Abstract:
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases and is
characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queuing.
As demand approaches the capacity of a road, extreme traffic congestion sets in.
Traffic congestion contributes to waste of time and money every second. Many
developed/developing countries find solution for the traffic congestion at roads with
the help of rapid transit systems.
Rapid transit systems can be dividing in to four major categories;
Bus rapid transit (BRT)
Monorail system
Light rapid transit (LRT)
Mass rapid transit (MRT)
The main objective of this research is to propose a methodology to select most
appropriate rapid transit system technology for a given transport corridor with
emphasis on passenger preference criterion for selecting rapid transit system for city
of Colombo. The study consists of collecting user preference based on a
questionnaire survey. Jayawardenapura corridor has been selected as a case study.
This corridor is highly congested at peak time and it will be increase at future due to
administration city will become Jayawardenapura corridor. Hence it is essential to
give proper solution for the increasing traffic in this corridor.
In addition to user preferences the questionnaire focuses on the drawbacks in existing
systems, user expectations for a new system. These were used to identify the user
related issues in existing systems and to find whether a rapid transit can address
those issues.
According to the survey results of, 48% respondents of indicated that BRT may be
the better option for selected corridor. Balance prefer an elevated system as opposed
to BRT.
It is required to establish criteria based on the not only passenger’s preference, but
also constructability, connectivity with other modes, extendibility in future
and environmental friendliness.
According to the research, passenger most preferred for the BRT system. With the
connectivity with other modes monorail systems is better than BRT. Possibility of
future expansion of the system, difficulty face with BRT system due restrictions of
land acquisition. From the environment point of view, more emissions are expected
from BRT system than Monorail system. According to the cost calculation it is lesser
cost required to introduce BRT over Monorail or other elevated system.
