + 𝛼2 ×
𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑝𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑡 + 𝛼3 × 𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑦

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 Mathematically we can represent the reduction speed at roadway nearer to bus station and taxi stops:

𝑉 = 𝛼0 + 𝛼1 × 𝑁𝑆𝑃 + 𝛼2 × 𝑁𝑃𝑆 + 𝛼3 × 𝐸𝑊𝑅 Equation (2)

Where,
V = speed of vehicle in kilometer per hour (Dependent variable)
α0 = regressional cofficients
α1 , α2 and α3 = respective cofficient of independent variable
𝑁𝑆𝑃, 𝑁𝑃𝑆 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹𝑀𝐷𝑇 = 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑

6. EXPECTED RESULT
The expected outcome of this study is to solve current vehicle reduction speed on roadway
at around roadside bus station and taxi stops along corridor. It is anticipated that engineering
solution will be proposed after traffic data analysis by manual method, video shooting and
determining the capacity of each roadway to improve the vehicle speed on roadway nearer to bus
station and taxi stop stations at roadway edge.

REFERENCE
1. Fangwei Z., Malli, K.B., and Kerjuna, J. H., Ass.Pro. (2014). Influences of Various Types
of Bus Stops on Traffic Operations of Bicycles, Vehicles and Buses. Shanghai University
of Engineering Science printing press, 6(4), pp 86-93.
2. Halkiyo, J. B., Halkiyu, S. B., & Reddy, R. R., Dr. (March, 2017). Road Accidents of Arba
Minch Town in Ethiopia: an Empirical study. International Journal of Civil Engineering,
4(3), pp 29-33.
3. Chethan, N. T., & Rajendra, K., Dr. (2015). Impact of road side bus stops on capacity of
roadway. IJESRT, 2(3), pp 147-157.
4. Zhang, G. K., Rajesh, E., & Reddy, W., Dr. (2014). The Influences of Various Types of
Bus Stops on Traffic Operations. International Journal of Civil Engineering and
Technology, 2(4), pp 73-81.
5. Sai, C., & Satish C. (2014). Impact of bus stop on urban traffic characteristics: a review of
recent findings. Journal of Society for Transportation and Traffic Studies. 5(2), pp 57-72.

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