University Traveler Value of Potential Real-Time Transit Information

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have become common in public transit systems, particularly providing real-time transit information. For new implementations, it remains difficult to predict and quantify system and user benefits of technology implementation. Although previous studies have quantified the operational benefits of real-time transit traveler information systems, a gap in knowledge exists around passenger benefits of such systems. The objective of this research was to create a refined method for evaluating transit rider benefits from real-time traveler information and predict changes in traveler behavior. The study was conducted on a rural university campus, isolating the impacts of the system from the multiple influences that often affect transportation in larger metropolitan areas. This study uniquely integrated transit system performance, pedestrian travel times, and traffic simulation to determine travel times and predict mode split. Findings indicated that reducing passenger waiting anxiety was the most significant measure of traveler benefit from such a system. While the benefits found were specific to the study site, the methodology can be used for other transit systems evaluating real-time transit technology investments in rural or urban environments. Journal of Public Transportation, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2011 30 Introduction Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are used to improve transportation quality and efficiency through the integrated use of communications and technologies, but anticipating the effect of technology investment in the multimodal and multifaceted transportation system is daunting. Within the scope of ITS, advanced public transportation systems (APTS) focus on public transit, and the Federal Transit Administration has invested significant research funding in this area since the mid1990s. Past research has endeavored to capture the effects of traveler information on transit operations, traveler wait time, and willingness to ride. In many cases, the research involved examining a change in one variable, such as attractiveness of transit, without examining corresponding changes in the transportation system, such as more transit riders leaving space on the road for more vehicles. An examination of the impact of APTS on the full transportation system is needed to provide a true predictive tool for the impacts of ITS investment. The objective of this research was to create a refined method for evaluating transit rider benefits from real-time transit information (RTTI) and predict changes in traveler behavior. This study was conducted to quantify the benefit that a proposed automatic vehicle location (AVL) and transit traveler information system could provide to transit riders. The real-time traveler information system was anticipated to provide pretrip information via the Internet and enroute information on displays at key transit stops. The new method incorporates the simulation of traffic and the stochastic estimation of pedestrian travel times as modes competing with the transit system performance. The results of this method can provide decision makers with information about the potential value of advanced public transportation systems to passengers in smaller communities and university campuses. Previous Research into the Impacts of ITS Designers of RTTI systems have aimed to streamline management of operations and provide benefits for riders. This section describes the current state of knowledge on the impacts of real-time transit traveler information. System Benefits Previous studies on RTTI significantly focused on improving operational efficiency through vehicle allocation (Crawford 2010) and other management means (Pangilinan et al. 2008; Khattak and Hickman 1998; Law et al. 1998; Nace and McKay 1997; Kontaratos et al. 1996), but not particularly on the user benefit of such systems.