Improving Bus Transit On-Time Performance through the Use of AVL Data
This project seeks to develop a set of desktop tools to analyze archived fixed-route transit automatic vehicle location (AVL) data for the purpose of measuring on-time performance and developing schedule times (running times) between timepoints. The tools were developed using data from the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) in Albany, New York. The project was also intended to determine if the system developed could be exported to other transit agencies with a different AVL system than that used by CDTA. Through consultation with CDTA, the research team developed a set of requirements for the system including the reports to be produced, formats and user interfaces. They developed a prototype system which included a number of reports on on-time performance and running times both from originating terminals as well as intermediate timepoints on a route. Further, they prepared a set of tools which assessed the layover time at the end of scheduled transit trips. The prototype was developed using CDTA data. In addition, the researchers applied the software to data from two other transportation authorities. The researchers determined that using archived transit AVL data could be used to provide reasonable results in running times. The tools they developed could improve the on-time performance of transit systems or determine the upper bound on on-time percentage given underlying variability in the transit travel times due to factors outside of the control of transit operators. The procedure for the determination of appropriate running times consisted of two analyses: terminal to terminal times and times between intermediate timepoints. Suggested terminal to terminal times were established by finding the time necessary to assure that the subsequent trip on a vehicle assignment could depart on-time with a certain probability such as 95%. Suggested intermediate timepoint times were established by determining the specific time which would maximize the number of bus trips which would depart from timepoints between one minute early and five minutes late. The researchers were able to apply a few statistical tools to transit AVL data to make the determination of appropriate running times but also make the system accessible to transit schedulers through the development of a simple user interface. The application of these tools to other transit systems demonstrated that the system could be exported to develop appropriate running times on data from different AVL products. This would require some reformatting of data from these AVL systems.
- Record URL:
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/171987.aspx
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Supplemental Notes:
- This Transit IDEA project was conducted by Pascal Systems, Inc.
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Authors:
- Reilly, Jack M
- Publication Date: 2014-8
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Edition: Final Report
- Features: Figures; References;
- Pagination: 28p
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Serial:
- TRANSIT-IDEA Program Project Final Report
- Publisher: Transit Cooperative Research Program
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Publication flags:
Open Access (libre)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automatic vehicle location; Bus transit; Data banks; Running time; Schedules and scheduling; Transit buses
- Identifier Terms: Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program)
- Geographic Terms: Albany (New York)
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01556972
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: Transit IDEA Project 63(a)
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Mar 16 2015 10:48AM