Transit Cooperative Research Program Sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration RESEARCH RESULTS DIGEST October 1997-Number 22 Subject Areas: IA Planning and Administration, Responsible Senior Program Officer: Christopher W Jenks VI Public Transit, VII Rail International Transit Studies Program Report on 1996 Missions This TCRP digest summarizes the fourth and fifth missions performed under TCRP Project J-3, "International Transit Studies Program. " The digest includes information on the cities visited, lessons learned, and discussions of policies and practices that could be used in the United States. This digest was prepared by Tracy E. Dunleavy, Eno Transportation Foundation, Inc., the administrator of the project, on the basis of reports filed by the mission participants. INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT STUDIES international contacts for addressing public PROGRAM transportation problems and issues. The program arranges study missions where About the Program teams of public transportation professionals visit transit operations in other countries. Each study The International Transit Studies Program mission has a central theme that encompasses issues (ITSP) is part of the Transit Cooperative Research of concern in public transportation. Cites and transit Program (TCRP). The ITSP is managed by the Eno systems to be visited are selected on the basis of their Transportation Foundation under contract to the ability to demonstrate new ideas or unique National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The TCRP approaches to handling public transportation was authorized by the Intermodal Surface challenges reflected in the study mission's theme. Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991. In May 1992, Each study team begins with a briefing before a memorandum of agreement outlining TCRP departing on an intensive, 2-week mission. After this operations was signed by the NAS, acting through its stimulating professional interaction, study team Transportation Research Board (TRB); the Transit members return home with ideas for possible Development Corporation, which is the education application in their own communities. Team and research arm of the American Public Transit members are encouraged to share their international Association (APTA); and the Federal Transit experience and findings with peers in the public Administration (FTA). The TCRP is funded annually transportation community throughout the United by a grant from the FTA. States. Study mission experience also helps team The ITSP is designed to assist in the professional members evaluate current and proposed transit development of transit managers, public officials, improvements and identify potential public planners, and others charged with public transportation research topics. transportation responsibilities in the United States. Study missions normally are conducted in the The program accomplishes this objective by spring and fall of each year. Study teams consist of providing opportunities for participants to learn from up to 15 individuals, including a senior official foreign experience while expanding their network of designated as the group's spokesperson. domestic and TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 2 CONTENTS International Transit Studies Program, 1 Canadian Urban and Regional Transit Innovations: About the Program, 1 Mission 5, October 14-27, 1996, 20 About the Report, 3 Introduction, 20 Urban and Regional Bus Operations in Smaller Quebec, 20 European Cities: Mission 4, May 9-26, 1996, 3 Montreal, 21 Introduction, 3 Ottawa, 22 Switzerland, 4 Toronto, 24 Unique Transit Features, 4 Calgary, 24 Zurich, 4 Vancouver, 25 Schaffhausen, 5 Victoria, 27 Frauenfeld, 5 Lessons Learned, 27 Austria, 6 Dornbirn, 6 APPENDIX A: Mission Participants and Their Titles and Germany, 7 Affiliations at the Time of the Mission, 33 Unique Transit Features, 7 Lindau, 7 APPENDIX B: European Hosts Perspective of "What Radolfzell, 8 They Do Best," 35 Ravensburg, 8 Detmold, 9 Lemgo, 10 Bad Salzuflen, 10 Muenster, 10 Belgium, 11 Liege, 11 Brugge, 12 Netherlands, 13 Unique Transit Features, 13 Breda, 13 Dordrecht, 14 Maastricht, 14 Lessons Learned, 15 Automobile Restriction, 15 Integrated Pricing, 15 Marketing and Customer Information, 15 Planning, 15 Route Design and Operations, 20 Technology, 20 3 Transit properties are contacted directly titles and affiliations at the time of their officials and the general public started and requested to nominate candidates respective missions. to view public transit as a convenience for participation. Nominees are for everyone, not just a necessity for screened by a committee of transit those without automobiles. officials, and the TCRP Project J-3 URBAN AND REGIONAL BUS In general, European cities, both Oversight Panel approves the selection. OPERATIONS IN SMALLER large and small, are very densely Study mission participants are up- EUROPEAN CITIES: MISSION 4, populated in compact areas with and-coming transit management MAY 9-26, 1996 historic (and thereby a downsized) personnel with substantial, sustained urban infrastructure. As automobile knowledge and experience in transit INTRODUCTION traffic increased, outpacing roadway activities. Participants must and parking capacity, the result was demonstrate potential for advancement Like their American counterparts, tremendous congestion. Many cities to higher levels of public transportation transit planners in small western visited by the study team employed responsibilities. Other selection criteria European communities face a number integrated policies and practices to include current responsibilities, career of issues in designing and managing mitigate the increasing congestion. Key objectives, and the probable transit service to meet both market and policy objectives were to reduce private professional development value of the social policy objectives. automobile traffic, without adversely mission for the participant and To learn about the latest advances affecting urban mobility, and to sponsoring employer. Travel expenses in small city transportation, a improve the quality of urban life and for participants are paid through TCRP delegation of U.S. transit officials cities' economic vitality. This report Project J-3 funding. visited several European countries from describes how various European cities In addition to conducting study May 9 through May 26, 1996. The have used specific tools and practices, missions, the ITSP administers an study team visited the following cities: including the following, to implement individual travel assistance program, Zurich, Schaffhausen, and Frauenfeld, their transportation and quality-of-life which provides financial assistance to Switzerland; Dornbirn, Austria; goals: enable individuals engaged in U.S. Lindau, Radolfzell, Ravensburg, public transportation management, Detmold, Lemgo, Bad Salzuflen, and · Signal preemption and intersection operations, planning, and research to Muenster, Germany; Liege and Brugge, priority participate in international conferences Belgium; and Breda, Dordrecht, and · Dedicated preferential lanes for and meetings held outside North Maastricht, Netherlands. buses, bicycles, and pedestrians America. Applicants must plan to A key purpose of the mission was · Other traffic treatments and participate in the event as a presenter, to demonstrate the dramatic successes strategies discussion leader, panelist, or obtained by smaller communities in · Automobile-free or restricted moderator. altering modal split by introducing or zones for transit and pedestrians Additional information about the enhancing public transit. The mission · Parking supply and pricing study missions or individual travel looked at the policy, funding, · Special "central city" or central awards may be obtained by contacting accessibility, and passenger business district (CBD) strategies the TCRP at 202/334-2886 or the Eno information aspects of several city bus · Passenger information systems Transportation Foundation at systems, along with their traffic · Aggressive image campaigns. 703/7297212. management and retail trade impacts. In the late 1980s, Europeans were The Stadtbus or "City Bus" model About the Report faced with the decision to create more systems in Germany, Switzerland, and roads or reduce automobile traffic. Austria, with some variations in The following report is an They chose to fund and expand public Holland and Belgium, that the study overview of the fourth and fifth study transportation with substantial public team visited were developed to achieve missions, conducted during the spring investment. This has resulted in many objectives, including managing and fall of 1997, respectively. This dramatic shifts in travel modes in favor traffic and relieving congestion (see report reflects the views of the of public transit. Figure 1). The study team identified a contributing participants, who are The success of transit systems common theme among the Stadtbus responsible for the facts and accuracy during the past 5 years appears to be cities, where increasing automobile of the data presented. The report does the result of a fundamental shift in congestion was choking the central not necessarily reflect the views of the views--from the views of transit cities with gridlock. This gridlock was TCRP, TRB, NAS, APTA, FTA, or the systems and government officials to the threatening the quality of life and many Eno Transportation Foundation. views quickly adopted by the general historical urban environments. The City Appendix A lists the names of public. Because