Moving Minds: The Next Generation of Real-Time Transit Information in San Francisco
In 2001, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) revolutionized the transit riding experience by implementing its first-generation customer information system to predict when its Muni transit vehicles would arrive in real time. Since then, mobile technologies have ushered in on-demand ride-hailing services and raised expectations for transit service quality. Seeking to stabilize and increase ridership, transit operators like SFMTA are working to adapt and innovate in this rapidly changing environment. SFMTA is now embarking on the next generation of real-time customer information. To guide this multi-million dollar investment, SFMTA conducted extensive quantitative and qualitative research to design new system features and uncover how they could shape travel behavior. An in-depth survey of 5,856 Muni customers revealed that income is a primary mode-choice driver, coupled with the relative availability of ride-hailing services. As income rises, the propensity to wait for Muni decreases, particularly when nearby ride-hailing options are plentiful. Applicable to other cities, this research also affirmed that better real-time information such as alternative routes and transfer connections could increase ridership overall, potentially reducing demographic influences on mode choice and fostering a more equitable and sustainable transportation system. Informed by this research, SFMTA’s new system will focus on improving prediction accuracy, keeping customers informed throughout their journey, and developing a transit-focused mobile app.
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
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Authors:
- Lee, Jason
- Tyner, William
- Vasavda, Nealay
- Publication Date: 2018-12
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Print
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: pp 523-535
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Serial:
- Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
- Volume: 2672
- Issue Number: 8
- Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
- ISSN: 0361-1981
- EISSN: 2169-4052
- Serial URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/trr
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Customer satisfaction; Fares; Mobile applications; Mode choice; Public transit; Quality of service; Real time information; Transit riders; Travel behavior
- Identifier Terms: San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
- Geographic Terms: San Francisco (California)
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01659674
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: 18-03781
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 9 2018 10:33AM