Optimization of urban public transport travel times using Petri nets modeling

Rapid population growth and urbanization in recent decades causes the principal problems in human daily life. One of the main goals of research in the field of traffic is to optimize the flow of urban transport. In this study, using Petri nets modelling and prioritizing the urban public transport system to other cars, the traffic lights on a crossroads are adjusted so that as much as possible, a bus crosses the crossroads. As a result, the waiting time for the bus passengers is reduced and due to the high capacity of a bus, the total travel time for the passengers passing through the intersection is shortened. So that the stopping time for the passenger is reduced by at least 8 percent in average at best situation. This amount varies in different bus traffic conditions. Another advantages of this method is encouraging people to use the urban public transportation systems and this reduce the transport flow.