Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems (2004)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

Research Results Digest 67 September 2004 SYNTHESIS OF INFORMATION RELATED TO TRANSIT PROBLEMS This is a staff digest of the progress and status of TCRP Project J-7, “Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems,” for which the Transportation Research Board is the agency conducting the research. Individual studies for the project are managed by Donna L. Vlasak, Senior Program Officer, with assistance from Jon Williams, Manager, Synthesis Studies, serving under the Studies and Information Services Division of the Transportation Research Board, Stephen R. Godwin, Director. Subject Area: VI Public Transit Responsible Senior Program Officer: Christopher W. Jenks TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration BACKGROUND The Transit Cooperative Research Pro- gram (TCRP) was established in 1992. The U.S. Department of Transportation pro- posed the TCRP, and it was authorized in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Effi- ciency Act (ISTEA) of 1991. The program was reauthorized in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). On May 13, 1992, a memorandum agree- ment outlining operating procedures was executed by three cooperating organiza- tions: the Federal Transit Administration (FTA); the National Academy of Sciences, acting through the Transportation Research Board (TRB); and the Transit Develop- ment Corporation, Inc. (TDC), a non-profit educational and research organization es- tablished by the American Public Trans- portation Association (APTA). The memo- randum agreement was updated on January 12, 1999. INTRODUCTION Transit administrators, engineers, and researchers often face problems for which information already exists, either in docu- Suggestions for synthesis topics may be sent to the TCRP Manager or Synthesis Staff at any time (see address on back). You can submit your suggestions at http://www4.trb.org/trb/synthrep.nsf, under Suggest a TCRP synthesis topic. Topics suggested must be accompanied by a brief scope statement, including a dis- cussion of the problem (a paragraph or two). A title (preferably 10 words or less) and the name and affiliation of the sub- mitter are also necessary. Identification of information sources is appreciated. Suggestions for updates of published syn- theses would also be appreciated. If a topic is not selected, the problem statement must be resubmitted the following year to be considered. Annually, synthesis topics are typically due by the end of March. The TCRP Oversight Panel for the project meets in May/June to select new topics based on funding available. Interested in writing a synthesis? For de- tails contact Donna L. Vlasak by e-mail at dvlasak@nas.edu or by phone at 202/334- 2974 or Jon Williams at jwilliams@nas.edu or by phone at 202/334-3245.

measures found to be the most successful in resolving specific problems. To develop these syntheses in a comprehensive manner and to ensure inclusion of sig- nificant knowledge, TRB analyzes available informa- tion assembled from numerous sources including a large number of transit agencies. A panel of experts in the subject area is established to guide the researchers in organizing and evaluating data collected on each topic and to review the synthesis report. For each topic, the project objectives are (1) to lo- cate and assemble documented information; (2) to learn what practice has been used for solving or alle- viating problems; (3) to identify all ongoing research; (4) to learn what problems remain largely unsolved; and (5) to organize, evaluate, and document the use- ful information that is acquired. Each synthesis is an immediately useful document that records practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As the processes of advancement con- tinue, new knowledge can be expected to be added to that which is now on hand; eventually the synthesis may need to be updated or redone. If you believe that a synthesis should be updated, it would be appreciated if you would contact TRB and let us know. Selection of Topics TCRP Project Panel J-7 meets each year (typi- cally in May) to select topics for study using funds from the upcoming fiscal year. The membership of this committee is given in Table 1. Current funding allows for initiation of approximately four syntheses per year. 2 Table 1 TCRP PROJECT PANEL J-7 Name Affiliation Chair Frank T. Martin PBS&J, Tallahassee, FL Member Debra W. Alexander Capital Area Transportation Authority, Lansing, MI Member Dwight Ferrell The Ferrell Group, Richardson, TX Member Mark W. Fuhrmann Metro Transit, Minneapolis, MN Member Robert H. Irwin British Columbia Transit, Victoria, BC, Canada Member Paul J. Larrousse National Transit Institute, New Brunswick, NJ Member Wade Lawson South Jersey Transportation Authority, Atlantic City, NJ Member David A. Lee Connecticut Transit, Hartford, CT Member David Phelps Consultant, Moneta, VA Member Hayward M. Seymore, III Laidlaw Transit Services, Inc., University Place, WA Member Pam Ward Ottumwa Transit Authority, Ottumwa, IA Member Joel R. Washington Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Washington, D.C. Liaison Peter L. Shaw Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. Liaison Karen Facen Federal Transit Administration, Washington, D.C. mented form or as undocumented experience and practice. This information may be fragmented, scat- tered, and unevaluated. As a consequence, full knowl- edge of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its solution. Costly re- search findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviating 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 authorized the Transportation Research Board to undertake a continuing study. This study, TCRP Project J-7, “Synthesis of Infor- mation Related to Transit Problems,” searches out and synthesizes useful knowledge from all available sources and prepares concise, documented reports on specific topics. Reports from this endeavor con- stitute a TCRP report series, Synthesis of Transit Practice. THE SYNTHESIS PROGRAM This synthesis series reports on current knowl- edge and practice, in a compact format, without the detailed directions usually found in handbooks or de- sign manuals. Each report in the series provides a compendium of the best knowledge available on those

The following factors are considered in the se- lection process for synthesis topics: • The problem should be widespread enough to generate broad interest in the synthesis. • The problem should be timely and critical with respect to economic impact, safety, or social impact. • The problem is appropriate if current practice is nonuniform or inconsistent from agency to agency, or if the validity of some practices ap- pears to be questionable. • The quality and quantity of useful available information should indicate a need to organize and compress that which has already been learned and written on the topic. • The topic should not be one where ongoing research or other activities in progress might be expected to render the synthesis obsolete shortly after completion. The continued success of this project depends on a constant supply of worthy synthesis topics solicited annually from a variety of sources, including transit officials, equipment and service suppliers, research or- ganizations, FTA, APTA, and TRB committees. The interest of those who have recommended topics is sin- cerely appreciated, and they are urged to continue. Conduct of the Studies Throughout the year, following the J-7 project panel’s selection of topics, studies are initiated in the order of priority assigned by the committee. A panel consisting of practitioners and researchers is formed for each topic. At its first meeting, this topic panel thoroughly discusses the topic, refines the tentative scope, suggests sources of information, and selects the consultant based on expression of interest re- ceived in response to an industry-wide solicitation. Following this meeting, an agreement is negoti- ated with the consultant to gather information on the topic, synthesize it, and draft a report. Typically, the agreement covers a period of 6 months. Information gathering and preparation of the first draft of the synthesis report usually takes 4 months. This draft is then reviewed by the topic panel with the consultant, often at a second panel meeting. Subsequent drafts and a meeting are scheduled if needed, although this rarely occurs. After the staff is substantially satisfied with the re- port, a final draft is sent to the members of the TCRP Project Panel J-7 for their approval. At the same time, members from the topic panel have their last chance to review the report. Comments from these reviews are incorporated into the final report, which is usually published as a TCRP Synthesis of Transit Practice. Studies in Progress as of July 2004 Work is currently under way on the topics listed in Table 2. Questions on these topics should be ad- dressed to the Project Study Manager, Donna L. Vlasak (e-mail: dvlasak@nas.edu and 202/334-2974) or the Synthesis Studies Manager, Jon Williams (e-mail: jwilliams@nas.edu and 202/334-3245). Available Publications The Syntheses of Transit Practice that have been completed under this project are listed in Table 3. Copies of these syntheses can be obtained from the Publications Office, Transportation Research Board, 500 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001; by calling 202/334-3213; and through the Internet at: http://www.trb.org/trb/bookstore. Please send check orders to: TRB, Lockbox 289, Washington, D.C., 20055 or fax to: 202/334-2519. Index of Topic Studies Table 4 is a key word index of published syn- theses and studies currently in progress. 3 Table 2 SYNTHESIS STUDIES—In Progress as of July 2004 No. Title SA-15 Use of Computer-Aided Scheduling and Dispatch for Demand-Responsive Transit Services SB-11 Practices in Cancellation/No-Show Policies for ADA Paratransit SB-12 Integration of Bicycles and Transit SC-07 Emergency Response Protocols for Natural Gas Powered Vehicles in Public Transportation SC-04 Congestion Bypass Use of Shoulders SE-03 Maintenance Staffing Levels for Light Rail Transit Systems SG-10 Performance-Based Measures in Transit Fund Allocation SH-04 Strategic Planning and Management in Transit Agencies SH-05 On-Board Passenger Survey Techniques

4Table 3 PUBLISHED TCRP SYNTHESES No. Title/Pages/Price 1 Safe Operating Procedures for Alternative Fuel Buses (1993) 48 pp., $16.00 2 Low-Floor Transit Buses (1994) 43 pp., $12.00 3 Incentive Programs to Improve Transit Employee Performance (1994) 44 pp., $12.00 4 Integration of Bicycles and Transit (1994) 58 pp., $12.00 5 Management Information Systems (1994) 77 pp., $19.00 6 The Role of Performance-Based Measures in Allocating Funding for Transit Operations (1994) 52 pp., $11.00 7 Regulatory Impacts on Design and Retrofit of Bus Maintenance Facilities (1994) 50 pp., $12.00 8 Retrofit of Buses to Meet Clean Air Regulations (1994) 48 pp., $12.00 9 Waste Control Practices at Bus Maintenance Facilities (1995) 26 pp., $10.00 10 Bus Route Evaluation Standards (1995) 54 pp., $12.00 11 System-Specific Spare Bus Ratios (1995) 46 pp., $12.00 12 Transit Bus Service Line and Cleaning Functions (1995) 48 pp., $14.00 13 Risk Management for Small and Medium Transit Agencies (1995) 31 pp., $13.00 14 Innovative Suburb-to-Suburb Transit Practices (1995) 50 pp., $14.00 15 System-Specific Spare Rail Vehicle Ratios (1995) 43 pp., $13.00 16 Changing Roles and Practices of Bus Field Supervisors (1996) 45 pp., $13.00 17 Customer Information at Bus Stops (1996) 64 pp., $18.00 18 Bus Occupant Safety (1996) 55 pp., $15.00 19 Passenger Transfer System Review (1996) 37 pp., $14.00 20 Transit-Focused Development (1997) 55 pp., $16.00 21 Improving Transit Security (1997) 36 pp., $15.00 22 Monitoring Bus Maintenance Performance (1997) 48 pp., $16.00 23 Inspection Policy and Procedures for Rail Transit Tunnels and Underground Structures (1997) 95 pp., $25.00 24 AVL Systems for Bus Transit (1997) 47 pp., $16.00 25 Light Rail Vehicle Compression Requirements (1997) 34 pp., $15.00 26 Bus Transit Fare Collection Practices (1997) 29 pp., $14.00 27 Emergency Preparedness for Transit Terrorism (1997) 73 pp., $21.00 28 Managing Transit Construction Contract Claims (1998) 50 pp., $17.00 29 Passenger Counting Technologies and Procedures (1998) 50 pp., $23.00 30 ADA Paratransit Eligibility Certification Practices (1998) 38 pp., $16.00 31 Paratransit Contracting and Service Delivery Methods (1998) 35 pp., $16.00 32 Transit Advertising Revenue: Traditional and New Sources and Structures (1998) 58 pp., $20.00 33 Practices in Assuring Employee Availability (1999) 69 pp., $27.00 34 Data Analysis for Bus Planning and Monitoring (2000) 62 pp., $27.00 35 Information Technology Update for Transit (2000) 98 pp., $31.00 36 Identifying and Reducing Fraudulent Third Party Tort Claims Against Public Transit Agencies (2000) 58 pp., $25.00 37 Communicating with Persons with Disabilities in a Multimodal Environment (2001) 48 pp., $26.00 38 Electronic Surveillance Technology on Transit Vehicles (2001) 57 pp., $28.00 39 Transportation on College and University Campuses (2001) 62 pp., $28.00 40 A Challenged Employment System: Hiring, Training, Performance Evaluation, and Retention of Bus Operators (2001) 72 pp., $29.00 41 The Use of Small Buses in Transit Service (2002) 72 pp., $15.00 42 Use of Flexible Funds for Transit Under ISTEA and TEA-21 (2002) 40 pp., $15.00 43 Effective Use of Transit Websites (2002) 79 pp., $16.00 44 Training for On-Board Bus Electronics (2002) 63 pp., $15.00 45 Customer-Focused Transit (2002) 100 pp., $17.00 46 Diversity Training Initiatives (2003) 59 pp., $15.00 47 Corporate Culture as the Driver of Transit Leadership Practices (2003) 91 pp., $17.00 48 Real-Time Bus Arrival Information Systems (2003) 61 pp., $15.00

5Table 3 (Continued ) No. Title/Pages/Price 49 Yield to Bus Programs—State of the Practice (2003) 78 pp., $16.00 50 Use of Rear-Facing Position for Common Wheelchairs on Transit Buses (2003) 42 pp., $14.00 51 Transit Advertising Sales Agreements (2004) 99 pp., $18.00 52 Transit Operator Health and Wellness Programs (2004) 80 pp., $17.00 53 Operational Experiences with Flexible Services in Transit Systems (2004) 57 pp., $16.00 54 Maintenance Productivity Practices (2004) In Press 55 Geographic Information Systems Applications in Transit (2004) In Press Table 4 INDEX TO TCRP SYNTHESIS AND STUDIES* Absenteeism 33, 52 Advertising – Buses/Trains, on 32, 51 – Stations/Stops 32, 51 – Websites 43 Alternative Fuels 1 – Safe Operating Procedures, Buses 1 Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) Systems 24, 34, 48, 53, 55 Automatic Passenger Counters (APC) 29 Automatic Vehicle Monitoring 24, 34, 48, 53 Bicycles – Integration with Buses 4 – Integration with Ferries 4 – Integration with Rail 4 Buff Load (see Compression Requirements) Buses – Alternative Fuels 1 ❑ Compressed Natural Gas 1 ❑ Ethanol 1 ❑ Liquefied Natural Gas 1 ❑ Liquefied Petroleum Gas 1 ❑ Methanol 1 – Automated Vehicle Location Systems 24, 34, 48, 53 – Bicycle Integration with 4 – Cleaning 12 – College and University Campuses 39 – Driver Availability 33, 40, 52 – Electronic Equipment 44 – Fare Collection 26 – Field Supervisors 16 – Fuel and Fluid Storage 7 – Low-Floor 2 – Maintenance 54 – Maintenance Facilities 7, 9, 12 – Occupant Safety 18, 38, 50 – Passenger Transfer 19 – Retrofitting 8 – Route Evaluation Standards 10 – Service Line and Cleaning 12 – Small Buses 41 – Stops, Customer Information at 17, 37, 48 – Suburb-to-Suburb Service 14 – System-Specific Spare Ratios 11 – Traffic Operations 49 – Waste Control at Maintenance Facilities 9 Bus Field Supervisors – Changing Roles and Practices 16 Bus Garages (see Bus Maintenance Facilities) Bus Maintenance Facilities – Cleaning 12 – Regulations on Design and Retrofit of 7 – Waste Control 9 Bus Route Evaluation Standards 10, 14 Bus Stops – Information at 17, 37, 48 – Locations 53 – Safety Design 18 – Signs 17, 37 Claims (see Liability) Codes (see Regulations, Standards) College and University Campuses 39 Compression Requirements – Light Rail Vehicles 25 Construction Contract Claims 28 Contracts – Advertising 32, 51 – Disputes and Resolution 28 – Information Technology Services 35 – Maintenance 54 – Paratransit Services 31 Customer Service 43, 45 – Awareness 43, 45, 48, 49 – Complaint Resolution 38 – Computer-Aided Scheduling and Dispatch SA-10 – Geographic Information Systems 55 – Information at Bus Stops 17, 48 – Management Role 16, 47 – Passengers with Disabilities 30, 31, 37, 50, 53 – Service Line and Cleaning 12 – Transfers 19

6Table 4 (Continued ) Design – Bus ❑ Clean Air Regulations, to Meet 8 ❑ Low-Floor Transit Buses 2 ❑ Safety 18, 50 – Bus Maintenance Facilities 7 – Bus Stops 18 – Engines 7, 8 – Regulatory Impacts on 7, 8 – Small Buses 41 – Surveillance Technology 38 – Tunnels 23 – Websites 43 Dispatch SA-15 – Bus 53 Diversity – Training 46 Driver – Health and Wellness 52 – Hiring 40 – Performance Evaluation 40 – Retention 40 – Training 40, 44, 45, 49, SA-15 Electronic Surveillance 38 Employee Assistance Programs 16, 52 Environment, The – Clean Air Act 1, 7, 8 – Waste Control 9 Fare Collection – Bus 26, 34 – Electronic Registering Fareboxes (ERFs) 29 – Unlimited Access Systems 39 Ferries – Bicycles, Integration with 4 Fleet Management 15, 24, 35 Flexible Transit Service 53 Fraudulent Claims 36 Funding Allocation – Maintenance 53 – Performance-Based SG-10 – Role of Performance-Based Measures 6 – Spare Bus Ratios, System-Specific 11 – Spare Rail Vehicle Ratios 15 – Systems Costs 48 – Under ISTEA and TEA-21 42 Funding, Flexible 42 Geographic Information Systems 55 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) – Bus 24, 53 Incentive Programs – Employee 3, 33, 52 Information Technology (IT) 5, 35, 43, SA-15 – Geographic Information Systems 55 – Supervisors, Impact on 16 Inspection – Rail Tunnels and Underground Structures 23 Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) – Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) 35 – Automated Vehicle Location Systems 24, 34, 48, 53 – Automated Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) 24, 34, 48, 53 – Automatic Passenger Counters 29, 34 – Global Positioning Systems (GPS) 24, 53 – Transfer Automation 19 Internet 43 Liability – Construction Contract Claims 28 – Fraudulent Third Party Claims 36 – Institutional 49 – Risk Management 13 Light Rail Vehicles (LRV) – Compression Requirements 25 – System-Specific Spare Ratios 15 Low-Floor Buses 2 Maintenance – Bus Maintenance Facilities 7, 9 – Line and Cleaning Functions 12 – Monitoring Performance 22, 44 – Productivity 53 Management 44, 47 Management Information Systems (see Information Technology) Monitoring Maintenance Performance 22, 54 Paratransit Services 30, 31 Passengers – Comfort 12 – Communicating with 37 – Ridership Counts 29, 34 – Safety 18, 21, 50 – Satisfaction 45 – Transfer Systems 19 Performance-Based Measures – Funding Allocation SG-10 – Diversity Training 46 – Role in Funding Allocation 6 Performance Evaluation – Bus Operators 40 – Real-Time Bus Arrival Information Systems 43, 48 Policy Procedures – Rail Tunnel and Underground Structures Inspection 23 – Safe Operation for Alternative Fuel Buses 1

7Table 4 (Continued ) Productivity – Employee 3, 16, 22, 33, 54 – Transit System SG-10 Rail – Bicycle Integration with 4 – Light Rail Vehicle Compression Requirements 25 – Passenger Transfers 19 – Security 21 – Station Area Development 20 – Suburb-to-Suburb Service 14 – System-Specific Spare Ratios 15 – Tunnel and Underground Structures 23 Recruitment – Bus Drivers 16, 33, 40 – Management 47 – Security Personnel 21 – Supervisors 16 Regulations – Air Quality 1, 7, 8 – Alternative Fuel Buses 1 – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 2, 7, 16, 17, 24, 30, 31, 37, 50, 53 – Drugs and Alcohol 16 – EPA 7 – Family Leave Medical Act 33 – Leave Policies 33 – Local and State 7 – Occupational Safety and Health Administration 7, 52 – Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 9 – Retrofitting 7, 8 – Suburb-to-Suburb Service 14 – Waste Management 9 Retrofitting – Bus 8, 49 – Bus Maintenance Facilities 7 – Engine 7, 8 – Regulatory Impacts on 7 Revenues – Advertising 51 Risk Management – Medium Agencies 13 – Small Agencies 13 Safety – Alternative Fuel Bus Operation 1 – Bus Occupant 18, 38, 50 – Bus Route Evaluation 10 – Light Rail Vehicle Compression Resistance 25 – Traffic Operations 49 Scheduling – Adherence 49 – Automatic Vehicle Location Systems 24, 48, 53 – Bus Driver Availability 33 – Bus Route Evaluation 10 – Bus Stop Information 17, 48 – Bus Transfers 19 – Computer-Aided SA-15 – Demand-Responsive 53, SA-15 – Flexible Route 53 – Point Deviation 53 – Ridership Data Collection 29, 34 – Small Buses 41 – Suburb-to-Suburb 14 Security – Bus Drivers, for 33 – Crime Prevention 21, 38 – Technology Systems 35, 38 – Terrorism 27 – Violence Reduction 21 Service – Quality 15, 45, 53, SA-15 – Small Buses 41 Service Line and Cleaning 12 Spare Ratios – System-Specific Buses 11 – System-Specific Rail Vehicles 15 Standards – Alternative Fuels 1 – Bus Route Evaluation 10, 14 Suburb-to-Suburb Commuting 14 Supervisors – Bus Field 16 – Relations with Drivers 33 Terrorism 27 Tort Claims 36 Training – Bus Drivers 18, 30, 40 – Diversity Training 46 – Information Technology 35, 44 – Supervisors 16 Transfers 19 Transit-Focused Development 20 Transportation Demand Management 39 Tunnels 23 Underground Structures 23 Unions 54 Violence (see Security) Waste Control – Bus Maintenance Facilities 9 *Simple numbers represent published syntheses; alphanumeric designations represent studies in progress.