ITS for BRT Systems: How Does Boston’s Silver Line Compare

With Other BRT Systems? Carol Schweiger, Assistant Vice President

ITS Georgia Annual MeetingAugust 29, 2005

Presentation Outline

• ITS Technologies for BRT:Operational improvementsCustomer service improvements

• Comparison of Silver Line with Other Existing Systems

• Comparison with Planned BRT systems

• Summary

Categories of ITS for BRT

• Operational Improvements:Vehicle Priority and Access Control Intelligent Vehicle Initiative (IVI) TechnologiesAutomated/Electronic Fare CollectionOperations ManagementSecurity Technologies

• Customer Service Improvements:Passenger InformationPassenger ConveniencePassenger Safety and Security Technologies

ITS Effects on BRT System Performance

Travel Time

SavingsReliability

Identity and Image

Safety and Security

Capacity

Vehicle PrioritizationDriver Assist and Automation TechnologyOperations ManagementPassenger InformationSafety and Security TechnologySupport Technologies

System Performance

MBTA Silver Line

MBTA Silver Line Phases 1 and 2

MBTA Silver Line ITS (Phase 1)

•GPS-based AVL/CAD System•Automated annunciation•Real-time information on DMS at selected stops (not fully operational yet)•Security system in tunnel portion of system•Some technology is deployed in the rest of the MBTA bus operation

ITS in BRT Systems

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Transit Signal PriorityCollision WarningAutomated Scheduling and DispatchAVLTraveler Information at Station/StopTraveler Information on VehicleTrip Itinerary PlanningSilent AlarmVoice/Video MonitoringAdvanced Communications SystemAutomatic Passenger Counting

Comparison with Other BRT Systems

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Travel Time Reduction 26% 15-25% 7-20% 35% 17-29%

Customer Perception of Travel Time73.2% pax rate above avg or excellent

3.82/5 vs. 3.42/5

59% pax rate good or very good

85% pax rpt shorter travel times - avg reduction of 14 minutes

Customer Perception of Wait Time and Transfer Time

60.2% pax rate above avg or excellent

3.76/5 vs. 3.15/5

44% pax good or very good

78% pax perceive reduced wait time. 52% reported easier transferring

Customer Perception of Travel Time Reliability

65% pax rate above avg or excellent

92% pax rate excellent or good

68% perceive improved schedule adherence

Customer Perception of Security55.6% pax rate above avg or excellent

3.88/5 vs. 3.40/5

67.5% rate safety good or very good.

Change in Ridership in Corridor 85% 9-14% 2-47% 186% 135%

LA Metro Rapid Bus Arrival Information System• LADOT developed Bus Arrival Information System,

not LACMTA (which operates Metro Rapid)

• Based on city’s computerized Automatic Traffic Surveillance and Control System (ATSCS)

• Low cost system - utilizes loop-transponder technology

• One-line LED DMSs in specially-designed bus shelters

LA Metro Rapid Signal Priority• LACMTA provides LADOT with schedule for

each Metro Rapid bus each day• Throughout the day, ATSCS computer performs

schedule adherence• If bus behind schedule, computer can extend the

green at the traffic signal in its immediate path• Computer knows location and speed of bus, and

the fact that lights in its path will remain green, so it can accurately calculate time for bus to reach its next stop

Lynx FlexBus Concept

• Dynamically routed and dispatched point-to-point operation

• Responds to user request, real-time and pre-booked (12-minute maximum wait time)

• Fare payment prior to boarding• Stations at activity centers • Transit ITS support• Station access only• No fixed schedules • No fixed routes

FlexBus ITS Technologies

• On-vehicle systems, including mobile data terminal

• Automated reservations, scheduling, and vehicle assignment system

• CAD/AVL• Electronic fare payment system and boarding

pass• High capacity, high speed, reliable wireless

communications

FlexBus: How It Works

• User requests ride and selects destination station using either phone (IVR), Internet, station kiosk or remote kiosk

• System Selects “best fit” vehicle

• Prompts user to confirm trip

• User boards vehicle and swipes Boarding Pass

• Trip confirmed

FlexBus ITS:Enabling the Concept

• ITS enables the flexibility (operations improvement):Reservation processWait timeFare payment/boarding pass

• ITS provides marketing opportunities (customer information improvement):High-quality transit serviceAppeals to “choice” riders Improves perception of transit

Summary: Evidence that ITS Affects Key Silver Line BRT Service Factors

• Operations:Running time and running time reliabilityDwell time and dwell time reliabilityWait time and transfer timeService reliabilitySafety and securityCapacity

• Customer Service/Information:Perception of operationsBrand identitySafety and securityRidership