MANAGING TRANSIT'S FISCAL CRISIS BY RATIONALIZING SERVICE POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF NEW JERSEY TRANSIT.

The objective of this report is to analyze the potential for improving transit system performance by rationalizing service allocation policy. It is hypothesized that redistribution of service from underutilized or very unprofitable portions of a system to better utilized and less unprofitable portions would significantly raise overall system effectiveness. To test this hypothesis and to measure the extent of improvement that can be expected from service reallocation, New Jersey Transit Corporation was selected as a case study. Two different types of simulation models were developed for the mechanism of reallocation. Five alternative performance criteria and four different elasticity assumptions were used in the study. By incorporating a wide range of choices for these crucial inputs into the model, we were able to analyze the robustness of the results. The route-by-route service reallocation simulated in the model did indeed lead to improvement in overall system performance, although not as dramatic as had been expected. The most favorable combination of elasticity and performance criterion yielded hypothetical ridership increases of 24% for bus and 6% for rail (holding subsidy constant). Values on a range of performance indicators also increased. The degree of service reallocation was significant, with some lines receiving 149% increases in service, while others were cut by two-thirds.

• Corporate Authors:

  Rutgers University, New Brunswick

  Department of Urban Planning
  New Brunswick, NJ  United States  08903
• Authors:
  • Pucher, J
  • Brail, R
• Publication Date: 1984-6

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 110 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus routes; Level of service; Mathematical models; Microcomputers; Operating costs; Operations; Performance; Planning; Productivity; Railroad commuter service; Service discontinuance
• Identifier Terms: New Jersey Transit; Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Uncontrolled Terms: Performance indicators
• Old TRIS Terms: Operations planning; Umta section 6
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389404
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-NJ-06-0007-84-1Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-UMTA-NJ-06-0017
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM