Understanding the Demand for Bus Transit Service: A New Approach

Abstract

2 A better understanding of the demand for bus transit is vital to the provision of efficient and reliable service. The objective of this study is to better understand the characteristics of demand for bus transit service in relation to bus-stop spacing and service reliability. The availability of accurate and robust data is lacking in previous empirical work. This research analyzes changes in passenger demand following implementation of a bus stop Streamline project at TriMet, the regional transit provider in the Portland metropolitan area. The study makes extensive use of archived bus operations and passenger activity data recorded at the level of the individual stop. The findings indicate that bus stop consolidation and relocation have a negligible impact on demand and that improvements in transit service reliability can adequately compensate for the potential loss of passengers resulting from changes in the number and location of stops. A theoretical framework for analyzing demand is presented to help transit planners better understand the consequences of proposed service changes on ridership.

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