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Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice (2022)

Chapter: Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire

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Page 73
Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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Suggested Citation:"Appendix A - Survey Questionnaire." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022. Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26597.
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73   Survey Questionnaire A P P E N D I X A Introduction The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is conducting research for the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). The research project, TCRP Synthesis Project J-07/Topic SA-53, “Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice,” is updating selected content from previously published bus rapid transit (BRT) research. The research is focused on understanding and documenting the following: • The interplay between BRT and other transit services, which can manifest in the degree to which BRT infrastructure (e.g., a bus lane) is open to other transit services as well as other transportation modes • The impact of BRT on other transit services (e.g., whether the BRT service replaced parallel local transit service and/or there were changes to other transit services to connect with BRT) • The extent to which selected BRT investments have been effective in achieving reliability, travel time, efficiency, customer satisfaction, and ridership goals • Trade-offs that transit agencies consider in making decisions about how to operate and maintain BRT services For the purposes of this report, BRT is defined as “a prioritized bus service with a distinctive brand.” It may or may not include features such as dedicated bus lanes, transit signal priority (TSP), and off-board fare collection. The study team is seeking information about mature BRT routes as well as branded bus facilities (such as busways) that support BRT or other prioritized bus services. We are defining “mature” BRT routes/facilities as BRT routes/facilities that are fully implemented and have operated for at least 1 year. This survey will help the study team: • Obtain updated information about the impacts and costs of investments in specific BRT components, • Identify “lessons learned” by transit agencies that operate BRT services and facilities, and • Identify transit agencies for more detailed discussions in the form of case examples. We estimate that it will take 15 to 45 minutes to complete the survey, depending on how many BRT routes/facilities you operate. We encourage you to collaborate with your colleagues and partners when completing the survey. This survey must be completed by March 29, 2021. Your answers will be saved every time you advance to the next page of the survey. If you return to the survey later using the unique invitation link provided to you (if applicable), you will be able to continue where you left off. You are encouraged to collaborate with your colleagues to complete the survey.

74 Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice The information you provide in response to this survey will be synthesized with information collected from other transit agencies that operate BRT services. Your answers will remain anonymous. Your participation in the survey is voluntary at all times. If you have questions or concerns regarding this survey or the study project, please do not hesitate to contact Kelly Blume. You may be contacted by the study team after the survey is complete to help clarify your answers or obtain additional information. 1. Do you agree to participate in this survey?  Yes  No [If Yes, go to Question 2.] [If No, go to Conclusion 1.] About Your Agency 2. Please provide the name of your agency and your contact information. Agency: Contact Name: City: State/Province: Phone Number: E-mail Address: 3. How many mature BRT routes/facilities do you currently operate and/or have you operated in the past? We are defining “mature” BRT routes/facilities as BRT routes/facilities that are fully implemented and have operated for at least 1 year. [If 0, go to Conclusion 2.] [If > 0, go to next section.] About Your BRT Routes/Facilities We are going to ask several questions about your mature BRT routes/facilities. You can answer our questions for each mature BRT route/facility your operate OR you can answer our questions with respect to each type of BRT route/facility you operate. For example, if you operate four BRT routes that run in dedicated bus lanes, you can choose one of these routes to represent the entire set of four.

Survey Questionnaire 75   4. For how many mature BRT routes/facilities will you provide information? Include BRT routes/facilities that have been discontinued, if applicable. The following set of questions will be repeated up to three times based on the number of BRT routes/facilities previously specified. If possible, please answer the questions with respect to conditions that existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. [Repeat Questions 5–33 for the number of BRT routes/facilities specified in Question 4, limited to three times.] Description of BRT Route/Facility [#] 5. Please provide the name of the BRT route/facility for which you are providing information. 6. In what year did the BRT route/facility begin operating? 7. If the BRT route/facility is not currently operating, in what year was it discontinued? (Please answer the subsequent questions with respect to the BRT route’s/facility’s last year of operation.) 8. What type(s) of running way does the BRT route/facility use? Check all that apply. (Selected definitions are provided below.)  Grade-separated busway  At-grade or median busway  Exclusive bus lane (only transit vehicles allowed), not including queue jumps  Semi-exclusive bus lane (shared with some types of vehicles, such as turning autos), not including queue jumps  Mixed-traffic lane (all vehicles allowed)  Shared bus/bike lane  High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane  Shoulder lane (buses run on shoulder of freeway or arterial street)  Other (please specify): ___________

76 Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice Busway: A special roadway designed for exclusive use by buses. It may be constructed at, above, or below grade and may be located in separate rights-of-way or within highway corridors. Variations include grade-separated, at-grade, and median busways. Sometimes called a transitway if shared with multiple transit services. Bus lane: A highway or street lane reserved primarily for buses, either all day or during specified periods. It may be used by other traffic under certain circumstances, such as making a right or left turn, or by taxis, motorcycles, or carpools that meet specific requirements described in the traffic laws of the specific jurisdiction. HOV lane: A highway or street lane intended primarily for carpools, vanpools, and other high-occupancy vehicles, which can include buses, either all day or during specified periods. (These definitions were adapted from TCRP Report 165.) 9. Is any portion of the running way a part-time facility?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 10. Does any portion of the running way operate in contraflow? Contraflow operation is the situation in which a bus runs in a direction opposite to what would be the normal flow of traffic. (This definition was adapted from TCRP Report 165.)  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 11. Are buses operated in local service beyond the trunk portion of the BRT route/facility?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 12. Did the BRT route/facility replace an existing transit service?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 13. What changes to the transit network were made concurrent with implementation of the BRT route/facility in the corridor? Check all that apply.  Discontinued underlying local route(s) operating in the same corridor or nearby  Redesigned underlying local route(s) (e.g., changed alignments, headways, spans, and/or stop locations)  Modified local routes or added new local routes to provide connections to the BRT route  Shortened or discontinued limited-stop, express, and/or commuter bus route(s) operating in the same corridor Definitions for Reference:

Survey Questionnaire 77    Rerouted limited-stop, express, and/or commuter bus route(s) to use the BRT route’s running way  Other (please specify): ________________  None  Unknown  Not applicable 14. To what extent does the BRT route/facility share running way with other transportation modes that operate in the same corridor? Transportation Mode Approximate Length of Shared Running Way Local, limited-stop, express, or commuter bus services [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown General auto traffic [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Carpools and vanpools [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Taxis and pedicabs [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Transportation network companies (e.g., Uber and Lyft) [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Private buses and shuttles [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Trucks and delivery vehicles [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Bicycles and other micromobility modes (e.g., electric scooters) [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown Other (please specify): ___________ [indicate 0%–100%; default is 0%]  Unknown 15. If you are providing information for a BRT route, do BRT stopping patterns or routing vary by time of day and/or day of week?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable [If Yes. . .] Why were the variations introduced?

78 Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 17. What priority features does the BRT route/facility have? Check all that apply. Selected definitions are provided below.  Transit signal priority (TSP)  Bus lanes (exclusive or semi-exclusive)  Queue jumps and/or bypass lanes  Bus bulbs or curb extensions  Off-board fare payment or validation  Fare-free service  Level boarding at stations/stops  Other (please specify): ________________  None  Unknown  Not applicable Definitions for Reference: Queue jump: A short section of exclusive or preferential lane that enables specified vehicles to bypass an automobile queue or a congested section of traffic. A queue jump can be used at signalized intersections or signal -controlled freeway on-ramps in congested urban areas to allow transit or high-occupancy vehicles preference. It is also known as a queue jumper, bypass lane, or queue bypass. Bus bulb: An extension of the sidewalk into the roadway for passenger loading without the bus pulling into the curb. Gives priority to buses and eases reentry into traffic. Often landscaped and fitted with bus shelter and other passenger amenities. Also called bus bulge, curb bulge, or curb extension. (These definitions were adapted from TCRP Report 165.) 18. If off-board fare payment and validation are available, how is fare payment or validat ion enforced for the BRT route/facility?  Onboard inspectors: law enforcement personnel  Onboard inspectors: civilian personnel  Other (please specify): ________________  Unknown  Not applicable 19. Which of the following features do the vehicles assigned to the BRT route/facility have? Check all that apply.  Larger capacity than other buses operating in the corridor  Multidoor boarding  Right- and left-side doors  Other features that impact bus capacity, speed, and/or reliability (please specify: ______________)  None  Unknown  Not applicable 16. Are platforms or curb areas at any stations/stops along the BRT route/facility shared by multiple transit operators or by multiple types of transit services (e.g., local bus, express bus, and rail service)?

Survey Questionnaire 79   20. How are any running way usage and turning restrictions placed on other transportation modes enforced for the BRT route/facility? Check all that apply. o On-bus cameras o On-street cameras o Vehicle operator reports o Local police department or transit police o Other (please specify): ________________ o No enforcement o No restrictions o Unknown o Not applicable 21. Which of the following features does the BRT route/facility have? Check all that apply. o Colored pavement (please specify the type, such as painted pavement or tinted concrete): ________________ o Barriers or separators between the BRT route/facility and other traffic streams (please specify the type, such as curbs, flex posts, or special pavement markings): ________________ o Concrete pavement (only at stops/stations) o Concrete pavement (entire route/facility) o Dynamic signs o Median-running bus lanes or bus lanes offset from the curb o Other (please specify): ________________ o Unknown o Not applicable 22. Please provide a brief description of strategies used to maintain the features checked off in Question 21, as applicable. Please speak to topics such as clearance/removal of snow, clearance/removal of debris and trash, repainting, reconstructing/repairing pavement, and repairing/replacing barriers and separators. 23. Do you have data that would allow you to quantify the impacts of any of the features listed in Question 21 on maintenance costs, even if it is just an estimated percentage impact? If so, we may follow up with you as part of a case example. ¡ Yes ¡ No ¡ Unknown ¡ Not applicable

80 Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice 24. Do you have data that would allow you to quantify the impacts of any of the features listed in Question 21 on your ability to enforce usage restrictions for the BRT route/facility, even if it is just an estimated percentage impact? If so, we may follow up with you as part of a case example.  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable Impacts of BRT Route/Facility 25. Please describe the BRT route’s/facility’s impacts on transit travel time in the corridor. If possible, please quantify the impacts using a metric such as average transit travel time or transit/auto travel time ratio. Include impacts on all transit services that operate in the corridor, not just the BRT route/facility. Approximations are sufficient. Do you monitor BRT route/facility travel times on an ongoing basis?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 26. Please describe the BRT route’s/facility’s impacts on transit reliability in the corridor. If possible, please quantify the impacts using a metric such as on-time performance or headway variability. Include impacts on all transit services that operate in the corridor, not just the BRT route/facility. Approximations are sufficient. Do you monitor BRT route/facility reliability on an ongoing basis?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 27. Please describe the BRT route’s/facility’s impacts on transit productivity in the corridor. If possible, please quantify the impacts using a metric such as passengers per hour or passengers per mile. Include impacts on all transit services that operate in the corridor, not just the BRT route/facility. Approximations are sufficient.

Survey Questionnaire 81   Do you monitor BRT route/facility productivity on an ongoing basis?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 28. Please describe the BRT route’s/facility’s impacts on transit operating costs in the corridor. If possible, please quantify the impacts using a metric such as total operating cost or operating cost per hour. Include impacts on all transit services that operate in the corridor, not just the BRT route/facility. Approximations are sufficient. Do you monitor BRT route/facility operating costs on an ongoing basis?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 29. Please describe the BRT route’s/facility’s impacts on transit customer satisfaction in the corridor. If possible, please quantify the impacts using a metric such as percentage of riders rating transit service favorably. Include impacts on all transit services that operate in the corridor, not just the BRT route/facility. Approximations are sufficient. Do you monitor BRT route/facility customer satisfaction on an ongoing basis?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 30. Do you have data that would allow you to associate any of the impacts on travel time, reliability, productivity, operating costs, and customer satisfaction with the implementation of specific BRT route/facility components (e.g., the reliability impacts resulting from introduction of a dedicated bus lane), even if it is just an estimated percentage impact? If so, we may follow up with you as part of a case example.  Yes  No

82 Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice 31. What other measures do you use to measure the impacts of the BRT route/facility in the corridor? Check all that apply.  Households with access to transit  Jobs with access to transit  Transit-dependent households or individuals with access to transit  Property values  Transit safety  Transit security  Emissions or other environmental impacts  Other (please specify): ________________  None  Unknown  Not applicable 32. Did implementation of the BRT route/facility allow for provision of more frequent transit service in the corridor without increases in staffing and the number of transit vehicles operated?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable 33. Did implementation of the BRT route/facility lead to changes in scheduling practices and/or operations management procedures?  Yes  No  Unknown  Not applicable Lessons Learned Please provide brief responses to the following questions. These questions apply to all of your BRT routes/facilities. We may follow up with you in a case example to explore lessons learned in more detail. 34. In your experience, what factors or conditions support the successful operation and maintenance of a BRT route/facility?

Survey Questionnaire 83   36. How did your BRT routes/facilities evolve over time in response to operations and maintenance challenges? 37. If you were to start over with the planning and design of your BRT routes/facilities, what would you do differently with respect to your ability to effectively operate and maintain those BRT routes/facilities once implemented? 38. What guidance or recommendations for successful operations and maintenance would you give to agencies that are considering implementing a BRT route/facility or are trying to solve the BRT route/facility operational and maintenance challenges currently facing them? Case Example Participation 39. Would you be willing to participate in a case example in which we discuss your answers to the questions posed in this survey? We may ask for additional details related to your answers. We anticipate that your case example involvement will consist of participating in a web meeting lasting 1 to 2 hours and sharing relevant reports and data.  Yes  No [If Yes . . .] Please provide contact information for the person with whom we should speak to arrange the case example. 35. In your experience, what factors or conditions hinder the successful operation and maintenance of a BRT route/facility?

84 Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice Conclusion 1 [If the respondent did not agree to participate in Question 1 . . .] Thank you! If you have questions or concerns regarding this survey or the study project, you may contact Kelly Blume. Conclusion 2 [If the respondent is not operating any mature BRT routes/facilities . . .] Thank you for your interest in participating in our survey! An important component of this study effort is obtaining stable “after” data for BRT projects, so we are focusing on BRT routes/facilities that have been operating for at least 1 year. We would be happy to provide you with a link to the Synthesis report when it is published. As noted at the beginning of the survey, if you have questions or concerns regarding this survey or the study project, you may contact Kelly Blume. Conclusion 3 [If the respondent is operating at least one mature BRT service and is not interested in participating in a case example . . .] Thank you for participating in our survey! Your time and your input are greatly appreciated! You may be contacted by TTI after the survey is complete to help clarify your answers or obtain additional information. We will provide you with a link to the Synthesis report when it is published. As noted at the beginning of the survey, if you have questions or concerns regarding this survey or the study project, you may contact Kelly Blume. The fields below are pre-filled using the information that you provided earlier. Please make any changes needed. Agency: Contact Name: City: State/Province: Phone Number: E-mail Address: [If Yes, go to Conclusion 4.] [If No, go to Conclusion 3.]

Survey Questionnaire 85   Conclusion 4 [If the respondent is operating at least one mature BRT service and is willing to participate in a case example . . .] Thank you for participating in our survey and your willingness to participate in a case example! Your time and your input are greatly appreciated! You may be contacted by TTI after the survey is complete to help clarify your answers or obtain additional information. We will provide you with a link to the Synthesis report when it is published. As noted at the beginning of the survey, if you have questions or concerns regarding this survey or the study project, you may contact Kelly Blume.

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Bus rapid transit (BRT) and BRT light continue to interest transit agencies in the United States, and these agencies continue to struggle with many facets that go into the implementation of BRT operations, infrastructure, and services.

The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 164: Bus Rapid Transit: Current State of Practice documents the current practices and lessons learned about U.S. and Canadian transit systems that use BRT components to improve the reliability of bus service, bus travel time, operation efficiency, and customer satisfaction and to increase ridership.

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