Transit Bus Routing On-Demand: Developing an Energy-Saving System Developed by Blacksburg Transit and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute June 2015 Transit Bus Routing On-Demand: Developing an Energy-Saving System , and S. Baker2 ii Transit Bus Routing On-Demand: Developing an Energy-Saving System TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES . .vii Survey purpose and design . 12 LIST OF TABLES . ix Survey results . 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . .x Demographics and ridership . 12 ABSTRACT . xi Rider response to technology and energy-saving 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . 1 measures . 12 2. BACKGROUND . 3 Focus group purpose and design . 13 INTRODUCTION . 3 Focus group results . 13 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES . 3 BT4U . 14 CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS . 3 BT4U mobile application . 14 PROJECT AND REPORT OVERVIEW . 4 Cameras . 14 AN IDEAL TESTING ENVIRONMENT . 5 Hokie Passport swipe . 14 The Town of Blacksburg . 5 Kiosks . 14 Blacksburg Transit . 5 RFID . 15 Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Thumb scan . 15 Transportation Institute (VTTI) . 5 Wi-Fi or Bluetooth detection . 15 STAKEHOLDERS . 6 Bus stop observation . 15 Town of Blacksburg . 6 Data collection . 15 Virginia Tech . 6 Data reduction and analysis . 15 Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center . 6 Conclusions . 18 Hethwood . 6 Considerations for transit agencies . 18 Organization of project team . 7 Background . 18 COLLABORATORS . 7 Implementation and testing . 19 Blacksburg Transit . 7 Conclusions and considerations for transit agencies . 19 The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute . 7 BT4U mobile application . 19 SUBCONTRACTORS . 8 Background . 19 Kimley-Horn. 8 Implementation and Testing . 20 Automation Creations, Inc. and Nomad Mobile Guides . 8 Conclusions . 20 Dynamic Data Systems, LLC . 8 Considerations for transit agencies . 21 Virginia Tech Center for Survey Research . 8 BT4U mobile application with iBeacons . 21 3. ASSESSING DEMAND FOR TRANSIT BUSES . 9 Background . 21 OVERVIEW . 9 Implementation and testing . 22 SELECTING CANDIDATE DEMAND-ASSESSMENT Conclusions and recommendations for transit agencies . 22 TECHNOLOGIES . 10 Camera Analytics . 23 SELECTING TEST ROUTES . 11 Background . 23 CHARACTERIZING RIDERSHIP . 12 iii Transit Bus Routing On-Demand: Developing an Energy-Saving System Testing . 23 Implementation and validation . 35 Conclusions and considerations for transit agencies . 23 Forecasting conclusions . 37 Hokie Passport swipe . 23 CONCLUSIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS TO OTHER Background . 23 TRANSIT AGENCIES . 38 4. MODELING FUEL CONSUMPTION Implementation and testing . 24 . 39 Conclusions and considerations for transit agencies . 24 OVERVIEW . 39 Kiosks . 24 BACKGROUND . 39 Background . 24 Overview of the VT-CPFM . 40 Implementation and Testing . 25 ON-BOARD DATA COLLECTION . 43 Conclusions . 25 MiniDAS . 43 Considerations for transit agencies . 26 Suggestion for transit agencies . 43 RFID . 26 HEM . 43 Implementation and testing . 26 Considerations for transit agencies . 44 Conclusions and considerations for transit agencies . 26 DashDAQ . .44 Thumb scan . 27 Recommendation for transit agencies . 44 Background . 27 FUEL CONSUMPTION MODEL FRAMEWORK . 45 Testing . 27 Data processing . 45 Conclusions and considerations for transit agencies . ..