Evaluation of the Advanced Operating System of the Ann Arbor Transit Authority : Impacts of an advanced public transportation system demonstration project

Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office1999PDFTech ReportLevine, JonathanHong, QiangHug, George EdwardRodriguez, DanielUniversity of Michigan. Urban and Regional Research CollaborativeAnn Arbor Transportation AuthorityUniversity of Michigan. Urban and Regional Research CollaborativeMichiganAdvanced public transportation systemsBus transportationFleet managementOn time performanceTravel timeDeploymentEvaluation and assessmentEvaluation/program assessmentTransit management/fleet managementAnn Arbor Smart BusIn 1997, the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Transportation Authority began deploying a set of integrated advanced public transportation system technologies in its vehicles, stations and control center. This paper summarizes selected findings of a multidimensional evaluation of the effects of the system on schedule adherence and transfer time, passenger perception and impacts on drivers. Some improvement in on-time performance was observed in vehicle departures from major transfer points, though not in arrivals. Modest improvements were observed in transfer coordination for routes planned for timed transfers. Deployment of the system did not raise passengers' rating of relevant aspects of their transit experience, but impacts of individual system elements were rated favorably. Focus groups and surveys of drivers revealed a fundamentally favorable attitude toward the deployment of technology, coupled with some concern about limitations it might impose in driver communications and on-the-job creativity. Benefits of the system that were not apparent during the period of the evaluation but may materialize over the longer term include prevention of and response to safety- and security- related incidents, enhanced information for transit planning, and others.136