Executive Summary

Assessment of Articulated Bus Utilization

Executive Summary LITERATURE REVIEW Across various transit systems, providers often cite increased seating The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides over six capacity as the most important reason for using larger vehicles. million annual transit trips across nine municipalities in Centre County, Articulated buses are used regularly by other transit agencies on a Pennsylvania. Several CATABUS routes – especially those along high variety of different service types, including all-day heavy-demand trunk density corridors linking student housing developments with routes, bus rapid transit, peak-only services, commuter express routes, Downtown State College and the campus of Pennsylvania State campus circulators, tripper and rail replacement services, and other University – are currently experiencing capacity issues. CATA desires to special event routes. Agencies and passengers generally rate utilize articulated buses to meet increasing passenger demand while experiences with articulated vehicles well, which can in part be managing operating costs. This Assessment of Articulated Bus attributed to strategies such as innovative boarding policies. Utilization analyzes the implications of and provides recommendations The implementation of articulated buses into the CATA fleet may for articulated bus service on corridors within the service area. Overall, require adjustments to CATA’s vehicle scheduling procedures, as well this assessment reaches the conclusion that articulated bus service is as redesigned bus stop facilities, including extending bus bay lengths both warranted and recommended within the CATA service area. to match the length of the articulated vehicles. However, articulated The purchase of articulated buses is indicated in the region’s Long- buses maneuver similarly to 40-foot buses, and generally do not elicit Range Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program. a need for extensive operator training. Due to additional parts, In addition, CATA recently opened a new office and maintenance articulated buses cost slightly more to maintain than smaller vehicles, facility designed to accommodate articulated buses. Nevertheless, the and have a lower fuel economy. Agencies looking to use articulated use of high capacity vehicles must be evaluated against CATA’s current vehicles must ensure their maintenance facilities have the necessary and projected future operations, maintenance practices, routing, bus number and size of maintenance bays, lifts, exhaust vents, lubrication and passenger amenities, and community preferences. This assessment reel systems, parking space, and fueling and washing includes a literature review on operational and maintenance best accommodations. practices; a detailed examination of CATA’s operating environment; a Peer Community and Best Practices Review; and a review of CATA’s OPERATING ENVIRONMENT REVIEW policies and procedures coupled with recommendations for service standards, maintenance, and service provision. A brief summary of On weekdays, the CATABUS routes that most often exceed vehicle each section follows. capacity are Routes VE (Vairo Boulevard Express) and RC (Waupelani Drive/Campus Express), each of which provides service from a student residential area to the campus/Downtown area. In addition, the White Loop and Blue Loop routes, which provide campus service, rank

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Assessment of Articulated Bus Utilization highest in average daily weekday ridership. On weekends, Routes R REVIEW OF POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AND (Waupelani Drive) and V (Vairo Boulevard) most frequently exceed SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS capacity. Upon implementing articulated vehicles into its fleet, CATA should PEER COMMUNITY AND BEST PRACTICES institute a 1.8 maximum vehicle load factor on 60-foot buses. CATA REVIEW should prioritize articulated bus assignment on overloaded, express routes and maintain a spare ratio of approximately 20 percent. Under To gain input on the feasibility of articulated vehicles in its service area, certain circumstances, the agency should consider a dual door CATA interviewed a variety of regional stakeholders including agency boarding policy. Articulated buses should not be operated in board members and staff, operators, jurisdictional leaders, and inclement winter weather. In addition, drivers who will operate the university officials. Following this effort, the agency conducted four articulated vehicles should complete an appropriate level of articulated interviews with peer agencies operating articulated bus service in large bus training prior to pulling out in revenue service on the larger university communities: Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District; vehicles. Finally, CATA should designate an additional 20 feet to any Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation; Ames Transit on-street bus stop where at least one articulated bus is expected to Agency; and Blacksburg Transit. The peer agencies, all of which stop, and 70 feet for each bus bay stopping area. operate articulated buses on a daily basis, indicated a highly positive experience and customer satisfaction level with the vehicles since initial Depending on the number of articulated vehicles purchased, it is fleet integration. recommended that CATA hire additional mechanics and offer specialized training to maintenance staff. CATA should develop a For the peer agencies, vehicle overcrowding was the main decision unique inspection checklist for articulated bus preventative factor regarding the purchase of articulated buses. Implementation maintenance inspections and follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety necessitated minimal changes to roadway or stop conditions. Administration tire and axle regulations. Should CATA ever significantly Articulated vehicles have not been linked to significant safety issues expand its articulated fleet, the maintenance facility may require an and are perceived well by riders despite little to no public outreach or upgrade. special branding. On weekdays, it is recommended that CATA provide articulated bus Scheduling a mixed fleet has not elicited particular challenges, and service on Routes VE and RC. Secondarily, CATA may choose to articulated buses are reportedly easier to turn than are 40-foot buses. provide high capacity service on the White and Blue Loops. However, While articulated vehicles cost more per mile and for labor, these this recommendation is contingent on a dual door boarding policy. On additional expenses must be weighed against the prospect of fewer weekends, Routes R and V are prime candidates for articulated service. vehicles and higher capacity. Recommendations for articulated bus service are summarized by priority level and day type in the map below.

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Assessment of Articulated Bus Utilization

Figure: Articulated Bus Service Recommendations

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