International Bus System Benchmarking: Performance Measurement Development, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

This paper reviews the development of a standardized measurement system for the purposes of benchmarking the performance of a group of major urban bus systems from around the world. The set of performance measures, known as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), identifies bus systems who perform exceptionally in their operation. Developed from past benchmarking experience and a literature review, and modified based on member input, the KPIs provide a means of comparing performance from a variety of bus systems each operating in a unique operating environment. Practical experience with the KPIs has identified a variety of challenges in collecting consistent and comparable data from the bus benchmarking systems. Overcoming these challenges, producing comparable data, and conducting research to identify and understand the basis for good performance has been a process that offers lessons for other benchmarking efforts. This paper reviews (1) the principles of the group’s benchmarking process, (2) the performance measurement development process, (3) issues with data collection and compatibility, and (4) some results of the benchmarking.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Randall, Eric Ross
  • Condry, Benjamin John
  • Trompet, Mark
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 86th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2007-1-21 to 2007-1-25
• Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 14p
• Monograph Title: TRB 86th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers CD-ROM

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benchmarks; Bus transit; Bus transportation; Development; Performance measurement; Public transit; Standardization; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Challenges
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01047623
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 07-3079
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 8 2007 7:47PM