Public Transportation

Lateral Control Of Commuter Buses

Hingwe, Pushkar
Tomizuka, Masayoshi
1995

This report presents two approaches to the design of the lateral controllers for commuter buses based on Sliding Mode Control (SMC). The objective of the control is to track the lane centerline. The first controller uses the sensor output which is a combination of yaw and lateral error. The second controller achieves tracking objective by providing a yaw rate to the vehicle so as to keep the lateral error dynamics stable. The two controllers are compared by performing simulations for a range of parameters.

Vehicle Modeling and Verification of CNG-Powered Transit Buses

Hedrick, J. K.
Ni, A.
2004

This report will present the results of the initial study to develop an accurate working model of the 40 foot New Flyer Bus powered by the Cummins C8.3+ 280G CNG engine (Figure 1.1). The main focus of the study is the modeling of the vehicle dynamics using step input acceleration data. Other parts of the research include gear shifting and torque production from the CNG engine, all of which are required to produce a completely simulationcapable bus model.

Traveler Response to Innovative Personalized Demand-Responsive Transit in the San Francisco Bay Area

Khattak, Asad J.
Yim, Youngbin
2003

Urban sprawl makes conventional transit less competitive and points to the need for more innovative and flexible demand-responsive transit systems in the future. To increase their efficiency, such systems can take advantage of the emerging advanced public transportation systems technologies, e.g., vehicle location and information systems. However, little is known about how consumers might respond to such systems and what they desire. This paper explores the demand for a consumer-oriented Personalized Demand Responsive Transit (PDRT) service in the San Francisco Bay Area. Such a system...

Investigating Institutional Aspects of Multi-Agency Transit Operations-Review of the Literature

Lam, Amy
Miller, Mark A.
2002

Transit systems have traditionally been developed independently from one another,certainly across different regional jurisdictional boundaries,however,even within the same regional jurisdictional boundary where the ramifications of this are most significantly felt.Little attention has been given to coordination,integration,or interoperability between and among systems.As a result,customer satisfaction,market share and public transit relevance has continued to decline. This report,which presents the findings from our literature review of the topic of multi-agency transit operations,...

Integrated Smart Feeder / Shuttle Bus Service

Ceder, Avishai
Yim, Youngbin
2003

This paper presents the design of an integrated smart feeder/shuttle system. The design of such a system was motivated by the need to provide easy access to main haul transit services. Park and ride lots in many train stations can no longer accommodate automobiles brought to the stations. Some train riders have switched their mode of transportation from public transit to solo driving. Shortage of parking spaces at rail stations encourages passengers to drive alone, hence more cars on freeways and worsening traffic congestion. The purpose of this study is to design an innovative feeder/...

Assessment of Service Integration Practices for Public Transportation: Review of the Literature

Miller, Mark A.
2004

This report documents a review of the literature of transit service integration policies. It is the initial task of a project whose objective is to understand service integration policies and practices that transit agencies have employed and the benefits such policies have brought. Studies have shown that ongoing coordination and integration of transit services can improve public transportation system connectivity and reliability, and help make transit a more attractive travel mode alternative to the car. Findings from the literature shed light on several topics, including how service...

An Assessment of Bus Rapid Transit Opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area

Miller, Mark A.
White, Dustin
2004

This report documents a continuing assessment of bus rapid transit opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area. In this study we are focusing on bus transit routes that partially travel on California state routes, whether arterial roadways or freeways. A primary component of this project is to consider the inter-connectivity and regional aspects of bus rapid transit systems deployment in the San Francisco Bay Area region. Considering state routes will help identify more regional opportunities for innovative types of partnerships to help address unmet public transit service needs across...

Personalized Demand Responsive Transit Systems

Yim, Y. B.
Khattak, Asad J.
2000

An aging population in the US, low-density urban sprawl and the accessibility needs of certain groups (particularly disabled and aged) increasingly point to more flexible demand-responsive transit systems in the future. This paper describes the important aspects of a consumer-oriented Personalized Demand Responsive Transit (PDRT) service. The system will provide services to the traveling public for journeys to work and for journeys to other destinations. A PDRT that responds to the travelers' needs and takes advantage of the emerging advanced public transportation technologies to increase...

Institutional Aspects of Bus Rapid Transit – A Macroscopic Examination

Miller, Mark A.
Buckley, Stephen M.
2000

This report investigated the institutional aspects of Bus Rapid Transit through a macroscopic examination of relevant issues ascertained through a literature review, a series of project team brainstorming meetings, and input from members of the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus Rapid Transit staff. The literature review provided insight into the history of Bus Rapid Transit concepts ranging from very early research in the United States in the late 1950s, continuing with dual mode systems and early busways in the 1960s and 1970s, international experiences in Latin America and Canada, and...

Productivity Benefits and Cost Efficiencies from ITS Applications to Public Transit: The Evaluation of AVL

Gillen, David
Chang, Elva
Johnson, Doug
2000

The research reported in this document uses Total Factor Productivity (TFP) techniques, with which we develop measures of productivity performance of public transit systems of varying sizes and locations, and use this baseline to examine the potential contribution of alternative ITS applications. TFP aggregates outputs on the basis of their revenue contribution and inputs on the basis of their relative importance to total costs to calculate the overall firm productivity as a function of these quantities. The focus of this research was how the opportunities for improving efficiency via AVL...