MTI Researchers Assess Transit Performance Measures in California

A new study by MTI attempts to systematize the diverse transit measures used within California, in order to help Caltrans develop a comprehensive measurement framework for transit development. The study, Transit Performance Measures in California led by Caroline Rodier, PhD, was conducted in three phases.

In the first phase, researchers reviewed transit performance measurement-guidance publications. This allowed them to hone in on the following performance yardsticks: service availability, service delivery (reliability, passenger comfort), safety/security, community impact, financial efficiency, and agency administration. Data were examined from in-house collection mechanisms at transit agencies, the National Transit Database, non-transit agencies at the local, state, and federal level, and from automated systems.

Investigators then examined the use of performance measures in publications by the four major California metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs): Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG); San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG); Sacramento Area of Governments (SACOG); and the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).

Finally, the researchers evaluated the most recent transit agency planning documents in California, based on an internet search. Documents from 26 transit agencies yielded 231 performance measures. The most frequently measured category was financial (with the most prominent subcategories being farebox recovery, passenger trips per vehicle revenue/service hour, and cost per vehicle revenue/service hour). The next most frequent category was delivery, including on-time performance, responsiveness to calls, number of complaints, and missed trips. Safety was also evaluated by some agencies, and that encompassed accidents, crime, and injuries.

Dr. Rodier points out that “when agencies have data, they use that data to measure transit performance. The data mandated for National Transit Database, especially financial data, are commonly used to evaluate transit performance by both MPOs and transit agencies. Performance measures also seem to align with agency goals. Transit agency measures tend to focus more on issues related to customer service, whereas MPO measures focus more on overall scope, location, quality, and equitability of transit service.”

For a free, no-registration download, go to http://transweb.sjsu.edu/project/1208.html.