ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONAL DATA FROM THE LETHBRIDGE TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH RESPECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT, POPULATION, AND SPATIAL CONTEXT STEPHNIE WATSON Bachelor of Science, University of Lethbridge, 2007 A Thesis/Project Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Lethbridge in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Geography University of Lethbridge LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA, CANADA © Stephnie Watson, 2018 ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONAL DATA FROM THE LETHBRIDGE TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH RESPECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT, POPULATION AND SPATIAL CONTEXT STEPHNIE WATSON Date of Defence: April 9, 2018 Dr. D. Johnson Professor Ph.D. Supervisor Dr. J. Byrne Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. A. Akbary-Majdabadno Professor Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee Member Dr. S. Kienzle Professor Ph.D Chair, Thesis Examination Committee Dedication In memory of one of the strongest, most determined, funniest Rad Grad Girls, Cathy (Catherine) Kloppenburg. Though cancer won the battle, you won the war. Your strength, determination, humor, and brilliance continue to live on through your friends, family, and work. Luv ya, chicka! Rad Grad Girls forever! iii Abstract I completed two research projects for this thesis. The first research project examined fuel efficiency and vehicle emission differences between Lethbridge Transit’s hybrid and diesel buses. The second research project examined the actual vs potential utilization of the Lethbridge Transit system. I compared the City of Lethbridge hybrid buses against their diesel counterparts, as well as to the STURAA standards to assess fuel efficiency and vehicle emissions. The results were comparable with STURAA and the hybrid did perform better than the diesel. The key factors affecting utilization of the transit system are identifying the users, their location, and improving transit efficiency across large areas with low density. Lethbridge user qualities and quantities were not well known until the implementation of the Breeze Card data system. By conducting a hot spot analysis using the Breeze Card data, along with city age demographics, areas of high or low efficiency were identified. iv Preface “Science, for me, gives a partial explanation for life. In so far as it goes, it is based on fact, experience and experiment.” − Rosalind Franklin, Letter to Father taken from The Dark Lady of DNA “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” − Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut! v Acknowledgements I thank my thesis supervisor, Dr. Dan Johnson of the Environmental Science Faculty at the University of Lethbridge. He did not hesitate in taking me on with a challenging project and situation. I greatly appreciate it. I also thank my thesis committee members, Dr. Jim Byrne and Dr. Amir Akbary-Majdabadno. Without their support and input this thesis would not have happened. I also thank the City of Lethbridge and Lethbridge Transit, particularly Felipe Guerra, who provided invaluable experience and help in attaining the data needed for this project. I thank City Councillor Jeffery Coffman for the encouragement and idea of researching this topic. I thank the School of Graduate Studies and the University of Lethbridge Accommodation Centre for acknowledging that people can achieving higher education, even without having high grades. Without the support and encouragement to get tested for learning disabilities so I could successfully advance through graduate studies, this would have always been a dream instead of a reality. A huge thank you to my family and friends, all of who thought I was crazy to pursue more school but supported me anyways with late night phone calls and going out to let off some steam. It was an adventure that I was glad to take! I am also thankful for the new friends and family that I found along the way. My life is richer for all of you being in it. Finally, I thank my dog. He is the Sherlock to my Watson, and I could not have it through this experience without him! vi Table of Contents Dedication ........................................................................................................................................ iii Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ iv Preface .............................................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ vii List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................... x List of Figures ................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Importance of Studying Public Transit ............................................................................ 2 1.2 The Main Areas of Transit Research ...................................................................................... 3 1.2.1 Environment and transit. ................................................................................................ 3 1.2.2 Usership. ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.2.3 Post-secondary & transit. ................................................................................................ 4 1.2.4 Socioeconomics and transit. ........................................................................................... 5 1.3 Thesis Objectives .................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Background .................................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Overview of Bus Public Transportation ................................................................................. 8 2.2.1 Social. .............................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.2 Economic Details. ............................................................................................................ 9 2.2.3 Environment. ................................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Overview of Lethbridge Transit ............................................................................................ 10 2.4 History of Lethbridge Transit ............................................................................................... 12 2.5 Transit Legislation ................................................................................................................ 16 2.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 17 Chapter 3: Literature Review ......................................................................................................... 18 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 18 3.2 Efficiency Analysis of Transit ................................................................................................ 18 3.3 Spatial Analysis of Transit .................................................................................................... 19 3.4 Small Cities and Public Transportation ................................................................................ 21 3.5 General Environmental Science on Public Transportation .................................................. 24 3.5.1 Transportation through alternative fuel and engine designs. ...................................... 25 vii 3.5.2 Efficiency and emissions of public transit. .................................................................... 26 3.5.3 Quantitative and spatial analysis. ................................................................................. 27 3.6 Diesel Hybrid and Environmental Impact studies ................................................................ 28 3.7 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 30 Chapter 4: Methodology ................................................................................................................ 32 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 32 4.2 Analysis Design, Data Collection and Processing ................................................................. 33 4.2.1 Hybrid and Diesel Analysis Design, Data Collection and Processing. ............................ 33 4.2.2 Population Demographics and Bus Ridership Analysis Design, Data Collection