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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

PRODUCTIVITY AND CONTROL IN URBAN TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

THE TOPICS DISCUSSED ARE LABOR PRODUCTIVITY AND THE QUALITY OF PASSENGER SERVICES. LABOR COSTS ACCOUNT FOR 60--70% OF URBAN TRANSPORT EXPENSES IN EVERY CITY, WHICH SUGGESTS THAT MANPOWER IS USED INEFFICIENTLY. A MAJOR SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE PEAKNESS OF DEMAND, COMBINED WITH THE UNIVERSAL RULE, "ONE VEHICLE, ONE OPERATOR. "EVEN IN AUTOMATED SUBWAY SYSTEMS THE OPERATOR CANNOT BE DISPENSED WITH; ON THE OTHER HAND, HE MUST BE GIVEN A DEFINITE SET OF TASKS TO PERFORM SO THAT HIS MIND IS CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES WHEN THEY ARISE. AN OPERATOR PHYSICALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ISOLATED FROM THE PASSENGERS IS A DANGER TO THEM AND A DRUDGE TO HIMSELF. JUST THE OPPOSITE DANGER CONFRONTS THE BUS OPERATOR. AS THE PRINCIPAL DISTRACTION FROM HIS DRIVING DUTIES IS FARE COLLECTION, IT IS HERE THAT ATTENTION SHOULD BE DIRECTED IN RAISING PRODUCTIVITY. WITHIN THE COLLECTION SYSTEM THE TWO MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS ARE DIFFERENCES IN FARES AND MAKING CHANGE. THE SOLUTION TO BOTH PROBLEMS, FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT, LIES IN SIMPLIFICATION: MINIMIZING TARIFF TYPES, THE NUMBER OF VALUES AT WHICH TRAVEL IS SOLD, AND CASH-HANDLING TRANSACTIONS ON THE VEHICLE; ASSIMILATING TARIFFS TO COINAGE (IDEALLY, EACH FARE SHOULD BE PAYABLE BY A SINGLE COIN); INCREASING THE PROPORTION OF BUS TRAVEL SOLD AWAY FROM THE BUS; SIMPLIFYING ROUTES, TO THE END OF ELIMINATING MULTIFARE TRIPS IN FAVOR OF ONE- PRICE SERVICES; AND IN SPITE OF ALL THE PRECEDING ACCEPTING SLOWER OPERATION AT STOPS. WITH RESPECT TO QUALITY CONTROL, A PROBLEM IN SOPHISTICATED UNDERGROUND RAILWAYS IS THE VULNERABILITY OF THE ELECTRONIC GEAR TO BREAKDOWN. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT A COMPLETE SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATION AND EMERGENCY ACTION BE INCORPORATED INTO OPERATIONS SO THAT SERVICE IS MAINTAINED. THE FIRST ELEMENT IN SUCH A SYSTEM IS TRAIN IDENTIFICATION. THE PROBLEM WITH BUSES IS EVEN GREATER BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF A DEDICATED RIGHT-OF-WAY. INSPECTOR-TYPE SUPERVISION ALONG THE ROUTES IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE FOR MODERN URBAN CONDITIONS. EQUIPMENT IS NEEDED WHICH WILL (1) PROVIDE A VISUAL DISPLAY OF THE POSITION OF EACH BUS ON A SERVICE OR GROUP OF SERVICES, (2) ENABLE IMMEDIATE COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE ACTUAL AND SCHEDULED POSITIONS OF THE BUS, AND (3) TRANSIT INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACTION DIRECTLY TO THE BUS DRIVERS. ON THE OTHER HAND, A SKILLED, EXPERIENCED SUPERVISOR IS PROBABLY A BETTER JUDGE OF THE ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN THAN IS A COMPUTER. EQUIPMENT ALREADY EXISTS TO MEET THE THREE CRITERIA JUST LISTED, AND, IN COMBINATION WITH A TRAINED SUPERVISOR, SHOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY THE NUMBER OF INSPECTORS. NINE MAJOR TYPES OF EQUIPMENT THAT FULFILL ONE OR MORE OF THESE CRITERIA ARE DESCRIBED BRIEFLY. ANOTHER METHOD WOULD BE TO INSTALL IN THE BUS EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD, BY TRIANGULATION, ESTABLISH ITS POSITION AT ANY TIME; HOWEVER, ONLY A COMPUTER COULD HANDLE THE CALCULATIONS NECESSARY FOR A GEOGRAPHIC FIX. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO GIVE BUSES PRIORITY OVER OTHER FORMS OF TRAFFIC ON THE STREETS.

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00226081
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Dec 30 1971 12:00AM