EVALUATION OF PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICES: THE LEVEL-OF-SERVICE CONCEPT (ABRIDGMENT)

There are two key independent combinations of factors that can be directly controlled by transit policy makers: transportation hygiene factors and indicators of the level of service. Of these two, only the LOS indicators can motivate potential riders; transportation hygiene factors can only discourage. The following parameters are used to define transit LOS: a composite of basic accessibility, travel time, reliability, directness of service, frequency of service and passenger density. The operationalism of the concept must be evaluated according to whether it is (a) user oriented, (b) operations oriented, (c) trip or link specific rather than area related, (d) quantifiable by an independent observer, (e) independent of an evaluation of efficiency measures and effects or impacts, and exclusive of any transportation hygiene factors. Conceptual indicators and operational definitions are discussed, alternative conceptual indicators are listed, and aggregation of the indicators is detailed. This modal evaluation methodology appears to provide a useful framework for transit professionals and decision makers to evaluate public transit.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/606/606-007.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=EVALUATION+OF+PUBLIC+TRANSIT+SERVICES%3A+THE+LEVEL-OF-SERVICE+CONCEPT+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=C.+Alter&publication_year=1976
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Public Transportation Planning and Development. 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:
  • Alter, Colin H
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 37-40
• Monograph Title: Bus transportation strategies
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 606
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Frequency (Electromagnetism); Indicators (Instruments); Level of service; Operations; Public transit; Ridership; Transportation policy; Travel time
• Old TRIS Terms: Indicator characteristics; User characteristics
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00156097
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024838
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 4 1981 12:00AM