Assessment of Dudley South Corridor Bus Service and Potential Improvements Assessment of Dudley South Corridor Bus Service and Potential Improvements Project Manager Robert Guptill Authors Mark Abbott Jonathan Belcher Robert Guptill Contributing Staff Mark Abbott Jonathan Belcher Thomas J. Humphrey David Knudsen Elizabeth Moore Efi Pagitsas Nand Sharma Cover Design Kim Noonan This report was funded by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Central Transportation Planning Staff Directed by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO is composed of state and regional agencies and authorities, and local governments. Draft – April 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES....................................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................9 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................11 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DUDLEY SOUTH CORRIDOR...................................12 Physical Description ..................................................................................................... 12 Demographic Characteristics........................................................................................ 14 Modeled Travel Patterns............................................................................................... 22 SERVICE ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................27 Schedule Adherence ..................................................................................................... 27 Crowding....................................................................................................................... 30 Speed............................................................................................................................. 32 Intersection Performance .............................................................................................. 36 Distance between Stops ................................................................................................ 42 Boardings and Alightings by Stop................................................................................ 45 Shelters.......................................................................................................................... 54 Fare Payment ................................................................................................................ 57 Bicycling Conditions .................................................................................................... 58 Summary....................................................................................................................... 59 PASSENGER SURVEY....................................................................................................61 Origins and Destinations............................................................................................... 61 Transfer Activity........................................................................................................... 64 Access and Egress......................................................................................................... 65 Trip Purpose.................................................................................................................. 65 Frequency of Use .......................................................................................................... 67 Alternative Means......................................................................................................... 68 License and Vehicle Availability.................................................................................. 68 Demographic Characteristics........................................................................................ 69 Reasons for Use ............................................................................................................ 71 Service Quality Measures ............................................................................................. 72 Summary....................................................................................................................... 75 BUS SERVICE IMPROVEMENT Options ......................................................................76 Segregated Right-of-Way ............................................................................................. 76 Expedited Boarding ...................................................................................................... 78 Traffic Signal Priority................................................................................................... 79 Stop Consolidation........................................................................................................ 80 Stop Location................................................................................................................ 80 Headways...................................................................................................................... 81 Summary....................................................................................................................... 81 3 Assessment of the Dudley South Corridor April 2009 CONCEPTUAL RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................................83 Warren Street Summary................................................................................................ 84 Washington Street-Talbot Avenue-Dorchester Street Summary.................................. 86 Blue Hill Avenue Summary.......................................................................................... 88 CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................92 APPENDICES Appendix A: Description of Signalized Intersections .................................................... A-1 Blue Hill Avenue and Warren Street .......................................................................... A-1 Blue Hill Avenue and Washington Street/Cheney Street ........................................... A-1 Blue Hill Avenue and Seaver Street (Route 28)......................................................... A-1 Blue Hill Avenue and Columbia Road/Circuit Drive................................................. A-2 Blue Hill Avenue and Glen Lane/Glen Way Street.................................................... A-2 Blue Hill Avenue and American Legion Highway..................................................... A-2 Blue Hill Avenue and Talbot Avenue/Harvard Street................................................ A-2 Appendix B: Design Concepts.........................................................................................B-1 Warren Street .............................................................................................................. B-1 Washington Street-Talbot Avenue-Dorchester Avenue ........................................... B-11 Blue Hill Avenue ...................................................................................................... B-21 Appendix C: Dudley-Ruggles Corridor Conceptual Improvements................................C-1 Existing Ridership Patterns on Route 28 .................................................................... C-1 Dudley-Ruggles Routes via Malcolm X Boulevard and Tremont Street Corridor..... C-2 Analysis of Stop Locations ......................................................................................... C-6 Appendix D: Dudley Station Bus Circulation ................................................................ D-1 Dudley Station Circulation ......................................................................................... D-1 Turning Movement Diagrams..................................................................................... D-3 Route Descriptions...................................................................................................... D-7 Exiting Dudley Station.............................................................................................. D-11 Appendix E: Dudley Station Passenger Circulation........................................................E-1 Boarding, Alighting, and Transferring at Dudley Station ...........................................E-1 Fare Collection.............................................................................................................E-3 Suggestions for Improving Passenger Movements in Dudley Station ........................E-4 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................E-7 4 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES TABLES Table 1: Dudley South Corridor Segments........................................................................12 Table 1: Peak Home-Based Work Trips ............................................................................23 Table 2: All Peak Trips (incl. Home-Based Work Trips)..................................................23 Table 3: All Non-Peak Trips (incl. Home-Based Work Trips)..........................................24 Table 4: All Daily Transit Trips (incl. Home-Based Work Trips) ....................................24 Table 5: Transit Mode Shares for Trips to/from Dudley South Corridor..........................25 Table 6: Route 23 Weekday Schedule Adherence.............................................................27