Research Publications 2011

August 2011

• Implementation of Advanced Technologies in Rural Transit Service for the State of North Dakota (June 2009) - The final report for the Implementation of Advanced Technologies in Rural Transit Service for the State of North Dakota project, describes the motivation for, development and operation of, and lessons learned from an Internet based trip planning system.

 

July 2011

• FTA Transit Intelligent Transportation System Architecture Consistency Review – 2010 Update (June 2011). The report provides an assessment on the level of compliance among the FTA grantees with the National ITS Architecture Policy, specifically (1) examining the use and maintenance of Regional ITS Architecture by transit agencies to plan, predict, and guidance their ITS deployment within their regions; (2) the use of the systems engineering process; and (3) the use and implementation of US DOT-supported ITS standards.

 

June 2011

• Multimodal Trip Planner System Final Evaluation Report (May 2010) - The purpose of this evaluation is gathering information to share with the transit community and other stakeholders on the technical and institutional issues including Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) standards, communication, marketing, and the technical feasibility of integrating single-mode trip planning. The report concludes with lessons learned and recommendations related to the development of a door-to-door, multimodal trip planner system.

 

May 2011

• An Evaluation of the Cleveland HealthLine Mechanical Guide Wheel (March 2011) - Vehicles on the Cleveland HealthLine Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system are equipped with a mechanical docking arm and guide wheel to assist with precision docking at the stations. This report documents the evaluation of the guide wheel in 4 areas: how close to the platform the vehicles were able to dock; how fast the vehicles were able to dock; how much money was spent on damages related to docking; and how well the guide wheels are regarded by the HealthLine drivers. The evaluation compared the performance of the HealthLine to the EmX BRT in Eugene, Oregon. The EmX uses the same model vehicle as the HealthLine but does not come equipped with a docking arm and guide wheel.
• Traveler Information Systems and Wayfinding Technologies in Transit Systems (May 2011) - The report provides a technology evaluation, with an understanding of wayfinding technology benefits and services for transit agencies and users. The research also identifies challenges experienced by transit agencies regarding the use and implementation of wayfinding technologies and gaps that exist in current technologies.

 

April 2011

• LYNX/PCTS Rural ITS Implementation and Evaluation Study (December 2010) - This report summarizes the efforts to implement and evaluate the impact of Rural Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) after the innovative software, Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), were placed on transit vehicles in the rural community of Poinciana, Florida. The equipment was part of a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Operational Test awarded to the Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) and Polk County Transit System (PCTS).
• Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) Before/After Cost Effectiveness Study (March 2011) - This research report provides a narrative of that process, discusses issues particular to the Muni Metro system, and undertakes both a quantitative cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and a qualitative analysis of the project. It also analyzes two cases: the CBTC project as implemented and an alternative case representing a continuation of the conventional fixed-block signaling system.

 

March 2011

• Transition of Bus Transit to Hydrogen: A Case Study of a Medium Sized Transit Agency (December 2010) - This report addresses infrastructure needs to support the transition of a medium sized transit agency to operation using hydrogen fuel, using the Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) as a case study. Specifically, requirements for hydrogen bus fleets, production, storage, refueling and maintenance facilities, and facility personnel are addressed as well as the transition strategy for implementing the technology and associated costs are addressed.

 

February 2011

• Automated Parking Information System Operational Test Evaluation Report (December 2010) - This report presents the evaluation of commuter responses to the Automated Parking Information System at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Glenmont parking facility and the Maryland State Highway Administration’s Park-and-Ride Lot on Norbeck Road, in Montgomery County, MD. The report also describes the results of the before-and-after parking utilization study at both parking locations.
• Miami UPA Phase 1 Transit Evaluation Report (January 2011) - Evaluation of the Miami Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) Phase 1 improvements on transit. Miami is one of the United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) UPA sites. Phase 1 involved the conversion of a single high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane in both directions to two high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, employing dynamic pricing, in both directions on Interstate 95 between downtown Miami and Golden Glades Interchange, along with additional 95 Express Bus service, and Travel Demand Management (TDM) and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) enhancements. The report discusses the impacts of Phase 1 improvements on transit performance, ridership, mode shift to transit, and congestion mitigation.

 

January 2011

• Transit Greenhouse Gas Management Compendium (January 2011) - This Compendium provide up-to-date information to transit operators, as well as regional transportation planners and decision–makers, on the sort of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions being reported, and on the sources of information available for making informed decisions about specific GHG reduction actions. The Compendium provides a framework for identifying greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction opportunities, highlighting specific examples of effective GHG reduction practices.