USE AND CONSEQUENCES OF TIMED TRANSFERS ON U.S. TRANSIT PROPERTIES

A recently completed study conducted for the Transportation Systems Center examined the current use and impacts of a total of 11 transfer policy options (including timed transfers) on U.S. transit properties to identify the situations or settings in which particular transfer policies can most beneficially be applied. Data for the study were drawn from a series of telephone and on-site discussions with experienced transit professionals on 39 different properties. The information resulting from these discussions has been supplemented with a limited amount of site-specific quantitiative data and references to the literature as appropriate. The findings of that study regarding timed transfers are presented. Implementation of timed transfers can involve adjustments of headways, route lengths, and/or layover times as well as provision of suitable space, facilities, and information to permit the easy interchange of passengers between buses. Transit-property size is the principal criterion for the applicability of timed transfers, serving as a proxy for headway reliability, service frequency, and the number of buses meeting at one time. Small properties are generally able to use timed transfers at their main transfer point, whereas larger properties may only be able to use this option on a relatively more limited scale. Ridership gains on the order of 5-12 percent may be realized under some circumstances solely from the implementation of timed transfers. Overall, timed transfers appear to be a cost-effective way of increasing service and ridership in many settings without necessarily increasing costs. (Author)

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 50-55
  • Monograph Title: Bus Planning and Operations
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00341798
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309032121
  • Files: TRIS, TRB
  • Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM