Operating Strategies for Major Radial Bus Routes

Federal Transit Administration 50th Anniversaryhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15273621984PDFTech ReportMultiplications, Inc.United States. Urban Mass Transportation Administration. Office of PlanningNorth Carolina. Dept. of Transportation. Division of Highways (Hydraulics Unit)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationNorth Carolina;United StatesBus transitDeadheadingFleet managementOperating costsProductivityRoutingAdministration and ManagementHighwaysOperations and Traffic ManagementPlanning and ForecastingPublic TransportationI73: Traffic ControlDOT-I-84-27Final ReportThis report is to assist bus transit service planners and schedulers in designing bus routes and operating strategies in radial travel corridors. It defines alternative operating strategies and stopping policies that can improve transit productivity and demonstrates (through examples) how these strategies can be applied to reduce costs and improve performance. Service strategies discussed are intended for moderate-to-high demand corridors that have a strong directional orientation (toward the central business district or a rapid-transit station. The corridor definition is 8 or more busloads per hour cumulative passenger volume for all routes serving it. The strategies are intended only for use during the periods when corridor demand meets this qualification. This overview report is primarily descriptive and is to be followed by detailed planning manuals. Chapters of this volume discuss the use of express service, how local bus operation can be customized and refined to achieve more efficient operation, and how deadheading and interlining among corridor routes can reduce vehicle requirements.138