AN ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACTS OF ADVANCED TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLE PREEMPTION AND TRANSIT PRIORITY

The purpose of this paper is two fold: (1) to present an overarching evaluation framework to assess the efficiency and the cost effectiveness of advanced traffic signal control systems that can provide emergency vehicle preemption and transit priority capabilities; (2) to present two parts of a four-part analytical approach within this framework that assess: (a) the impact of reduced emergency vehicle crashes on fire and rescue operation and maintenance costs; and (b) the impact of reduced transit travel time on transit operating and maintenance costs. This methodology is intended to assist traffic managers, fire and rescue providers, planners, engineers and other professionals in evaluating the impacts of integrated emergency vehicle preemption and transit priority systems. Initial results indicate: (1) that emergency vehicle preemption has the potential to reduce fire and rescue operational and maintenance costs; and, (2) that the values for both efficiency and cost effectiveness of the adopted transit priority strategies and preferential treatment solutions are a function of many variables, such as: the magnitude of transit travel time delay; the transit fleet size, the labor rules; the apportionment of preemption and priority system costs among transit operators, emergency service providers and the municipality; and the cost of money.