San Francisco Transit Effectiveness Project
TMD was the prime contractor for the first-in-a-generation comprehensive market, service, and operations analysis of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni LRT, streetcar, cable car, trolleycoach, and motorcoach).
The project is a collaborative effort with both SFMTA and the City Controller to support the redevelopment of the Muni network of services and delivery systems within a sustainable financial plan. Major TMD tasks include analysis of existing and potential Muni markets; service ridership and performance; daily rail and bus operations (service management; operator/vehicle availability/utilization); as well as financial, operations, and organization development; Transit Preferential Street design; development of a proposed rail and bus service and operations plan; and stakeholder participation.
The TEP recommendations included a major capital plan of passenger facility, transit preferential street, operating facility, and technology investment. Also recommended were updated service and operating management practices to facilitate improved service quality and efficiency.
Specifically, TMD developed recommendations for improved subway operations (an Early Action recommendation to interline the K-T Lines resolved significant subway throughput problems; alternative signal systems and double berthing were also proposed), delay reduction for surface operations (POP fare collection and transit priority), increased capacity through the subway and N-Judah surface, alternative crew scheduling and blocking/consist options, and major infrastructure rehabilitation.
Denver RTD General Planning & Operations
Since 2001 TMD has provided technical support to RTD in the areas of general planning and operations. Recently TMD redeveloped RTD's bus system in response to the expanding rail services (T-Rex and FasTracks) and a reorientation to a timed transfer network configuration. These recent projects include:
A Downtown Distributor to complement its successful 16th Street Free Mall Shuttle is part of a major restructuring effort.
Update of Service Warrants and Performance Standards for all modes. An additional analysis of what factors were critical to community shuttle success was a key element in the work.
Service Efficiency and Effectiveness Study to identify candidates for potential funding reduction scenarios.
Westside Service Restructuring in response to opportunities presented by the new Westside LRT.
Boulder/Northside Service Restructuring, which refocused service around evolving mobility needs, refined Boulder local transit, and planned for FasTracks rapid transit expansion.
Southeast Service Restructuring of the bus service network, routes, and schedules.
Timed Transfer Network Plan, which evaluated potential timed transfer hubs based on transfer levels together with traffic, pedestrian, and land use compatibility and scheduling efficiency.
Comprehensive Transfer Analysis, which involved collection of transfer slips from every bus for two days, supplemented by traffic checker observations of transfer patterns at key locations.
Buffalo/Erie County Route and Fare Structure Review and Strategic Assessment
TMD is currently finalizing the Erie County Route and Fare Structure Review and Strategic Assessment for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) in Buffalo, New York. This project includes a detailed review of existing NFTA bus and rail services and fare structures, as well as a community assessment of the market for transit.
A set of recommendations will be put forward to enhance mobility and grow system ridership while improving service efficiency and effectiveness. In order to help NFTA to prioritize significant future investment in transit corridors, the study also includes an updated NFTA Strategic Assessment. The project includes a significant community participation process that will review findings, seek input, and develop a recommended plan. The final plan includes short, medium and long-term service and capital investment recommendations.
Los Angeles Metro
Wilshire and Countywide
Bus Speed Improvement Projects
LA Metro bus operating speeds have declined by ten percent since 1980. In response, Metro partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (LACDPW) in two initiatives to reverse the trend: the Wilshire Boulevard Bus Speed Improvement Pilot Project followed by a Countywide Bus Speed and Street Design Improvement Study.
Wilshire BSIP Pilot. The Wilshire pilot project involved detailed analysis of the existing bus operation delay, street traffic volumes, transit signal priority, congestion, parking, and street geometrics to identify a multi-phase plan for significantly reducing delay for the existing 55,000 daily passenger Metro Rapid arterial BRT. The recommended plan called for continuous peak hour bus-only lanes in the City and County of Los Angeles, modification of traffic signal cycle timing, enhanced bus signal priority, upgraded bus lane pavement and will result in an additional 15 percent improvement in operating speeds beyond the existing fast Metro Rapid service. In approving the project for Very Small Starts funding, FTA awarded its highest cost effectiveness rating.
Countywide Bus Speed and Street Design Improvement Study. Building on the successful Wilshire Pilot project, TMD is currently leading a countywide bus speed improvement initiative with LA Metro, LADOT, LA County, and local jurisdictions.
SunLine Transit Agency
Service Planning, Scheduling and BRT Development
TMD conducted SunLine’s first Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) in 2005. As a result of the continuing rapid growth in the region, TMD updated the COA in 2008 together with implementation planning for the COA proposed BRT and Commuter Express services.
The COA included a complete assessment of current and future mobility markets, detailed analysis of SunLine ridership and service performance, and an evaluation of the passenger facilities program.
The service plan recommended a dramatic increase in regional and local transit service including BRT (Hwy 111) and Commuter Express (I-10) as part of an expansion program. Regional service was concentrated on key corridors serving key destinations (College of the Desert, city centers), matching major travel demand patterns. Proposed community transit focused on local circulation connecting with the regional network. Improved frequencies and spans of service were also proposed.
The service plan was accompanied by implementation and a sustainable financial plans (both subsidy neutral and expansion plans were proposed), as well as a fleet plan. The service plan also resulted in a significant increase in SunLine service cost effectiveness and operating efficiency.
As part of an ongoing planning support contract, TMD serves as SunLine’s scheduling department, preparing operating schedules, vehicle blocks, and operator runs/rosters for SunLine.
