Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Course Overview

Unit 1: Introduction

Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Course Description

• A comprehensive analysis of the planning, design and operation of public transportation systems in urban settings, including

– collecting, by-hand or from existing sources, data to measure transit performance;

– quantifying changes in capacity and reliability caused by changes in ITS and right-of-way;

– quantifying route-level transit service characteristics;– describing factors influencing transit ridership and predicting

demand for service in a region; – scheduling vehicles and crews to maximize transit

productivity; and– selecting transit routes that meet the needs of the ridership

Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Course Objectives (1)

• Describe the evolution, benefits, and challenges of different transit modes

• Collect, by-hand or from existing sources, data to measure transit performance

• Quantify changes in capacity and reliability caused by changes in ITS and right-of-way

• Quantify route-level transit service characteristics

• Schedule vehicles and crews to maximize transit productivity

• Select a set of transit routes that meets the needs of the ridership

Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Course Objectives (2)

• Explain how station and local neighborhood design influence accessibility

• Identify long-term planning alternatives and evaluate them using a benefit-cost analysis

• Outline the factors influencing transit ridership and predict demand for service in a region

• Identify and calculate fare/ technology and transit performance measures

• Outline the different opportunities for/ challenges of managing a transit system

• Discuss the future of transit technology and the role of traveler information

Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Course Readings

• This course relies on a number of materials, especially:

– Kittelson & Associates, Inc. et al. (2013) “TCRP Report 165: Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual, 3rd Edition”, Transportation Research Board.

– Jarrett Walker. (2011) “Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives”, Island Press.

– Latest edition of the American Public Transportation Association. “Public Transportation Fact Book”, American Public Transportation Association.

– Hickman, Mark, “Fundamentals of Transportation” wikibook, http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Fundamentals_of_Transportation/

Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Course Development

• Course materials were developed by:– Kari Watkins, PhD – Georgia Tech– Jeffrey LaMondia, PhD – Auburn University– Candace Brakewood, PhD – City College

• With support from the Southern Transportation Research, Innovation, Development, and Education (STRIDE) Center

Materials developed by K. Watkins, J. LaMondia and C. Brakewood

Many Thanks

• Some units from this course have been adapted, with permission, from materials first created by– Anne Dunning, Peter Furth, Kevin Heaslip, Mark

Hickman, Jill Hough, Nick Lownes, Michael Meyer, Steve Polzin, Scott Rutherford, Vukan Vuchic, and Nigel Wilson