Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SA-55. On Street Bus Operations Management

A consistent complaint from bus riders over the years has been poor service reliability. Street management of bus operations attempts to maximize reliability for the benefit of passengers and operating efficiency. Key features of street operations typically include: how agencies monitor schedule performance and how this data is used to inform central control and street supervisors of manifesting problems; as well as how corrective measures are then communicated to bus operators. It also includes proactive coordination practices to avoid foreseeable problems. Recently, many bus transit operators have implemented sophisticated run-cutting and scheduling practices and real-time automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems. Street operations supervision practices, however, seem to not have significantly changed on many transit systems. A review of current operations management practices is needed for small, medium, and large transit systems. The purpose of this synthesis is to identify current practices in real-time management of street operations. The research will describe how transit agencies are monitoring and managing street operations including the tools, staffing, organizational structure, and functions being used for the purpose. Information To Be Gathered will include specific items as determined by the panel during the first panel meeting. These might include (among others): (1) Procedures, technologies and facilities for monitoring street operations - including GPS location and on-board cameras linked to operations or dispatch centers, as well as field transit supervisor tools and roles/responsibilities/authority as well as features of operation modern centers. (2) Procedures and technologies for communicating with drivers and dispatch - radios, cellphones, and laptops or tablets with internet service.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5174

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $45000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project J-07, Topic SA-55

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Transit Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Garcia-Colberg, Mariela

• Performing Organizations:

  Daniel Boyle and Associates

  City,   United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Boyle, Daniel

• Start Date: 20211206
• Expected Completion Date: 20230606
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transportation; Literature reviews; Operations; Public transit; Reliability; State of the practice; Transit operating agencies
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01773423
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project J-07, Topic SA-55
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 28 2021 7:22PM