Perceived and Actual Wait Time Measurement at Transit Stops Using Bluetooth

In order to attract more choice riders, transit service must not only have a high level of service in terms of frequency and travel time but also must be reliable. One inexpensive way to combat the perception of unreliability from the user perspective is real-time transit information. The OneBusAway transit traveler information system provides real-time next bus countdown information for riders of King County Metro via website, telephone, text-messaging, and smart phone applications. Although previous studies have looked at traveler response to real-time information, few have addressed real-time information via devices other than public display signs. Riders using real-time information do not perceive their wait time to be longer than their measured wait time. A model to predict the perceived wait time of bus riders was developed, with significant variables that include the measured wait time, an indicator variable for real-time information, an indicator variable for PM peak period, the bus frequency in buses per hour, and a self-reported typical aggravation level. Unfortunately, the actual wait time data is particularly hard to collect, often requiring extensive manual work. Increasing popularity of mobile devices and the inter-device communication protocols that they rely on have become attractive data sources for vehicle traffic analysis purposes, showing great potential. However, the use of this data source for transit purposes remains relatively unexplored. For the second study in this report, an exploratory study into automated passenger wait time data collection is conducted and evaluated. Overall, low-resolution wait time data can be obtained using Bluetooth sensors, revealing basic trends such as average wait times and, more interestingly, the potential impact of real-time information availability via mobile devices.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Washington, Seattle

  Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
  201 More Hall, Box 352700
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700

  Transportation Northwest Regional Center X (TransNow)

  University of Washington, More Hall, P.O. Box 352700
  Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700

  Washington State Department of Transportation

  Olympia, WA  United States  98504-5201

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Rutherford, G Scott
  • Wang, Yinhai
  • Watkins, Kari
  • Malinovskiy, Yegor
• Publication Date: 2011-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 27p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bluetooth technology; Bus transit; Mobile communication systems; Mobile telephones; Passenger information systems; Perception; Public transit; Real time information; Transit riders; Waiting time
• Identifier Terms: King County Metro Transit
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01394337
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TNW2012-09, Research Project Agreement No. 62-0947
• Contract Numbers: DTRT07-G-0010
• Files: UTC, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 9:14PM