AbstractWe present a rapid assessment – using simple metrics based on publicly available data– of how effectively public transit agencies achieve key outcomes, and reconcile trade-offs among these outcomes, from the perspective of transit users, society and the agencies, in the largest 14 cities in North America with a population greater than three million. We assess the trade-offs among service quality, incorporating accessibility, service frequency, and comfort (which are important for transit users); transit ridership per capita (reflecting the society perspective); financial viability from the agency perspective; and affordability of fares for minimum-wage earners. We also assess the overall performance of transit in these cities, considering these perspectives in an integrated manner. Agencies vary widely in achieving and reconciling the above outcomes and trade-offs. Generally speaking, however, agencies that perform well (or badly) on one of these objectives and trade-offs also perform well (or badly) on the others, and in terms of overall transit performance. Finally, we discuss how our assessment may be improved upon, including in terms of better and more nuanced measures, in future work. We suggest that metrics be assessed uniformly and reported regularly across transit agencies, to track and reliably compare their performance over time; and that it would be desirable to understand how transit users and decision makers weigh the relative importance of key objectives, and to incorporate this understanding in assessments of transit performance.

    HighlightsWe assess public transit performance in the largest North American cities.We consider key outcomes/trade-offs for transit users, society and transit agencies.We use simple metrics based on publicly available data.Agencies vary widely in achieving and reconciling key outcomes and trade-offs.The same agencies generally perform well (or badly) in this regard, and overall.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Bang for the buck: Toward a rapid assessment of urban public transit from multiple perspectives in North America


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Transport Policy ; 55 ; 51-61


    Publication date :

    2016-12-12


    Size :

    11 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English






    Less Bang For Your Buck

    Giles, D. / Harris, J. / Royal Institution of Naval Architects | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2007


    Urban transportation in North America 4. para‐transit

    Hoel, Lester A. | Taylor & Francis Verlag | 1978


    North America In Transit

    Online Contents | 1996