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Suggested Citation:"Front Matter." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2010. Preventive Maintenance Intervals for Transit Buses. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/22965.
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TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2010 www.TRB.org T R A N S I T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M TCRP SYNTHESIS 81 Research Sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration in Cooperation with the Transit Development Corporation SUBSCRIBER CATEGORIES Maintenance and Preservation • Public Transportation • Vehicles and Equipment Preventive Maintenance Intervals for Transit Buses A Synthesis of Transit Practice CONSULTANT JOHN J. SCHIAVONE J. Schiavone Consulting Guilford, Connecticut

TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM The nation’s growth and the need to meet mobility, environ- mental, and energy objectives place demands on public transit systems. Current systems, some of which are old and in need of upgrading, must expand service area, increase service frequency, and improve efficiency to serve these demands. Research is nec- essary to solve operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the transit industry. The Transit Cooperative Research Pro- gram (TCRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the transit industry can develop innovative near-term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for TCRP was originally identified in TRB Special Report 213—Research for Public Transit: New Directions, pub- lished in 1987 and based on a study sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). A report by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), Transportation 2000, also recognized the need for local, problem-solving research. TCRP, modeled after the longstanding and successful National Coopera- tive Highway Research Program, undertakes research and other technical activities in response to the needs of transit service provid- ers. The scope of TCRP includes a variety of transit research fields including planning, service configuration, equipment, fa- cilities, operations, human resources, maintenance, policy, and ad- ministrative practices. TCRP was established under FTA sponsorship in July 1992. Proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, TCRP was authorized as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Effi- ciency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). On May 13, 1992, a memorandum agreement outlining TCRP operating procedures was executed by the three cooperating organizations: FTA, the National Academy of Sciences, acting through the Transportation Research Board (TRB); and the Transit Development Corporation, Inc. (TDC), a nonprofit educational and research organization established by APTA. TDC is responsible for forming the independent govern- ing board, designated as the TCRP Oversight and Project Selec- tion (TOPS) Committee. Research problem statements for TCRP are solicited periodi- cally but may be submitted to TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the TOPS Committee to formulate the re- search program by identifying the highest priority projects. As part of the evaluation, the TOPS Committee defines funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each project is assigned to an expert panel, ap- pointed by TRB. The panels prepare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooperative re- search programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, TCRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Because research cannot have the desired impact if products fail to reach the intended audience, special emphasis is placed on disseminating TCRP results to the intended end users of the re- search: transit agencies, service providers, and suppliers. TRB provides a series of research reports, syntheses of transit practice, and other supporting material developed by TCRP research. APTA will arrange for workshops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by urban and rural transit industry practitioners. The TCRP provides a forum where transit agencies can coop- eratively address common operational problems. The TCRP results support and complement other ongoing transit research and train- ing programs. TCRP SYNTHESIS 81 Project J-7, Topic SE-05 ISSN 1073-4880 ISBN 978-0-309-14249-6 Library of Congress Control Number 2009938314 © 2010 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB, AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FTA, or Transit Development Corporation endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Transit Coop- erative Research Program conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Coun- cil. Such approval reflects the Governing Board’s judgment that the project concerned is appropriate with respect to both the purposes and resources of the National Research Council. The members of the technical advisory panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for recognized scholarly com- petence and with due consideration for the balance of disciplines appropri- ate to the project. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied are those of the research agency that performed the research, and while they have been accepted as appropriate by the technical panel, they are not nec- essarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the Transit Develop- ment Corporation, the National Research Council, or the Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Each report is reviewed and accepted for publication by the technical panel according to procedures established and monitored by the Trans- portation Research Board Executive Committee and the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board of The National Academies, the Transit Development Corporation, the National Research Council, and the Federal Transit Administration (sponsor of the Transit Cooperative Research Program) do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the clarity and completeness of the project reporting. Published reports of the TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished schol- ars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and techni- cal matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Acad- emy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achieve- ments of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academyís purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Acad- emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scien- tific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both the Academies and the Insti- tute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisci- plinary, and multimodal. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation depart- ments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org www.national-academies.org

COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS STAFF CHRISTOPHER W. JENKS, Director, Cooperative Research Programs CRAWFORD F. JENCKS, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs GWEN CHISHOLM SMITH, Senior Program Officer EILEEN P. DELANEY, Director of Publications TCRP SYNTHESIS STAFF STEPHEN R. GODWIN, Director for Studies and Special Programs JON M. WILLIAMS, Program Director, IDEA and Synthesis Studies DONNA L. VLASAK, Senior Program Officer DON TIPPMAN, Editor CHERYL Y. KEITH, Senior Program Assistant TOPIC PANEL EDWARD M. ABRAMS, Abrams-Cherwony Group of Gannett Fleming Inc., Philadelphia DENNIS M. CRISTOFARO, Chicago Transit Authority UTPAL DUTTA, University of Detroit—Mercy DWIGHT A. FERRELL, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority FRANK N. LISLE, Transportation Research Board JAMES D. PACHAN, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority STEPHEN M. STARK, New York City Transit Authority PAM WARD, Ottumwa Transit Authority, Ottumwa, IA MARCEL BELANGER, Federal Transit Administration (Liaison) TCRP COMMITTEE FOR PROJECT J-7 CHAIR DWIGHT A. FERRELL Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority MEMBERS DEBRA W. ALEXANDER Capital Area Transportation Authority, Lansing, MI DONNA DeMARTINO San Joaquin Regional Transit District, Stockton, CA MARK W. FUHRMANN Metro Transit–Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN ROBERT H. IRWIN Consultant, Calgary, AB, Canada PAUL J. LARROUSSE National Transit Institute, New Brunswick, NJ DAVID A. LEE Connecticut Transit, Hartford, CT FRANK T. MARTIN PBS&J, Tallahassee, FL EMEKA MONEME Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority HAYWARD M. SEYMORE, III Q Straint, Shelton WA PAM WARD Ottumwa Transit Authority, Ottumwa, IA FTA LIAISON LISA COLBERT Federal Transit Administration MICHAEL BALTES Federal Transit Administration TRB LIAISON PETER SHAW Transportation Research Board ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Valuable research assistance was provided by Melanie Hart. Cover figure: Courtesy of LYNX, Orlando, Florida.

Transit administrators, engineers, and researchers often face problems for which infor- mation already exists, either in documented form or as undocumented experience and prac- tice. This information may be fragmented, scattered, and unevaluated. As a consequence, full knowledge of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its solution. Costly research findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviat- ing the problem. There is information on nearly every subject of concern to the transit industry. Much of it derives from research or from the work of practitioners faced with problems in their day-to-day work. To provide a systematic means for assembling and evaluating such useful information and to make it available to the entire transit community, the Transit Cooperative Research Program Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Committee autho- rized the Transportation Research Board to undertake a continuing study. This study, TCRP Project J-7, “Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems,” searches out and syn- thesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor constitute a TCRP report series, Synthesis of Transit Practice. This synthesis series reports on current knowledge and practice, in a compact format, without the detailed directions usually found in handbooks or design manuals. Each report in the series provides a compendium of the best knowledge available on those measures found to be the most successful in resolving specific problems. FOREWORD This synthesis studied preventive maintenance measures taken by a sampling of transit agencies to ensure buses are on time, protect taxpayer investments, and promote passenger satisfaction and public safety. The synthesis is offered as a primer for use by maintenance managers and other interested transit agency staff, as well as state and metropolitan trans- portation and planning agency staff, university educators, and students, to help lessen the number of inconvenienced passengers and the potential for safety-related incidents. Case studies reported on an automated onboard bus monitoring system, a technician certification program, and a review of challenges faced by a transit agency dealing with a diverse fleet mix. The study revealed how preventive maintenance intervals and activities were estab- lished at different agencies, understanding that each has a different fleet makeup, operating environment, and maintenance philosophy. This synthesis is based on the results of a survey questionnaire received from transit agencies in the United States and Canada, a literature review, and telephone survey inter- views conducted with three transit agencies as case studies. John J. Schiavone, J. Schiavone Consulting, Guilford, Connecticut, collected and synthe- sized the information and wrote the paper, under the guidance of a panel of experts in the subject area. The members of the Topic Panel are acknowledged on the preceding page. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that records the practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in research and practice continues, new knowledge will be added to that now at hand. PREFACE By Donna Vlasak Senior Program Officer Transportation Research Board

CONTENTS 1 SUMMARY 5 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Project Background and Objectives, 5 Technical Approach, 5 Report Organization, 5 7 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE CLASSIFICATIONS Introduction, 7 Literature Review, 7 Preventive Maintenance Classifications, 10 13 CHAPTER THREE SURVEY RESULTS: PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS Introduction, 13 Preventive Maintenance Frequency, 13 Methods for Establishing Preventive Maintenance Intervals, 15 Factors That Affect Preventive Maintenance Scheduling, 19 25 CHAPTER FOUR SURVEY RESULTS: CONDUCTING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE-RELATED ACTIVITIES Introduction, 25 Checklists and Other Guidance Tools, 25 Labor and Spare Ratio Considerations, 27 Preventive Maintenance Costs, 28 Quality Assurance Procedures, 29 Repair of Noted Defects, 29 30 CHAPTER FIVE CASE STUDIES Introduction, 30 Whatcom Transportation Authority, 30 Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 33 Central New York Regional Transportation Authority, 35 41 CHAPTER SIX CONCLUSIONS AND LESSONS LEARNED Introduction, 41 Conclusions, 41 Lessons Learned, 42 Suggested Areas of Future Study, 43 44 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

45 REFERENCES 46 APPENDIX A FLEET PROFILE 48 APPENDIX B SURVEY WITH SUMMARIZED RESPONSES 54 APPENDIX C CFR 49, PART 396, DOT INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS 56 APPENDIX D SAMPLE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE UPDATE REQUEST FORM—COAST MOUNTAIN 59 APPENDIX E MATHEMATICAL MODEL TO DETERMINE OPTIMUM PARTS REPLACEMENT 60 APPENDIX F SAMPLE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION CHECKLIST—CAPITAL METRO 63 APPENDIX G SAMPLE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION WORK INSTRUCTIONS—LYNX 70 APPENDIX H SAMPLE AUTOMATIC VEHICLE MONITORING EXCEPTION REPORT—WMATA

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TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 81: Preventive Maintenance Intervals for Transit Buses explores preventive maintenance measures taken by a sampling of transit agencies to ensure buses are on time, protect taxpayer investments, and promote passenger satisfaction and public safety.

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