Bus Route Evaluation And Route Realignment Guidelines For The Fairfax Connector Bus System

Abstract

Evaluation and improvement methods of bus transit system performance are an ongoing area of study and refinement within the transit industry. Capturing the full scope of system performance through differing metrics gives transit providers a clear picture of where the system is excelling, and where improvement is needed. Current performance metrics in use provide transit planners and managers with data in the areas of ridership, on-time performance, and cost. These measures are used in the industry to make necessary adjustments to bus service, including service levels and routing alignment based on performance data. However, the current performance measures and methods used by transit managers do not always provide the full scope of bus system or route level performance. The research presents a methodology for evaluating route performance through a scoring metric and specific ways to change bus routes, in order to improve performance. Using the defined methodology, two Fairfax Connector bus routes were identified as poor performers requiring route changes. The route changes following the methodology yield positive results for the routes.