This report is the second of three documents that constitute an evaluation of the Double Deck Bus (DDB) Project sponsored by UMTA. The project was conducted in New York City and Los Angeles (July 1974-JUne 1977). The primary objective at the two sites was to assess potential increases in vehicle productivity in an express, limited busway service (L.A.) and in regular service (NYC). DDB 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 eight British Leyland double deck buses and four conventional GM buses in New York City. Bus routes in New York were characterized by congested traffic, heavy passenger loads, frequent stops, and frequent passenger turnover. Only seven months of revenue service data were analyzed, due to delays in manufacturing and in satisfying U.S. safety and environmental requirements. The evaluation considers passenger acceptance/perceptions 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 and oil consumption. This report concludes that: passengers preferred the DDB; there were no serious problems with the use of internal stairs nor with crime or vandalism on the second level; the DDB project was hampered by problems related to the purchase of foreign vehicles and their re-design to meet American requirements; and the results favored the incorporation of the double decker into the American bus fleets from both an economic and level-of-service point of view.


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    Title :

    The New York City Double Deck Bus Demonstration Project: An Evaluation


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1978


    Size :

    200 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English