Queens

, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Running Time Modifications
Running time is the amount of time scheduled for a bus to travel between two locations along a route.
Variability in actual running times are a key indicator as to where problem areas might exist, and whether
the schedule adequately reflects real road conditions. When scheduled running times are too short, buses
will routinely arrive at stops and terminals late. When a bus begins to fall behind schedule, delays can be
compounded by the increased loading times required for the additional passengers who have arrived after
the scheduled stop time, who would normally just catch the subsequent bus. Insufficient running time can
have a domino effect on later service if the bus arrives late to the final stop that it then leaves late for its
next trip in the opposite direction.
Conversely, when the scheduled running time is too long, travel time for passengers on board increases
as the bus travels slowly to meet scheduled timepoints. Even worse, the bus may arrive and depart from
the scheduled timepoints early, which means that someone who arrives the stop on time will have to wait
until the next bus arrives. Adjustments to running times therefore can help improve performance for the
adjusted trips, make later service more reliable, and decrease waiting and travel time for customers.
Schedule planners can better track and correct these inaccuracies with the increased availability of data
from Bus Time.
To improve performance and schedule adherence, several modifications to scheduled running times have
been implemented recently, and more will be implemented in the future. The adjustments are made to
more closely match observed running times provided by Bus Time data. Running time modifications have
been made on many routes this year, including:
Summer 2015: Q12, Q13, Q17, Q28, Q36
Fall 2015: Q15, Q16, Q17, Q20, Q26, Q31, Q36, Q43, Q44, Q46, Q48, Q76, Q88
LONG‐TERM RECOMMENDATIONS
Service Changes
Limited‐Zone Bus Service
Currently, many routes operate local and limited service in which the local bus makes every stop and the
limited bus makes stops every half mile or so along the entire route. The half‐mile limited‐stop spacing
pattern typically serves high bus‐to‐bus transfer locations or shopping and institutional destinations.
However, many bus routes in Northeast Queens are be considered as subway feeder routes. There is a
subgroup of customers who are solely travelling from the outer portions of the route directly to the
subway. These customers from the outer “zones” typically have long travel times to their subway
connection.
“Limited Zone” service combines features of limited and express service. Buses make limited stops along
the outer parts of the route and then operate non‐stop to terminals near subway stations. This pattern of
service is not currently provided by the MTA. If the number of customers destined for the subway on a
particular route reaches a full load at the outer zone of the route, it may be possible to designate some
trips as “limited‐zone” trips. These limited‐zone trips would bypass subsequent stops and run directly to
the subway, and perhaps operate only during the peak hours. A limited‐zone service could replace regular
limited service if it is determined that a route is a good candidate for this service.
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