Citation

Englisher LS, Sobel KL. Transp. Res. Rec. 1977; 650: 18-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A system of models has been developed that is capable of predicting the performance characteristics of transit service for the purpose of analyzing a wide range of local transit-service alternatives. Patronage and demand forecasting issues are treated parametrically. Local transit is designed to serve access and egress trips bound to and from a regionally oriented line-haul transit system as well as shorter local circulation trips. The model system presented is capable of treating a wide range of modes that can offer such local transit service. In addition to conventional transit and jitmey services, which follow fixed routes, point-deviation and checkpoint route-deviation transit can be investigated. More flexible modes, such as checkpoint subscription bus, doorstep subscription bus, and doorstep many-to-many dynamically routed transit (dial-a-ride), can also be examined. Comparisons can be made both between alterantives and between operating policies (such as vehicle size and route spacing) within any single alternative. The model system has been designed to predict four important consequences of implementing local transit service: user level of service, operator cost, pollutant emissions, and energy (fuel) consumption.

RESULTS from a sample model application are presented. Use of the system would allow a wide range of alternatives to be tested before significant demonstration and experimentation efforts or implementation funds are committed. Such tests can be integratd with corridor and regional analyses on both policy and planning levels of detail.