Bus Backbone Stockholm

Sten Sedin
Traffic engineer. Storstockholms Lokaltrafik AB (SL)
Sweden

ABSTRACT
In 1992 a political agreement was reached regarding the infrastructure of the Stockholm region. This agreement consisted of three parts:

• New ring roads.

• Improving the environment.

• Investment in public transport.

One way to cope with the growing demand for accessibility in the city center was the establishment of a Trocal Network (Trunk Network) bus or Home Network. approximately 44 million euros for the implementation of Backbone and 37,4 million euros for the purchase of new buses were booked. To achieve an acceptable average speed reserve lanes for buses Backbone and prioritize them at intersections with traffic lights was deemed necessary. This could be achieved by reducing car traffic in 25% through a toll system in which drivers have to pay to enter the city center. In the agreement an information system was also included in real time. Backbone had to be considered "underground street" and new installations were designed in such a way that would facilitate the future implementation of a service trolley bus or light rail. Backbone is also complemented with local routes served by smaller busses with no special priority and short distances between stops.

Keywords
Bus, bus lanes, trunk network, Stockholm, urban transport, public transport.