Public Transportation Research
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INCREASING AFFORDABILITY, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, AND RIDERSHIP OF TRANSIT BUS SYSTEMS THROUGH LARGE-SCALE ELECTRIFICATION Sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) This project will develop a set of innovative planning and operation tools and identify improvement strategies to help transit agencies gradually and effectively deploy and operate electric buses. As electric vehicle technology advances, a key area to electrify within the US vehicle fleet is transit buses. Thus, it is crucial to develop strategies that transit agencies can use to facilitate the transition to electric buses. Work on this project involves two user studies to be conducted in both Salt Lake City, UT, and Portland, OR. These studies aim to determine transit agency approaches that can be deployed to better satisfy user needs. The first study will analyze the decision-making processes of transit users and non-users along with their attitudes towards electric buses. This will help to identify how the bus electrification may impact satisfaction with a given transit system. The second study aims to analyze current modes of first mile/last mile (FM/LM) transportation in these cities and how transit users may perceive improvements these modes. Such FM/LM modes include traditional options such as walking and biking as well as more recent innovations such as electromobility options and bike-sharing. This study will help transit agencies identify strategies for effective integration between transit bus systems and FM/LM mobility options. Completed December 2024 |
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AN ACCESSIBILITY ANALYSIS OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT IN BOGOTA, D.C. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is public transport mode that has been widely implemented worldwide in the last decade, especially in developing countries and in the Latin American region. Its success relies on the fact that it is a cost-effective urban transportation alternative, with lower construction and operation costs compared to rail transit systems. However, multimodal access to public transportation plays an important role in the efficiency and effectiveness of the system and social development. Spatial limitations to accessing transportation services can lead to social exclusion. The objective of this thesis is twofold: i) to identify the factors that affect travelers’ mode choice to access the BRT system (first mile trips) in Bogota, D.C. and ii) to identify the urban areas with disparity between transportation needs (demand) and infrastructure provision (supply). Transmilenio, the BRT system of Bogota, D.C., Colombia, was chosen as a case study. Completed 2018 |
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Sponsored by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) This project evaluated the opportunities to enhance the Hoosier State train ridership through a survey of riders' opinions and an assessment of access to the line. The project results can be implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of the changes in services the past year, assess the potential impact on ridership of future planned improvements of the services, and provide insights into the groups of people that would be more likely to ride the train to inform future marketing efforts. Completed 2017 |
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Using data collected on board the Hoosier State Train in Indiana, this thesis estimated a multi-attribute attitude model to assess how transportation mode preferences for intercity travel and factors considered in mode choice decision vary among people with different levels of access to an intercity rail line. The findings of this thesis could have extensive implications for planning strategies to provide access to passenger rail stations. While the inferences in this thesis are case-study specific for Indiana, the proposed methodology could be used to identify areas where accessibility can be improved in other U.S. states or countries with similar characteristics. Completed 2017 |
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Equitable access to transport is a crucial goal worldwide to enhance quality of life and ensure equal opportunity. Nevertheless, specific groups such as low-income people, people with disabilities, the elderly, and some rural populations suffer limited transportation choices and challenges in accessing basic needs and opportunities... Completed 2016 |
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A STUDY TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MASS TRANSPORT SYSTEM ON LAND USE The implementation of mass transportation systems directly affects the travel behaviors of a population. Different authors have been studying the ways that transportation can influence the structures of a city in terms of economics, social benefits, and land use. However, it has become evident that those elements cannot be planned separately. Transportation planning and urban regional planning need to be evaluated within a comprehensive context in which its convergence may lead to the identification of patterns and applicable solutions at different scales which may not be seen when they are individually assessed... Completed 2016 |