Real-time information systems have been used in transit agencies around the world to better inform passengers of their estimated wait. In 2012, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rolled out new real-time countdown information across its heavy rail system. These signs display the estimated arrival for the next two trains in each direction. This paper examines whether the introduction of real-time arrival signage leads to reduced expectations of wait time, improved satisfaction with the MBTA, and increased ridership. In-station surveys were conducted before and after real-time information was introduced to gauge changes in satisfaction and passenger wait time expectations. These expectations were compared against headways collected from automated train tracking data. Ridership changes were measured using MBTA provided automated fare collection data. Survey results reveal that after the introduction of the countdown signs, people reduce their overestimation of wait time by 50 percent. Satisfaction with the MBTA did not significantly change as a result of the real-time signage. People reported feeling more relaxed with real-time signage if the next train arrival occurred within a scheduled headway, but less relaxed for headways much greater than scheduled. Minor improvements in ridership were detected in stations with the real-time information after controlling for other factors, but these results are preliminary. This study suggests that real-time arrival signage is a positive addition to heavy rail systems to increase passenger comfort and improve perceptions of system performance in a relatively cost-effective manner using existing technologies.
As public transit agencies install new technology systems, these agencies are gaining increasing amounts of data. These data have the potential to change how transit agencies operate by generating better information for decision making. Deriving value from these data and applying it to improve service requires changing the institutional processes that developed when agencies had little reliable information about their systems and customers. This research used the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as a case study. The research assessed how the agency measured performance and then redesigned and advanced the agency's daily performance reports for rapid transit through a collaborative and iterative process with the operations control center staff. These reports were used to identify poor performance, to implement pilot projects to address the causes of poor performance, and to evaluate the effects of these pilots. Through the case study, this research found that service controllers’ trust and interpretation of performance information determined the impact the information had on operations. The results showed that new data would be most effective in producing service improvements if measurements accurately reflected human experience and were developed in conjunction with their intended users. Developing small pilot projects during this collaborative process would also enable new performance information and results in sustainable service improvements.
Employers large and small in urban areas are beset by steadily increasing costs of providing heavily subsidized parking for their employees. Motivated by this problem and by creating a more sustainable policy for their institution, a group of graduate students and faculty participated in a special studies course during the spring 2007 semester at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The resulting proposal is currently under consideration by MIT's administration to help control costs for the university and increase the use of public transportation to campus. This paper first reviews previous research into group transit purchase programs. In these programs employers become the purchasing agent for transit passes for all their employees. Rather than paying the full cost of a pass for each employee, they pay on the basis of current transit usage at the work site. Traditionally, these programs have been implemented in low transit mode share areas. In higher transit mode share contexts, the motivations for employees and employers to participate are substantially altered. Different variations on these programs are explored before arriving at what is being called a mobility pass, which combines the parking and transit benefits programs offered by many employers into a single program. The class proposed that a mobility pass be implemented for MIT. It is predicted that this will result in significant reduction in single-occupancy vehicle mode share and a more sound financial footing for the university with respect to its growing transportation benefit subsidy. It is concluded that a program with a phased design would help control the university's costs in the long run and reduce the cost of more than 80% of students’ and employees’ commutes. The type of phasing that is required to implement these programs is also examined. Although these issues are explored in a university context, it is believed that the conclusions reached apply broadly to other organizations and their employees.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.