OBSTACLES TO COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF TRANSIT PERFORMANCE

The problems encountered and the issues raised in efforts to collect reliable and uniform operating and financial data from transit operators in California are detailed. The data was collected in an attempt to test the usefulness of performance indicators which were specified for criteria for evaluating public transit-performance. The problems discussed include those relating to why the data is not reported, the meaning of the data, and if the data is outdated. It is recommended that data requirements and data reporting channels be simplified. The required data items must be clearly defined and the generation techniques must be specified. It is noted that the area of data requirements, collection, and use, needs the combined and cooperative attention of the transit industry, government, and the research community.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was prepared for presentation at the National Planning Conference of the American Society of Planning Officials, San Diego, California, April 23-28, 1977. It was sponsored by DOT, Urban Mass Transportation Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of California, Irvine

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  4000 Anteater Instruction and Research Building
  Irvine, CA  United States  92697
• Authors:
  • Fielding, G J
  • Glauthier, R E
• Publication Date: 1977-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 10 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Data collection; Evaluation; Operations; Performance; Public transit; Transportation operations
• Uncontrolled Terms: Criteria; Performance indicators
• Old TRIS Terms: Transportation administration
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00164398
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ITS-I-SP-77-1
• Contract Numbers: CA-11-0014
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 8 1981 12:00AM