Overview of the TCQSM

1. Overview of the TCQSM

2. Presentation Overview • What is the TCQSM? • Five key concepts used throughout the manual • What’s inside? • Overview of all chapters • Focus on Chapters 2 and 3, as these are not covered in other presentations • Mode, service, and operations concepts

3. Learning Objectives Become familiar with the TCQSM’s scope, audiences, and organization Learn five key concepts applied throughout the manual Review mode, service, and operations concepts that are applied in the manual’s methods chapters

4. What is theTCQSM?

5. In the 1990s, the transit industry lacked a comprehensive document on methods related to transit capacity A variety of research reports and papers existed on various topics However, no single, authoritative source of information that practitioners could refer to Agency and FTA performance measurement focused on operator-oriented measures For example, cost-oriented measures Passenger point-of-view considered only indirectly (e.g., ridership) In contrast, the automobile mode had a document with both highway capacity methods and user-oriented performance measures Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) The lack of a counterpart transit manual was felt to put transit at a disadvantage when competing for transportation funding Need for the TCQSM

6. TCQSM Development • 1st Edition (1999) • Mainly synthesized previous research • Introduced quality of service (QOS) framework • 2nd Edition (2003) • Tested QOS framework • Incorporated gap-filling research • Added ferry capacity chapter • TCRP’s best-selling report • 3rd Edition (2013) • Evaluated use of 2nd Edition • Updated & reorganized manualto respond to user needs • Incorporated new research sincethe 2nd Edition • Incorporated gap-filling research

7. What is the TCQSM Today? • Fundamental reference document that compiles a wide variety of work in the transit field that hadn’t been available previously in one place • Defines transit service quality from the passenger point of view • Presents methods for evaluating transit speed, reliability, capacity, and more • Provides guidance on sizing elements of transit stops and stations • Identifies ways to positively influence all of the above

8. TCQSM Audiences Transit planners Transportation planners Traffic engineers Transit operations personnel Design engineers Management personnel Researchers University students

9. Potential Applications • Training • Staff new to the transit industry, university students • Reference • Useful data for answering questions, transit glossary • Guidance • Transit preferential treatments, role of simulation • Service standards development • Incorporating passenger quality of service • Service evaluation • Diagnose and treat operational issues • What-if questions • Evaluate effects of changes being considered • Planning and design • Sketch planning, alternatives analysis • Bus/rail/ferry/demand-response service and facility design

10. Five Key Concepts

11. Concept 1: Quality of Service • Quality of service (QOS) is the overall measured or perceived performance of transit service from the passenger’s point of view • The TCQSM focuses on the passenger point of view • A balance must be struck between the service passengers would ideally like and the service operators can afford to provide or would reasonably provide, given the demand for service • Quality of service has two main components • Transit availability determines whether transit is even an option for a trip • If transit is an option, comfort and convenience factors weigh into a person’s decision to choose transit for a given trip

12. Concept 2: Capacity • Capacity reflects the maximum number of transit vehicles, persons, or both, that can travel past a particular location in a given period of time under specified conditions • Maximum (theoretical) capacity reflects the greatest number of persons or transit vehicles that can be served under any circumstance • Not normally used for planning and design • Operating to maximum capacity results in unstable operations • Design (achievable, practical) capacity reflects the number of persons or transit vehicles that can be served at a design quality of service • What TCQSM procedures calculate, unless specifically stated otherwise • Vehicle (bus/line/vessel) capacity is measured in vehicles per hour and expresses how many transit vehicles can pass a point in an hour • Passenger capacity is measured in persons per vehicle and expresses how many passengers a transit vehicle can carry at a design loading level • Person capacity is the product of vehicle and passenger capacity, is measured in persons per hour, and expresses how many persons can pass a point in an hour

13. Concept 3: Speed and Reliability • Easy to overlook among the TCQSM’s other content, because they’re not mentioned in the manual’s title • The same factors that influence transit capacity also influence speed and reliability • Small and mid-sized transit agencies may not have to address capacity issues very often, but speed and reliability are important considerations for all sizes of transit agencies • Travel time and reliability influence passenger mode choice and satisfaction with transit service • Speed and reliability influence the number of transit vehicles needed to provide service on a route at a given headway, which directly affects the route’s operating costs

14. Concept 4: Definitions • Like many other industries, the transit industry has developed its own vocabulary over the years • Complicating matters, transit terminology varies between operatorsand may be different from the TCQSM’s usage • Local usage should prevail; however, readers should be familiar with TCQSM definitions and terminology when applying TCQSM methods • Terms are presented in italics at the first point they are defined in the text • The TCQSM provides a comprehensive transit glossary that includes many terms used in transit operations and planning outside the areas of transit capacity and quality of service

15. Concept 5: Local Data • The TCQSM compiles data from a variety of sources and TCQSM methods produce estimates that reflect average conditions • Each location has its own unique characteristics that may not reflect North American averages • Passenger characteristics and behaviors • Passenger demand patterns • Differences in equipment and technology • External factors (e.g., motorist compliance with bus lanes) • Whenever possible, use local values as inputs to TCQSM methods • Default (average/typical) values may be used when local data are unavailable • Consider checking the sensitivity of results to defaulted and assumed values • Illustrative speed and capacity graphs in Chapter 3 can be used to identify the values with the greatest potential impact on the results

16. What’s in the TCQSM?

17. TCQSM 3rd EditionChapter Structure Chapter 1User’s Guide Introduction Chapter 4Quality of Service Chapter 3Operations Chapter 2Modes & Services Concepts Chapter 7Demand Responsive Chapter 6Bus Transit Chapter 5Quality of Service Methods Chapter 10Stops & Stations Chapter 8Rail Transit Chapter 9Ferry Transit Chapter 11Glossary Chapter 12Index Reference CD-ROM

18. TCQSM Organization • Chapter sequence moves from less technical to more technical • Introduction • Concepts • Methods • Reference • Methods chapter content also progresses from non-technical totechnical topics • Overview • Chapter-specific concepts and guidance • Computational methods • Applications • Calculation examples • Not intended that anyone will read the manual cover-to-cover

19. Tools for Applying the TCQSM 3rd Edition • Text • Chapter 1, User’s Guide • “How to Use This Chapter” sections in each chapter • Cross-references to related documents with more detail • Step-by-step presentation of calculation methods • Global and chapter-specific tables of contents • Index • PDF version • All of the above, plus search capability and hyperlinks to many referenced documents • Spreadsheets • Assist with performing multimodal QOS and bus, rail, and ferry capacity calculations • PowerPoint presentations • Overviews for the each of the major chapters

20. Chapter 1: User’s Guide • Road map to the rest of the TCQSM • All users encouraged to read this chapter • Manual’s organization and content • Five key concepts recurring throughout the manual • Purpose, scope, and audiences • Guidance on international use • Changes from the 2nd Edition • Companion documents

21. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts • Introduction to the transit modes used in the U.S. and Canada and how service using these modes can be provided • Written for readers new to the transit industry • Experienced professionals will also find value in summaries of industry trends in vehicles, technology, and service types

22. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts (cont’d.) • Transit mode (and submode) definitions and descriptions • Bus • Bus, commuter bus, bus rapid transit, electric trolleybus • Demand responsive • General public, limited eligibility, ADA paratransit • Vanpool • Rail • Heavy rail, commuter rail, diesel light rail (hybrid rail) • Light rail, modern streetcar, vintage trolley • Automated guideway transit, monorail • Funiculars, inclines, elevators, cable cars, aerial ropeways • Ferry • Terminology is not used consistently in the industry • Vehicle and service characteristics, rather than the mode’slocal name, should be considered when applyingTCQSM methods

23. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts (cont’d.) • Operating environments (rights-of-way) • Mixed traffic • Transit vehicles and general traffic share the lane • Semi-exclusive • Lane partially reserved for transit, but available to other usersat certain times or locations • Exclusive • Lane, portion of roadway, or right-of-way reserved for transitat all times but still subject to some traffic interference(traffic signals, grade crossings) • Grade-separated • Facility dedicated to transit without grade crossings

24. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts (cont’d.) • Service patterns • Fixed route and demand responsive • Route and system levels

25. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts • All about transit capacity, speed, and reliability and the factors that influence them • Definitions section useful for all readers • Section 3 discusses the impact of external factors on ridership • Remaining sections written for readers new to transit operations analysis

26. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Why is transit capacity important? • The same factors that influence capacity also influence speed and reliability, which impacts operating costs and passenger satisfaction • Managing passenger loads • Understanding the impact of operational changes (e.g., fare collection) that impact dwell time and thus speed and capacity • Planning for the future as part of alternatives analysis and facility design • Analyzing the operation of streets used by buses, particularly large city downtowns and around transit centers • Special event service planning • Transportation system management

27. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Person capacity defined • “Themaximum number of people that can be carried past a given location during a given time period under specified operating conditions; without unreasonable delay, hazard, or restriction; and with reasonable certainty.” • A given location: Capacity reflects the number of people that can be transported past a given location, typically the maximum load point/segment • Under specified operating conditions: Capacity depends on the number of vehicles operated (e.g., the number currently scheduled or the maximum that could be scheduled) and the size of those vehicles • Without unreasonable delay, hazard, or restriction:Capacity should reflect conditions passengers will normally tolerate • With reasonable certainty: Capacity should reflect the number of people that can be carried on a sustained basis day after day, considering variations in passenger demand, traffic congestion, and other factors not under the control of the transit operator

28. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Factors influencing person capacity • Factors in bold also influence speed, reliability, or both

29. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Vehicle capacity defined • “The maximum number of transit vehicles (buses, trains, vessels, etc.) that can pass a given location during a given time period at a specified level of reliability.” • Has different names, depending on the mode and situation • Bus capacity, line capacity [rail], vessel capacity [ferry], facility capacity • Desired level of reliability plays a significant role • Vehicle capacity is maximized when a route or line is operated at the minimum headway, so that the next transit vehicle is ready to arrive at a stop or station when the vehicle ahead of it pulls out and is a safe distance down the line • An unstable form of operation: the moment one vehicle’s dwell time exceeds the amount used in developing the minimum headway, all subsequent vehicles will experience delay • The number of vehicles that can be reliably served is less than the theoretical maximum number of vehicles that could be served

30. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Design capacity • The capacity that can be sustained day after day, accounting for small irregularities in service and variations in passenger demand and arrival patterns • Maximum capacity • The capacity that could be achieved if service was 100% reliable, passenger demand never varied, passengers filled every available space on every trip, etc. • Unless stated specifically otherwise, the TCQSM estimates design capacities

31. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Passenger traffic density • Passenger miles per route mile • Reflects relative ability of modes to serve passenger demands • When measured forthe peak hour in themaximum loadsegment, it directlyreflects capacity • When measured forlonger periods of timeand distances (as here,using 2010 NTD data),also reflects demandand average loadingover the length of theroute

32. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Factors influencing transit speed • *See earlier passenger capacity slide for all factors influencing dwell time

33. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Average 2010 US system speeds (revenue miles per revenue hour) • Modern streetcar data are from 2012 • Bus rapid transit data are from 2008 and include Canadian systems

34. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) Factors influencingtransit reliability

35. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Example time of day variations in transit demand • Demand pattern impacts need for, and amount of, extra peak period service

36. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Example peak period variation in transit demand • Designing for average peak hour loads may result in overcrowding during the peak-of-the-peak

37. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) • Impacts of external factors on ridership demand • Demographics • Land use density • Transportation demand management strategies • The TCQSM is not a ridership estimation manual, but nevertheless presents general relationships, as capacity planning needs to havea good understanding of possible future demand

38. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.) Impacts of dwell time on capacity and speed Impacts of operating environment on capacity, speed, and reliability Impacts of stop and station characteristics on capacity and speed

39. Chapter 4: Quality of Service Concepts • Service aspects that influence passenger satisfaction • Transit performance measurement • Written for those new to the industry, agency decision-makers, and staff involved with transit performance measurement • QOS factors • Background material on passenger satisfaction research, written for users wanting a greater depth of understanding of QOS • QOS framework • Useful for readers intending to apply Chapter 5’s QOS methods • Ridership and cost implications of making QOS changes • Useful for readers intending to apply Chapter 5’s QOS methods • Chapter details are covered in the fixed route QOS presentation

40. Chapter 5: Quality of Service Methods • How to measure quality of service • Fixed route transit QOS • QOS measures designed for use by transit agencies, particularly for service standards development • Multimodal transit level of service (LOS) measure designed for use by planning agencies, particularly in a multimodal planning/evaluation context • Demand responsive transit QOS • Potential applications of QOS measurement to real-world situations • Calculation examples • Chapter details are covered in the fixed route QOS anddemand responsive transit presentations

41. Chapter 6: Bus Transit Capacity • How to evaluate bus capacity and forecast bus speeds • Bus-specific concepts • Sources of bus delay, factors determining bus capacity, planning-level values • Transit preferential treatments and operating strategies • Bus capacity evaluation method • Bus speed forecasting method • Factors influencing bus reliability • Applications of the chapter’s method to real-world situations • Comprehensive calculation example • Dwell time data collection guidance • Impacts of bus bunching on capacity • Chapter details are covered in the bus transit capacity presentation

42. Chapter 7: Demand Responsive Transit • Summarizes the state of knowledge on DRT capacity and ridership estimation • DRT capacity factors • Overview of existing DRT capacity estimation methods • Importance of ridership demand for estimating DRT capacity • Chapter details are covered in the DRT presentation

43. Chapter 8: Rail Transit Capacity • Methods for estimating rail capacity and the factors involved • Rail capacity fundamentals • Train control and signaling • Train operations • Capacity methods • General method—used for most rail submodes, and the starting point for the others • Commuter rail • Automated guideway transit • Ropeway • Applications of rail capacity methods to real-world situations • Role of simulation in rail capacity analysis • Calculation examples • Chapter details are covered in the rail transit capacity presentation

44. Chapter 9: Ferry Transit Capacity • Methods for estimating ferry transit passenger and auto capacity • Overview of ferry service and terminals • Ferry scheduling and service planning • Vessel capacity of docks and berths • Passenger and auto capacity • Calculation examples • Chapter details are covered in the ferry transit capacity presentation

45. Chapter 10: Station Capacity • Methods for sizing the passenger circulation elements of transit stations and selected external elements • Station design considerations • ADA requirements, emergency evacuation requirements, security • Station types and configurations • Passenger circulation concepts • Vehicle circulation and storage • Station elements and their capacities • Applications of the methods to real-world situations • Role of simulation in station planning and design • Chapter details are covered in the station capacity presentation

46. Chapter 11: Glossary and Symbols Comprehensive transit glossary List of symbols/variables used in TCQSM equations

47. More Information • TCRP Report 165: TCQSM • Chapter 1, User’s Guide • Chapter 2, Mode and Service Concepts • Chapter 3, Operations Concepts • The TCQSM is available as: • Free individual printed copies and PDF downloads through the TCRP Dissemination Programhttp://www.tcrponline.org • Free PDF downloads directly from TCRPhttp://www.trb.org/TCRP/Public/TCRP.aspx (Publications section)or simply do an Internet search for the report number (e.g., TCRP Report 165) • Individual or multiple copy purchases from the TRB Bookstorehttp://books.trbbookstore.org/

48. Acknowledgments and Permissions • Presentation author • Paul Ryus (Kittelson & Associates, Inc.) • Photo credits • Operating environments, bottom picture: Sound Transit • All other photos: Paul Ryus • This presentation was developed through TCRP Project A-15C • Research team: Kittelson & Associates; Parsons Brinkerhoff, Quade & Douglass; KFH Group; Texas A&M Transportation Institute; and Arup • This presentation and its contents may be freely distributed and used, with appropriate credit to the presentation authors and photographers, and the Transit Cooperative Research Program