Test and Evaluation of Systems to Warn Pedestrians of Turning Buses

As part of a cooperative agreement with FTA, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) in Portland, Oregon, conducted a demonstration test of three commercially available systems to warn pedestrians of turning transit buses. Forty-five buses were equipped with the warning systems for turning (15 buses with each of the three systems) for 7 months (between March and September 2014). A robust evaluation of the systems, including surveys and focus groups with bus operators and the general public, a video-based analysis of pedestrian behaviors, interviews with TriMet personnel, and a benefit– cost analysis, was conducted. The results showed a range of perceptions, levels of acceptance, and recommendations for improving the technologies. The benefit–cost results showed positive benefit–cost ratios even under the most conservative assumptions about the benefits and costs associated with the turn warning systems.