I.

Introduction

Public Transport Service

& Operations Planning:
An Introduction

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Course Objectives

1. Learn Basic Characteristics

of Public Transport

2. Acquire Basic Public Transport

Planning Vocabulary

3. Develop Basic Public

Transport Planning Skills

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 Why is Public Transport
? Planning Important?
• Prime Public Transport Goal
Meet Community Access and Mobility Needs

• How do we best meet this goal?

Good planning!
– Match citizen needs with appropriate services
– Insure service and operations efficiency and long-
term sustainability

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Understanding the Public Transport
Operating Environment is Important

• Basic Public Transport (PT) Activities

• PT Service/Market Structures

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 All Public Transport Operators
Perform Same Set of Basic Activities

• Transportation

• Maintenance

• Budgeting and Finance

• General Administration

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 Transportation
• Operate daily scheduled service

• Functions
– Drivers
– Conductors
– Dispatching
– Supervision
– Station attendants
– Police

• For bus systems, involves the largest number

BMTC Driver
of
employees

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 Maintenance
• Maintain vehicles needed for operating daily
schedule
• Maintain PT infrastructure and facilities (e.g.,
running ways, stations, terminals)
• Vehicle Maintenance Functions
– Routine Servicing
– Preventive Maintenance
– Running Repairs
– Component Rebuild
– Bus Body Building
• Can be the largest cost center
BMTC Mechanic

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 Finance
• Provide funds to keep system
operating
• Maintain control of fiscal resources
• Functions
– Budgeting
– Accounting
– Revenue Handling
– Inventory
– Payroll
BMTC Conductor

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 Administration
• Support Management and Ongoing
Operations

• Functions
– Human Resources
– Labor Relations
– Law
– Risk management
– Public Information BMTC Administration Support

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 Different Service/Market Structures1
Exist for Bus Transport
Level of Examples
Competition
None Public Monopoly
Private Monopoly
Controlled Franchising (exclusive operating rights)
Service Tendering (contracting)
Quality Licensing (meet criteria)
Quantity Licensing (limit number of operators)

Open Open subject to safety criteria

1
More information provided in “Choosing a Reform Option,” Urban Bus Toolkit
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 Public Transport Planning Is
Important in All Structures
• Develop and manage service
offered
– Needs Analysis
– Service Design
– Performance Evaluation
– Pricing
– Alternatives Evaluation
• Riders, revenues, costs

• May be performed by
government and/or operators

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 Typical Service and Operations
Planning Objectives
• Public Policy Objectives
– Address access and mobility needs
– Provide quality service at an affordable price
– Maximize cost effectiveness
• e.g., Decrease net cost (subsidy)/passenger

• Operator Financial Objectives

– Maximize financial return (operating ratio)
• e.g., Increase revenues/cost

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 Keys for Improving Performance
• Maximize Service Effectiveness
(Passengers)
– Increase Passengers/Hour or Increase
Passengers/KM)

• Maximize Service Efficiency

(Costs)
– Decrease Cost/Hour or Decrease
Cost/KM)

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Operations Planning Improves
the Chances of Success!

No Planning

Planning

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 Service & Operations
Planning Process
Data Collection
• Physical Environment
Measures & Standards
• Market Factors
• Current Service

No
Problem/Opportunity Problem/Opportunity
Performance Analysis
Service Continue to
Changes Monitor Performance

Schedule Building

Cost Estimation

Demand/Revenue Select/Implement
Estimation Alternative

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