Abstracts from the

Journal of Public Transportation

Volume 10, No. 1, 2007 

Reforming Innercity Bus Transportation in a Developing Country: A Passenger-Driven Model

Syed Saad Andaleeb, The Pennsylvania State University at Erie
Mahmudul Haq, BRAC University, Bangladesh
Rubina I. Ahmed, East West University, Bangladesh

Abstract

The transportation system in Dhaka City, Bangladesh, requires significant improvements. The shortage of motorized vehicles and the excessive number of nonmotorized vehicles on the city’s streets have been the cause of unbearable traffic congestion, leading to negative externalities such as productivity loss, increase in stress levels, and adverse health effects from pollution. In a city inhabited by more than 12 million people, predominantly representing the middle- and lower-middle class, a well-organized low-cost bus transportation system is yet to emerge to resolve the city’s transportation problems. This study explores ways of improving bus transportation services in Dhaka. Eight factors were identified to address satisfaction levels of regular bus users whose opinions and concerns are deemed vital in making bus services in the city better organized, need based, and service oriented. Using factor analysis and multiple regression, five of the eight selected factors were found to have significant effects on passenger satisfaction. These include comfort levels, staff behavior, number of buses changed to reach destination, supervision, and waiting facilities. Policy implications are discussed in view of the findings. Full text (pdf)

Making Regional Railroads More Attractive— Research Studies in Germany and Patronage Characteristics

Dietmar Bosserhoff, Hessian Office for Roads and Transportation, Germany

Abstract

This article summarizes current research on regional rail passenger service in Germany. The aim of the research was to help rail operators, municipalities along the rail lines, and transportation planners identify the most effective strategies for improving rail service and patronage. The article outlines study contents and purpose and then summarizes the most important study findings. It also presents action and research recommendations. In addition, current rail developments in Germany and methods for increasing patronage and reducing costs with special focus on the separation of infrastructure and operations are described. Finally, patronage data for different rail segments are compared to help determine whether improvement measures should be applied and what impacts they could have on patronage.  Full text (pdf)

Design and Evaluation of Passenger Ferry Routes

Avishai (Avi) Ceder, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology
Majid Sarvi, Monash University, Australia

Abstract

This article introduces a planning framework for improving and best utilizing existing water and ferry resources. It presents an analysis framework and formulation for designing and evaluating passenger ferry routes. The motivation for this work emanates from problems encountered by the ferry service in Hong Kong, including the continuous loss in ferry patronage. This loss is believed to be caused by the ferry’s relatively poor level of service and intense competition from more attractive alternatives. The article reports on an evaluation and design methodology for the entire passenger ferry network, consisting of a framework with operational objective functions that takes into account passengers, operator, and community interests. This framework considers both the evaluation of existing ferry routes and the design of new ones. The methodology presented combines the philosophy of mathematical programming approaches and decision-making techniques, allowing the user to select an efficient solution from a number of alternatives. The evaluation procedure established provides practical and measurable criteria for evaluating the “goodness” of each route and for comparison between sets of routes at the network level. Full text (pdf)

Allocation and Use of Section 5310 Funds in Urban and Rural America

Tom Seekins, Alexandra Enders, Alison Pepper, and Stephen Sticka, Research and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities of
the Rural Institute, University of Montana

Abstract

Public transportation is a critical part of a community’s infrastructure for people with disabilities. Section 5310 of the Transportation Equity Act is a Federal program of capital assistance to address the mobility needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities. We identified 4,835 Section 5310 recipients in 49 states and the District of Columbia, and randomly selected 750 for a mail survey. The majority were organizations serving senior citizens or individuals with developmental disabilities. Only one was a tribal entity. Overall, Sec. 5310 vehicles made up 32 percent of the respondents’ fleets and 75 percent were lift equipped. More Sec. 5310 resources went to those organizations serving a mix of urbanized and rural areas than went to organizations serving rural-only areas. Ten percent of the respondents reported being faith-based organizations; more of these were in urban than rural areas. Almost half of the respondents participated in some form of cooperative system but less than 5 percent participated in a consolidated system. This study provides a baseline against which to measure changes following the implementation of the Transportation Act of 2005.  Full Text (pdf)

An Evaluation of Los Angeles’s Orange Line Busway

Richard Stanger, Consultant

Abstract

The new 14.2-mile Orange Line Busway opened in October 2005. Many aspects of the Orange Line’s design should be copied elsewhere: its attractive guideway and stations, state-of-the-art buses, proof-of-payment fare collection, and well-done environmental mitigations. On the other hand, a typical Orange Line bus trip catches about 11 red lights and waits up to nine minutes for them to change. Its end-to-end travel speed is 20 mph. The travel time is also compromised by a 25 mph speed restriction at all intersections and speed limits along other portions of the busway.

The lesson of the Orange Line to transit planners is that an at-grade busway will almost certainly not get signal preemption. This means it will not have the crossing gates that allow its buses to cross intersections at speed. Therefore, every other effort should be made to increase a busway’s travel speed through off-board fare collection, well-located platforms, minimal speed restrictions, and quick transferring to connecting services. A busway will be less expensive to build than a light rail alternative, but without signal preemption its travel speed will be significantly less.

A light rail alternative for the Orange Line would have had required crossing gates. Even if trains operated at the same lower speeds as buses within median rights-of-way, they would have been much faster (29 mph) and offered a more stable ride quality.  Full text (pdf)

Copyright © 2007, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., CUT 100,  Tampa, FL 33620-5375
  813.974.3120 813.974.5168 fax www.nctr.usf.edu Privacy Policy