Week 8/9 - Planning for Transit Systems, Exploring Modal Options, & Measuring Transit Performance Flashcards
What are the different ROW (right of ways) in transit?
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
What does a higher ROW generally mean?
Higher performance and higher cost
- challenge for planning/decision-making b/c must find balance
- cost influences all aspects of decision making
What is performance?
Considers system and user viewpoints
- perspectives of customer, community, agency, driver may all be different
- technical measures include reliability, speed, and capacity
What are examples of different mode types?
- metro
- LRT
- streetcar
- articulated bus
- bus
- trolley bus
What are mode characteristics?
- ROW
- Propulsion
- Guidance
- Distance/station spacing
- speed
- labour productivity
- car capacity
- transit units (TU)
Explain the characteristic of propulsion
- electric: third rail/overhead wire
- ICE (internal combustion engine): diesel/gas
Explain the characteristic of guidance
How vehicle is controlled
- guided: rail
- steered: driver
Explain the characteristic of distance/station spacing
How far apart stations/stops are is related to mode
Explain the characteristic of speed
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
Explain the characteristic of labour productivity
Matters where labour is expensive
- labour is 50% operating cost in Canada
- labour determined by number vehicles in transit unit and station size
Explain the characteristic of car capacity
How many passengers in each car?
Explain the characteristic of transit units (TU)
How many cars form a unit controlled by one driver?
What are the principles of alignment and design?
- 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
What does “good” access to transit mean?
Can be measured on diff scales
- 400m for bus
- 800m for rapid transit
Inclusive access
- elderly considerations
- minimize grade separations
What are the pros/cons of electrification?
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
How do we measure transit performance?
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
How do we know what performance measures to use?
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
What is a Multiple Account Evaluation (MAE)?
- provides broad-based assessment of potential projects to understand costs/benefits
- more flexible than cost-benefit analysis
