Week 8/9 - Planning for Transit Systems, Exploring Modal Options, & Measuring Transit Performance

Question 1

What are the different ROW (right of ways) in transit?

Answer 1

ROW A: fully separated
- above/below ground or at grade
ROW B: longitudinally separated by a barrier
- no cars in front of/behind, but must stop at intersections
- ex. ION (in median)
ROW C: mixed traffic
- ex. street cars and buses

Question 2

What does a higher ROW generally mean?

Answer 2

Higher performance and higher cost

• challenge for planning/decision-making b/c must find balance
• cost influences all aspects of decision making

Question 3

What is performance?

Answer 3

Considers system and user viewpoints

• perspectives of customer, community, agency, driver may all be different
• technical measures include reliability, speed, and capacity

Question 4

What are examples of different mode types?

Answer 4

• metro
• LRT
• streetcar
• articulated bus
• bus
• trolley bus

Question 5

What are mode characteristics?

Answer 5

1. ROW
2. Propulsion
3. Guidance
4. Distance/station spacing
5. speed
6. labour productivity
7. car capacity
8. transit units (TU)

Question 6

Explain the characteristic of propulsion

Answer 6

• electric: third rail/overhead wire

- ICE (internal combustion engine): diesel/gas

Question 7

Explain the characteristic of guidance

Answer 7

How vehicle is controlled

• guided: rail
• steered: driver

Question 8

Explain the characteristic of distance/station spacing

Answer 8

How far apart stations/stops are is related to mode

Question 9

Explain the characteristic of speed

Answer 9

Depends on ROW and stop frequency

- ex. vehicle with ROW A can attain high speeds b/c no risk of other vehicles or need to stop like B & C

Question 10

Explain the characteristic of labour productivity

Answer 10

Matters where labour is expensive

• labour is 50% operating cost in Canada
• labour determined by number vehicles in transit unit and station size

Question 11

Explain the characteristic of car capacity

Answer 11

How many passengers in each car?

Question 12

Explain the characteristic of transit units (TU)

Answer 12

How many cars form a unit controlled by one driver?

Question 13

What are the principles of alignment and design?

Answer 13

• connect densities: we want to connect dense locations as directly as possible
• consider existing trip patterns: where are people moving to and from?
• area coverage: percent of area from which customers have good access to transit
• impacts on land use: what we need can dictate mode

Question 14

What does “good” access to transit mean?

Answer 14

Can be measured on diff scales

• 400m for bus
• 800m for rapid transit

Inclusive access

• elderly considerations
• minimize grade separations

Question 15

What are the pros/cons of electrification?

Answer 15

Pros:

• no point source emissions
• no need to refuel
• lower motor maintenance costs
• more comfort b/c indirect control system
• better acceleration
• quieter

Cons:

• more infrastructure to maintain (wires)
• higher initial costs
• no passing

Question 16

How do we measure transit performance?

Answer 16

Monitoring (record data on key aspects) and eval (analyze data and measure against targets) key
- goal is to ensure resources are used efficiently and effectively

Question 17

How do we know what performance measures to use?

Answer 17

Depends on point of view

• key considerations is cost of measuring (ex. smart card monitoring vs. vehicle gps vs surveys)
• planners need to be aware of importance, options and process

Question 18

What is a Multiple Account Evaluation (MAE)?

Answer 18

• provides broad-based assessment of potential projects to understand costs/benefits
• more flexible than cost-benefit analysis