Proceedings of the 4 th International Conference on Civil Engineering for Sustainable Development (ICCESD 2018), 9~11 February 2018, KUET, Khulna, Bangladesh (ISBN-978-984-34-3502-6) ICCESD-2018-4524-1 EVALUATING OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF KHULNA- JESSORE HIGHWAY, BANGLADESH: A CASE STUDY ON PHULTALA TO AFIL GATE MID-BLOCK Md. Nazmul Haque 1 , Hussain Muhammad Farhan 1 , FarhanaSultana 1 , Anas Hussain 1 , Jenat Jahan 1 , Md. Mokhlesur Rahman 2 and Palash Chandra Das 3 1 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, KUET, Bangladesh, e-mail: nhaque.kuet13@gmail.com 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, KUET, Bangladesh. 3 Lecturer, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, KUET, Bangladesh. ABSTRACT This study aimsatevaluating the operational characteristics of public transportation system from Phultala to Afil Gate mid-block in Khulna-Jessore highway, Khulna. For achieving this, the study focuses on three core studies related to the speed for evaluating the existing situation: (i) spot speed, (ii) running speed and (iii) journey speed. This research is based on primary source data in the form of both physical and social survey; collected from users, drivers and traffic polices; and a GIS based secondary analysis of the study area has been carried out later on. Different indices; PHF (Peak-Hour Factors) and Lindley’s Index, have been used for comparing the obtainedvalues to the standard values. The outcomes of this study suggest that the speed fluctuation of the study area of different vehicles isn’t likely to differ from the standard value. The LOS found for the study area is A, where volume to capacity ratio has been located less than 0.6 and the delay time is less than 10 sec.;which indicates it allows free flow with low volume and high speeds.PHF value is 0.67 and according to Lindley’s index V/C <0.77; which also remarks that Congestion phenomenon isn’t presentin the study area. Keywords: Traffic congestion, Speed performance, Road network, Traffic control and Management 1. INTRODUCTION Public transportation is a shared passenger-transport service which is available for use by the general public. A well planned public transportation provides economic opportunities and drives community growth revitalization (Akmal Abdelfatah, 2015). The common modes of public transportation in Khulna are rickshaw, baby taxi,battery bike etc. There is also a public bus service named Nagor Paribahan which runs frequently within Khulna city. Recently BRTC bus services have been also introduced to carry traffic volume along the Khulna- Jessore Highway. In respect of Khulna division’s transportation system, Khulna-Jessore Highway is the most important road network for both intra and intercity connectivity. Besides after the completion of Padma Bridge transportation between Khulna region and Dhaka region will become even easier which will increase the economic activities of Khulna. To support this economic growth and future public demand a well-planned transportation system is prerequisite(Akmal Abdelfatah, 2015). The objective of the research is to evaluate the operational characteristics of public transportation system from Phultala to Afil Gate mid-block in Khulna- Jessore highway, Khulna. In order to evaluate the operational characteristics several traffic studies e.g. volume study, speed study etc. have been carried out. The speed study will help to enforce control systems ensuring safe, rapid and convenient transit of people and goods. It will also help determining nodes where proper management is necessary. Thus, this study will help to develop a proper transportation system. Finally, the output of the project may be helpful in further projects related to the Khulna-Jessore Highway.