Reliability-Based Model to Analyze the Performance and Cost of a Transit Fare Collection System

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15269691985PDFTech ReportHeimann, D.I.John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited StatesAutomatic fare collectionCost controlEvaluationFare collectionMaintainabilityReliabilitySensitivity analysisUMTA-MA-06-0153-85-1;DOT-TSC-UMTA-84-12UM476/R4638Final report; Jul. 1982-Jan. 1984The collection of transit system fares has become more sophisticated in recent years, with more flexible structures requiring more sophisticated fare collection equipment to process tickets and admit passengers. However, this new and complex equipment has often been plagued by reliability problems, frequently resulting in significant passenger congestion and delay. Development efforts are underway to improve reliability. It is uncertain, however, to what extent reliability needs to be improved and how much the improvement will cost. Attempting either too small or too large an improvement in equipment reliability or maintainability may waste valuable transit funds, and may not even solve the underlying problem. A way is needed to determine the dependability (i.e., the passenger congestion and delay arising from the system) and cost of a fare collection system, given the passenger demand, the equipment capacity, reliability, and maintainability, and the various system costs. This report discusses fare collection dependability analysis, and how transit systems can use it to make more effective investment decisions in selecting fare collection systems which best fit their needs, minimize costs, and provide effective service to passengers. Software implementing such analysis is available in the form of user-friendly computer models, also described in this report. Various types of analyses are described: evaluation (how well is the given system doing?); and trade-off analysis (what tradeoffs can be made among system values without affecting overall performance?). The simulation and analytical models to carry out fare collection system dependability and cost analysis are presented, including their technical approach and data requirements. Sample fare collection dependability cost analyses using data based on actual transit systems are shown, and results and conclusions are discussed.138