Queens

More documents

Recommendations

Info

, 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. 68
, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Some Northeast Queens bus routes with existing limited service that could possibly benefit from limitedzone service are the Q17, Q27, Q43, and Q46. On average, Q27 Limited customers travel 4.91 miles on the bus, the longest trip length of all bus routes in the study area. Q46 Limited customers currently have an average trip of 3.71 miles, the third longest of all Northeast Queens bus routes. The MTA will conduct a detailed analysis of ridership patterns under the “Limited‐Zone” concept to see the impacts on ridership and travel time savings. The type of service recommended for each of these routes will depend on the number of customers benefitting from each option and the operating costs associated with them. Figure 27. Stop Spacing Service Patterns Limited Service Limited stop bus service has fewer stops than local service and provides a quicker trip for most bus customers along a route. Q88 (NYC Transit) The Q88 averages 11,000 weekday customers. The Q88 is also one of the longest bus routes in Northeast Queens. While the Q88 average morning and evening headways meet the guidelines for limited service, additional analysis of ridership is necessary to identify potential limited‐stop locations and the percentage of total Q88 customers that would be served by these stops. NYCT will conduct a full analysis of the potential to implement limited‐stop service on the Q88 during the next year. Q12 (NYC Transit) The Q12 is one of busiest routes in Northeast Queens that does not have limited‐stop service. Almost 11,000 customers use the bus on weekdays. While the Q12 average morning and evening headways meet the guidelines for limited‐stop service, additional analysis of ridership patterns is necessary to identify potential limited‐stop locations and the percentage of total Q12 customers that would be served by these stops. NYCT will conduct a full analysis of the potential to implement limited‐stop service on the Q12 during the next year. 69
Page 1:
Northeast Queens BUS STUDY , METROP
Page 4 and 5:
, Metropolitan Transportation Autho
Page 6 and 7:
Page 8 and 9:
Page 10 and 11:
Page 12 and 13:
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23: , Metropolitan Transportation Autho
Page 122 and 123:
Page 124 and 125:
Page 126 and 127:
Page 128 and 129:
Page 130:
show all

Queens

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?