This report is the third of three documents that constitute an evaluation of the Double Deck Bus (DDB) project sponsored by UMTA. The DDB project involved the purchase and operation of contemporary DDBs in New York City and Los Angeles (July 1974-June 1977). The intent was to assess whether the DDB was able to make its greater passenger capacity available at a cost per capacity-mile less than or equivalent to its conventional counterpart. DDBs carry from 68-84 passengers; conventional buses carry from 45-47 passengers. Both buses require a single transit employee, the driver. This report provides a comparative evaluation between the two German Neoplan DDBs and the two conventional Flxible buses, and it explores vehicle-related, transit operator-related, and user-related issues. In Los Angeles, the two Neoplan buses operated between the suburbs and the central business district, providing a combination of express and collection/distribution/park-and-ride services. Only eleven months of revenue service are analyzed, due to project delays to correct original manufacturing deficiencies. This evaluation considers passenger acceptance/perception of the DDB vis-a-vis the conventional bus. Statistics are presented on schedule adherence, dwell times, passenger throughput, vehicle reliability, on-board safety, repair and maintenance costs, and fuel/oil consumption. The report concludes that: passengers (52%) preferred the DDB; operating costs were nearly identical for the two bus types; major delays were associated with debugging and retro-fitting the DDBs; and results argued for the incorporation of the DDB into the American bus fleets from both an economic and level-of-service point of view.


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    Title :

    The Los Angeles Double Deck Bus Demonstration Project: An Evaluation


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1978


    Size :

    142 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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    C. H. McCall / H. Simkowitz | NTIS | 1978





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