DISTRIBUTION OF BUS TRANSIT ON-TIME PERFORMANCE

One method of improving the effectiveness of a bus system is to improve schedule reliability. In evaluating the effect of different strategies to improve reliability, the distribution of bus arrival times in relation to the scheduled arrival times of the buses (adjusted arrival time) is needed. Consequently, an analysis was made to find the distribution of on-time performance. Data were collected from the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) for this study. The results showed that adjusted bus arrival times tend to follow a gamma distribution. This finding differs from the ones that had been proposed in the past. In addition to this finding, adjusted arrival times wre examined in relation to the distance along a route, the location of the peak load point, and the headway. Buses in the morning and evening peaks tend to arrive late. However, the midday buses tend to arrive early.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1988/1202/1202-001.pdf
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/030904801X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1202, Transit Issues and Recent Advances in Planning and Operations Techniques. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Guenthner, Richard P
  • Hamat, Kasimin
• Publication Date: 1988

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 1-8
• Monograph Title: Transit issues and recent advances in planning and operations techniques
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1202
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adjustment factors; Bus transportation; Data collection; Equipment maintenance; Intercity bus lines; Off peak periods; Peak periods; Performance; Physical distribution; Reliability; Schedules; Timetables
• Identifier Terms: Milwaukee County Transit System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Arrival time; Equipment adjustment
• Old TRIS Terms: Off-peak
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00489708
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030904801X
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 30 1989 12:00AM