DOWNTOWNER BUS SERVICE

The Washington, D.C. Downtowner "Midibus" Demonstration Project has for its goals: (1) reduction of downtown congestion; (2) reduction in size of transit coaches in the city core area; (3) reduced air pollution; (4) assistance and support of downtown revitalization efforts; (5) a revenue-cost ratio of 0.5; and (6) optimum routing of downtown circulation vehicles. The medium-sized bus, 25' long and 8' wide, has percipheral seating for 25 and standing capacity of 15. The Daytime Connector Route proved to be optimum by all performance measures as indicated. By completion of the program in June '74, more than 1,200,00 passengers has been carried on all routes, nearly all on the Connector route. In July '74 the service was taken over by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in consonance with an agreement with the District Government to continue service if the demonstration proved utilitarian and well patronized. A modified-zone fare structure proved acceptable and the service-cost ratio of 0.5 was exceeded by a wide margin. Both low fare and convenience of movement within the CBD encouraged public use of mass transit to circulate around the CBD for shopping and other errands. The net result was a reduction of downtown traffic with consequent lowered air pollution and progress in efforts to revitalize the downtown area. Chapters address the project in terms of financing, management, publicity, vehicles, liquified natural gas fuel system and ridership. /UMTA/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Urban Mass Transportation Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Neumann, A L
• Publication Date: 1974-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 44 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Bus transit; Central business districts; Costs; Demonstration projects; Energy; Fares; Financing; Fuel systems; Management; Minibuses; Ridership; Route choice; Traffic congestion; Vehicle capacity; Vehicle characteristics
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus transportation (Intracity)
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Energy; Finance; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00084756
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-DC-06-0069-74-1Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 7 1981 12:00AM