TBEST and LYNX’ TDP

INTRODUCTION

What is TBEST (Transit Boarding Estimation and Simulation Tool? Transit Demand Modeling/Analysis Software Developed by Florida Department of Transportation Public Transit Office Software Goal “Comprehensive Transit Network Modeling, Management and Analysis

Software with a focus on short to mid-term transit planning” Software Objectives

¤ Sensitive to service adjustments (operational, schedule, alignment, system, and fare)

¤ User-friendly ¤ Cost-Effective ¤ Scalable (Indian River to LA Metro) ¤ Modest Data Requirements ¤ Standard modeling methodology to be used by any agency for ridership

estimation

THE NEED FOR TBEST

¨ Basis for Planning – Protect Institutional Knowledge

¨ Strategic and Service Planning

¨ Localized Analysis (Corridor, Area, Sites Studies)

¨ Title VI Analysis

¨ Operational Analysis

¨ Transit GIS Data Management and Visualization

TBEST IN FLORIDA

TBEST provides a standardized transit modeling tool for agencies to develop and submit the required ridership estimation portion of the Transit Development Plan (TDP) report

Major Benefits:

Ø TBEST reduces burden on FDOT for evaluating a variety of ridership estimation methodologies

Ø TBEST reduces burden on agencies to prepare and conduct more expensive and complex modeling efforts

Ø Serves a dual purpose of being an enterprise service and strategic planning tool

TBEST FEATURES

¨ Utilizes readily available data sources with minimal configuration time

¨ Utilizes industry-standard GIS and Database software tools

¨ Fills the industry gap for a short-term ridership estimation tool

¨ Provides scenario-based modeling with extensive scenario comparison tools

¨ GTFS network import and full network editor

¨ Includes tools to analyze land use and socio-economic markets, network accessibility and model results

¨ Easily understandable by technical staff with GIS, database, and modeling experience

¨ Quick implementation process

TBEST MODEL CHARACTERISTICS

TBEST is designed to:

¨ Capture walk access to/from transit

¨ Capture accessibility via the transit network

¨ Allow for special generators including park-n-ride

¨ Respond to parcel level trip attraction/production

¨ Stop-level Ridership Estimation ¨ Direct demand, Micro-level model (not mode choice or interactive with

auto travel) ¨ Stops defined uniquely by route, direction ¨ Stop estimations aggregated to route, segment, corridor, sub-area, or

system level ¨ 0-10 year forecast horizon

¨ Scenario-based Modeling ¨ Develop the Base Year Model ¨ Create Future year models as new scenarios ¨ Network edits and service modifications ¨ Adjust Socio-economic data at the system, area, or stop level

TBEST APPROACH TO MODELING

¨ Spatial Accessibility (socio-economic characteristics) ¨ Ridership is based on specific socio-economic factors such as age,

employment status, income, car ownership etc. who can access the transit system (within buffer areas of ¼ mile from each individual stop)

¨ Newer model structure derives ridership from above variables plus measurements of trip making from parcel-based land use data

¨ Time-Space Network Connectivity ¨ Overall connectivity of the system ¨ Time-of-day variation due to service supply differences (frequency and

travel speed)

¨ Competing and Complementary System Effects

TBEST APPROACH TO MODELING

¨ Time of Day Based Analysis ¨ Weekday AM peak period ¨ Weekday PM peak period ¨ Weekday Off-peak period ¨ Weekday Night period ¨ Saturday (all day) ¨ Sunday (all day)

TBEST APPROACH TO MODELING

TBEST Model Structure

System and Scenario Database

(SQL Server)

TBEST Transit System Components

Scenario Networks (PGDB)

Base Year Network and Demographics (PGDB)

Spatial and Tabular Reports

Area (Land Use) Analysis

Corridor Analysis

Stored Query

Site Analysis

Reports and Analysis Output

Data Model

Attribute Data Spatial Data Model

Validation

Route-Level Adjustments

Base Year Model

Distribution File

LYNX TBEST Base Year Network

• December 2011 Network containing 94 Routes/Patterns and 8008 stops

• Florida (state-wide) Socio-Economic data

Network Reports

• Network reports estimate more than ridership • Can look at transfers, service trips, route

miles, service miles, etc. • Reports stop level, segments, pattern, route

and regional

LYNX TBEST Implementation

• Configured TBEST for Service Planning within the agency by developing and validating the TBEST model

• Developed an integration interface with Trapeze transit operations software to continually update the network

• Developed methods for meeting regulatory compliance by measuring additional trips related to local development

• Utilized efforts to maintain TBEST to meet FDOT requirements for TDP ridership estimation

LYNX Implementation Users Schema

Next Steps

• LYNX will test and adopt the revised TBEST estimation engine which utilizes Parcel data and land use designations

• TBEST expands to integrate with APC data and adds additional functions that assist agencies with system/network evaluation

Documentation

• Based on the experience at LYNX, CUTR and Florida DOT have adopted and published a guidebook for “TBEST IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES FOR STRATEGIC AND SERVICE PLANNING”

http://tbest.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/TBESTImplementationSOP_Final-1-19-2012.pdf

• Another document published to be used as reference for Florida’s transit agencies is “TBEST – GUIDELINES FOR TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN RIDERSHIP REVIEW AND REPORTING”

• http://tbest.org/tbest-guidance-documents/

TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT PLAN (TDP) 2013-2022

• Existing services and performance • Agency mission and goals • Consistency with community plans • Projected ridership • Projected service needs • Costs and revenue • Implementation Plan

TDP 2013-2017 (first five years)

Premium Service: US 192 from US 27 to the FL Turnpike SR 50 UCF to West Oaks Mall SR 436 Fern Park to OIA Kirkman Silver Star to I-Drive 528 OIA to Disney John Young Downtown to I-Drive US 441/17-92 Downtown to Florida Mall Orange Ave. Downtown to Sand Lake VA Connector New Service: Ronald Reagan Blvd/Red Bug Rd VA Connector Bithlo Goldenrod Rd Aloma Lake Nona to OIA

Circulators: LYMMO S. Orange Ave St. Cloud Kissimmee Conway Meadow Woods Lake Nona

TDP YEARS 2018-2022 (second five years)

Premium Service: SR 436 Apopka to Fern Park US 441 Apopka to Downtown Innovation Way John Young Downtown to I-Drive US 441 Florida Mall to Kissimmee US 192 US 17-92 Winter Park to Downtown

Circulators: Orlovista/ Kirkman

LYNX TDP Process

• TDP plans created by year by Service Planning • Plans digitized in ArcGIS • Plans digitized and attributes edited as

scenarios in TBEST (each scenario given its own Transit System for performance)

• Run models • Export reports

TDP Base

• Base Year scenario that the TDP was based on – December 2011 observed ridership and calibration

TDP 2013

• New service – Lake Nona service – Bithlo service – Osceola service – LYMMO expansion – New express routes

• 12 adjusted routes

Alternative Mobility Areas (AMA)

• Senate Bill 360 requires County’s to develop Mobility Plans as part of their comprehensive plans

• AMA zones are areas defined in the Mobility Plan where increased development or trips are expected

• LYNX is being asked by counties to provide recommendations and standards for Transit to improve capacity and service to meet demand in these areas

• LYNX developed the threshold values to be incorporated in the TBEST reporting

• AMA Reporting is incorporated into TBEST software

TBEST Analysis Features • Integrate AMA areas with existing spatial analysis features • TBEST provides the ability to develop spatial overlays for:

– Corridors – Regions – Sites

• Within the Analysis Areas, users have the ability to:

– Update Network or SE values based on proposed land use changes

– Model the changes to provide ridership and performance estimates

TBEST Future Evolution

• Title VI Reporting and Analysis • Livability and Destination Visualization • Integration with APC • Web-enabled analysis and visualization

Questions and Contact Rafiq Basaria LYNX GIS Planning Technician rbasaria@golynx.com 407-254-6062 Stanimira Bourova LYNX GIS Coordinator mbourova@golynx.com 407-254-6043

Rodney Bunner Software Developer Center for Urban

Transportation Research (CUTR)

rbunner@cutr.usf.edu