Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability (2020) / Chapter Skim
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 4 2.0 Summary of Research Findings The guidebook includes eight chapters incorporating the results of the TCRP A-42 research. The chapters are: 1.
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 5 Define Goals and Objectives – The key to a well-organized set of goals and objectives is to define and involve the appropriate stakeholder, both direct and indirect. Direct stakeholders are the transit system riders.
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 6 treatments are those that that alter vehicles or infrastructure and often require more time and higher cost to implement. Technological treatments involve the use of technology to improve actual or perceived reliability through technology such as signal priority, real-time information, or fare payments.
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 7 since some measures (schedule adherence and on-time performance, for example) , are synonymous, and others (such as running time variability and distribution of running times)
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 8 • Agency Operations Reports • Manual Data Collection • Agency Reports, Logs and Observations • Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) Data • Automated Passenger Counter (APC)
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 9 Table 2.2 - Relationship of Reliability Measures to Elements of Unreliability Measure with Poor Results Element of Unreliability No nOp er at io n Ea rly /L at e S ta rt Va ria bl e T ra ve l S pe ed Va ria bl e D we ll T im e In co ns ist en t T ra ns fe r T im es Terminal Departure Times ● Arrival Times ● ● ● Bus Running Times ● ● Dwell Times ● Customer Travel Time ● ● ● ● Buffer Time ● ● ● ● Headways (Terminal Departure) ● Headways (Mid-Route)
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 10 Table 2.3 - Relationship of Reliability Measures to Elements of Unreliability Reliability Elements and Factors Internal/ External Factor Category Non-Operation Operator availability Internal Staff Vehicle availability Internal Fleet Breakdowns Internal Fleet Early/Late Start Insufficient recovery time Internal Planning Operator restroom breaks Internal Staff Holds for late connections Internal Service Poor operational control Internal Staff Mechanical issue Internal Fleet Variable Travel Speed Insufficient/excess scheduled time Internal Planning Too few/too many time points Internal Planning Overly long route Internal Planning Lack of adherence to time points Internal Staff Operator skill/behavior Mixed Staff Delays merging into traffic from stops Mixed Traffic Incidents, special events, construction Mixed Temporal Traffic congestion External Traffic Signal delay External Traffic Weather External Temporal Too many stops/poorly located stops Internal Planning Poor transfer connections Internal Planning Uneven loading due to variable headway Internal Service Demand in excess of capacity Internal Customer Variable passenger demand Mixed Temporal Fare payment delays Mixed Service Access for cyclists Mixed Customer Access for mobility impaired Mixed Customer Inconsistent Transfer Times Insufficient recovery time Internal Planning Poor schedule coordination Internal Planning Poor route connectivity Internal Planning
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 11 A more in-depth step-by-step framework to identify causes of unreliability related to these four basic questions is presented in the guidebook. This includes a data analysis process complemented with a communication strategy with operators, supervisors, dispatchers, and maintenance staff who have direct and detailed knowledge of how service is provided and thus can help focus the effort to identify causes of unreliability and potential reliability improvement treatments.
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 12 Table 2.4 - Relationship of Reliability Measures to Elements of Unreliability Improvement Treatments Causes of Unreliability Addressed Treatment Tradeoffs Expected Effect Capital Cost Operating Cost Ease of Implementation Operational Treatments Enhanced Route Operational Control Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Uneven Service with Short Turns High - - Easy Introduce Standby Buses Non-Operation, Early/ Late Start Higher scheduled frequency Moderate - $ Easy Introduce Scheduled Short Turns Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Less service on outer parts of the route High - - Easy, but local concerns will arise Limited-Stop Service Excessive Running Time Service reduced at local stops Moderate - $, if an overlay Easy Bus Stop Consolidation Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Stop, Spacing, Customer Access Low - - Easy, but local concerns will arise Right-Sizing Bus Stops Excessive Dwell Time, Travel Time Variability Difficult to get Curb Space Downtown Medium - - Easy, but local concerns will arise Route Network Adjustments Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Taking Service Away from Customers High - $ Easy, with robust planning support Divide Very Long Routes Travel Time Variability, Uneven route boarding Additional transfers for some customers High - $ Medium, public engagement Schedule and Headway Optimization On-Time Performance, Travel Time Variability Frequency Changes for some customers, Highest - $ Easy Coordinate Schedules at Transfer Points Inconsistent Transfer Times Time Added to Schedules Medium - $$ Easy, with robust scheduling effort Bus Operator Training, Incentives and Monitoring Non-Operation, Early/Late Start Training Costs High - $ Medium, needs support of labor Route Contingency Plans Non-Operation, Weather. Special Events How to Effectively Inform Customers Medium - $ Medium, if done in a meaningful way Increase Fleet Size Frequency of Service Big Capital/Operating Cost Increases High $$$$ $$ Difficult Employ More Full-Time Bus Operators Non-Operation, Early/Late Start Operating Cost Increases Low - $$$ Easy, but costly Coordinate with Roadway Agencies to Anticipate Construction Impacts Excessive Running Time, On-Time Performance, Travel Time Variability Increased Administrative Coordination Low - $ Easy/Medium Coordinate with Traffic and Parking Enforcement Excessive Running Time, On-Time Performance, Travel Time Variability Increased Administrative Coordination Medium - $ Medium Physical Treatments Dedicated Transitways Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability High Cost, Highway Agency Opposition High $$$$$ $$ Highway agency Medium-Difficult Queue Jump Lanes Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Could require property takings Medium $$ _ Medium Level Boarding and LowFloor Buses Variable Dwell Time Added Capital Cost, Lower Bus Capacity Medium $$$$ - Easy (except for cost)
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Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 13 Table 2.4, continued - Relationship of Reliability Measures to Elements of Unreliability Improvement Treatments Causes of Unreliability Addressed Treatment Tradeoffs Expected Effect Capital Cost Operating Cost Ease of Implementation Articulated Buses Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Added Capital Cost for Specialized Buses Low/Possibility Negative $$$$ $$ Medium, training is Required Right-Sized Terminals and Layovers Travel Time Variability Early / Late Start Neighborhood Opposition Medium $ _ Medium Far-Side Stop Placement Variable Dwell Time Very Minor Cost High for Each Stop $ - Easy, with Some NIMBY Issues Curb Extensions at Bus Stops Variable Dwell Time Capital Cost, Highway Agency Support High for Each Stop $$ $$ Highway Agency Medium Coordinate with Roadway Agencies to Incorporate Bus-Supportive Features Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability, Variable Dwell Time Increased Involvement in Planning Stages High $$ $$ Medium Technological Treatments More Effective Use of Bus Control Center Bus Bunching, Missed Runs, Early/Late Start Training for Control Center Staff High $$$ New Center $$ Difficult if New Center is Needed Traffic Signal Optimization Variable Travel Speed None Medium - - Easy w/ municipal cooperation Transit Signal Priority Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Concurrence from Highway Agency Medium $ Very Low Difficult Real-Time Information Systems Customer Information None Medium $$ $ Difficult if none exists Fare Innovations for Dwell Time Dwell Time Cost of New Fare Collection System High for Busy Systems $$$ $ Difficult Improved Customer Communications Customer Perceptions None Medium (Perceptions Only) - $ Medium Policy Treatments Yield to Bus Laws Dwell Time None Very Low - - Medium, needs legislation Bus-on-Shoulder Operation Excessive Running Time, Travel Time Variability Operator Training High where there is traffic $$$ - Difficult, must upgrade shoulder Reliability-Based Fleet Maintenance Non-Operation, Late Start Capital/Operating Costs High $$$ $$$ Difficult Boarding Limits Excessive Dwell Time Excessive Running Time Bypassing Customers at Stops Low - - Very Easy Public Education Excessive Dwell Time, Crowding None Medium - $ Very Easy
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From page 18... ...
Developing a Guide to Bus Transit Service Reliability 2.0 Summary of Research Findings 14 Table 2.5 – Summary Treatments by Ease of Implementation Tier 1 – Treatments under the direct control of the transit agency, easiest and fastest to implement, and lowest cost. • Introduce Scheduled Short Turns • Limited-Stop Service (by converting existing scheduled trips)
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