SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF RAPID TRANSIT RIDERSHIP PATTERNS. NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Present methods of monitoring operations on the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) subway system depend upon manual data collection and a combination of manual and computer processing of information. This adds significantly to the cost and increases time required to gather and process information. The purpose of this study was to investigate more effective and efficient methods of collecting and processing rapid transit ridership data through automated methods. Included in this analysis was an evaluation of alternative methods, the selection of the preferred method/s, and the development of a system functional and technical specification that could be included in a bidding document. A variety of passenger counting techniques were reviewed for applicability and summarized into 3 areas: station-mounted equipment, track-side systems, and on-train systems. The 3 methods selected and discussed in detail as having the most potential for immediate application were: the turnstile-based system that measures passengers entering or leaving the system at individual entrances and exits; load-weighing devices that could monitor the weight of the load on the car and thus the passenger load along the route; and photographic methods that would permit manual evaluation of loads on all trains passing a point in a more efficient manner than the stationary checkers on the platform. Additional details on the 3 systems and their implementation are included in Appendices A, B, and C of this report. The study conclusions favored automated passenger counting methods; use of this document to solicit bids for supplying a turnkey system; and implementation of the recommendations as a demonstration system utilizing advanced technology concepts.

• Corporate Authors:

  Teleride Corporation

  156 Front Street, West
  Toronto, ONo M5J 2L6,   Canada 

  New York City Transit Authority

  370 Jay Street
  Brooklyn, NY  United States  11201

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1986-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 242 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Passenger counting; Photography; Rapid transit; Rapid transit cars; Ridership; Weight measurement
• Identifier Terms: Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Uncontrolled Terms: Automated passenger counters; Turnkey systems
• Old TRIS Terms: Photographic methods; Turnstiles; Umta section 9
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00462903
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-NY-09-0083-86-1
• Contract Numbers: UMTA-NY-09-0083
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 28 2004 4:21AM