Methodologies to Quantify Transit Performance Metrics at the System-Level

Performance metrics have typically focused at two main scales: a microscopic scale that focuses on specific locations, time-periods, and trips; and, a macroscopic scale that averages metrics over longer times, entire routes, and networks. When applied to networks, microscopic methodologies often have computational limitations while macroscopic methodologies ascribe artificial uniformity to non-uniform analysis areas. These limitations highlight the need for a middle approach. This research merges four common types of transit data collected over a full year. The resulting data set (120 GB) is aggregated to reduce computational requirements, yet preserves high granularity for statistical analysis. Routes are broken down into five to eight segments centered around scheduled timepoints and examined by hour to produce useful statistics that are calculated from and represent multiple bus trajectories. Factors identified at the microscopic scale (e.g. passenger movements, bus interactions at stops, travel times, travel speeds, etc.) may be examined for trends without the heavy computation burden required to process large microscopic datasets. Variable relationships and system performance measures at this mesoscopic level may be used to examine spatial and temporal variations in transit service, quantify congestion and associated costs to users and agencies, and compare travel patterns at the route and system level.

• Record URL:
  https://nitc.trec.pdx.edu/research/project/1443

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $15000
• Contract Numbers:

  NITC-1443

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  TREC at Portland State University

  1900 SW Fourth Ave, Suite 175
  P.O. Box 751
  Portland, Oregon  United States  97201
• Performing Organizations:

  Portland State University

  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  Engineering Bldg, 301D, 1930 SW 4th Ave.
  Portland, OR  United States  97201
• Principal Investigators:

  Glick, Travis

• Start Date: 20200601
• Expected Completion Date: 20201231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Data analysis; Methodology; Metrics (Quantitative assessment); Performance measurement; Public transit; Statistical analysis; Traffic congestion; Travel patterns
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01745993
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Institute for Transportation and Communities
• Contract Numbers: NITC-1443
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jul 22 2020 7:25PM