ANALYZING TRANSIT TRAVEL TIME PERFORMANCE

Abstract

A detailed analysis of transit speeds, delays, and dwell times based on surveys conducted in a cross section of U.S. cities is summarized. The relationships and parameters provide inputs for planning service changes and assessing their impacts. The surveys and analyses find that car speeds are consistently 1.4 to 1.6 times as fast as bus speeds; time the typical bus speeds about 48 to 75 percent of its moving, 9 to 25 percent at passenger stops, and 12 to 26 percent in traffic delays; and peak-hour bus travel times approximate 4.2 min/mile in suburbs, 6.0 in the city, and 11.50 in the central business district. Bus dwell times (including door opening and closing) approximate 5 sec plus 2.75 times the number of passenger; during peak hours local buses stop at 68 to 78 percent of the designated stops. Bus travel times and speeds were derived as a function of stop frequency, stop duration, and bus acceleration and deceleration times observed in the field. Reducing bus stops from eight to six per mile and dwell times from 20 to 15 sec would reduce travel times from 6 to 4.3 min/mile, a time saving greater than that which could be achieved by eliminating traffic congestion. Transit performance should be improved by keeping the number of stoping places to a minimum. Fare-collection policies and door configurations and widths are important in reducing dwell time, especially along high-density routes. Such time savings will likely exceed those achieved from providing bus priority measures or improving traffic flow.

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