BUS SYSTEM PERFORMANCE MONITORING

From the perspective of the CMS analysis, poorly operating bus service is treated as likely evidence of roadway congestion. After all, buses are part of the general mix of roadway traffic, and thus, they are affected by roadway delays at least as much as, if not more than, private, smaller vehicles are affected.

Determining that a corridor has bus mobility problems can support a recommendation that a corridor study be conducted to analyze improvements to the mobility of automobile and transit users. Therefore, the CMS reports on the performance of the MBTA buses.

Provided here are results from the MBTA’s performance monitoring for buses.

Service Standards and Performance Measures
The Service Standards provide a framework for measuring the performance of MBTA services and are used as a part of the Service Evaluation Process, which is discussed in Chapter 4 of the 2004 Service Plan. Through the Service Evaluation Process, data collected on MBTA services are compared against the Service Standards to determine whether or not individual existing services perform at acceptable levels and to evaluate the potential of possible service changes. The Service Standards are also used to compare the performance of existing services, service changes, and proposed new services to prioritize the allocation of resources within the system.

Click here to link to the MBTA’s latest service plan information.

For a look at bus performance measures, including ridership and violations of standards set by the MBTA’s Service Delivery Policy, click here to view the tables from the 2004 Service Plan: Proposed Bus Service and Service Policy Modifications that show existing and proposed bus service.

To view the MBTA’s Service Delivery Policy, click here and go to Appendix C.

Systemwide bus vehicle load and vehicle headway performance is shown in the table below.

Vehicle Load and Vehicle Headway Performance
Minority Bus And Trackless Trolley Routes
Compared To All Bus And Trackless Trolley Routes
(source: 2005 MBTA Title VI Report, Table 4-4)

Click here for a look at the typical daily ridership for various bus lines.

For further details on the MBTA’s bus and trackless trolley operations, please click here.

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