Using Link-Level Archived Automatic Vehicle Location Data to Assess Transit System LOS at Bus-Stop Level

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on assessment of transit system level-of-service (LOS) at bus-stop level using the proposed percentage-based performance measure and compare it with the fixed-range-based performance measure. Data captured through automatic vehicle location (AVL) units installed on Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) buses for 2012 and archived was used to develop query tools and compute link-level transit system performance measures, conduct analysis, and derive meaningful interpretations. The query tools developed computed performance measures by comparing actual bus travel time along selected links (between two consecutive fixed bus stops) with the scheduled travel time along the same link for each run in a year. Actual delay time and early arrivals as well as percentage of delays and early arrivals were computed to assist in the assessment. The analysis was conducted by time-of-the-day and day-of-the-week, for both travel directions, along selected bus routes/segments to assist in assessing the applicability of the measures. Findings from the research indicate that percentage-based performance measure is more reliable than fixed-range-based performance measure (delay or difference in travel time) for planning and assessment of operational performance by transit agencies.