Practical explanations of transit planning, scheduling, and operations.
10 articles
Scheduling Explained3 min read
A connection needs time for passengers to leave one bus, reach the next boarding location, and board again. Good transfer planning considers ordinary variation and the consequences of missing the next departure.
Read ArticlePlanner's Notebook2 min read
Modern transit planners have access to more data than ever before, but a spreadsheet cannot understand every reason behind a number. Good planning combines ridership, running time, and performance data with field knowledge, passenger needs, operator experience, and professional judgment.
Read ArticleTransit Planning2 min read
School dismissal can create a large passenger load during a very short period. Instead of changing an entire route, transit agencies may use a school tripper - an additional scheduled trip designed to provide capacity exactly where and when it is needed.
Read ArticleTransit Operations2 min read
A bus is not always interchangeable with every other bus in the fleet. Passenger capacity, route geometry, block mileage, fuel type, battery range, charging needs, and other vehicle characteristics can determine which assignments are practical.
Read ArticleTransit Operations1 min read
Passengers see a timetable designed for travel planning. Operators need something more detailed. An operator paddle translates scheduled trips, timepoints, breaks, route changes, and other instructions into the working schedule used to operate the service.
Read ArticleTransit Planning2 min read
A service change can begin with a passenger request, operating problem, new development, performance issue, or planning study. Turning that idea into actual bus service requires far more than changing a line on a map or adding a departure to a timetable.
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