TRANSIT REQUIREMENTS FOR ACHIEVING LARGE REDUCTIONS IN LOS ANGELES AREA AUTOMOBILE TRAVEL

This paper describes the structure and application of a model for estimating aggregate supply characteristics of bus transit systems that are capable of carrying substantial fractions of the person trips in an urban area. Given the number and geographical distribution of trips that must be carried on transit, the model enables a range of transit options for carrying these trips to be developed. Each option is characterized by the number of buses it requries, the geographical area served by transit, the transit schedule frequency, the transit mode split that must be achieved in the transit service area, average transit travel time and cost per trip, and the average travel time and cost that would result if bus travelers used automobiles. The model is applied to Los Angeles, California. The results indicate that large fractions of current person trips in Los Angeles can be carried on bus transit at a cost that is comparable to the cost of automobile travel and with an average travel time that exceeds average automobile travel time by 15 to 20 minutes. However, this requires bus fleets and transit mode splits that are quite large by current standards. For example, to carry 20 percent of person trips at a cost equal to the cost of automobile travel and with an average travel time 17 minutes greater than average automobile travel time, the transit system must have 9500 buses and must achieve a 45 percent mode split in the areas it serves. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Environmental Protection Agency

  Dallas, TX  United States  75202
• Authors:
  • Horowitz, J
• Publication Date: 1976-11

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Bus transportation; Mathematical models; Modal split; Travel budgets; Travel costs; Travel time; Trip distribution; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Models
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149190
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: EPA/400-11/76-001
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 30 1981 12:00AM