Key Components To The Development Of A Great Public Transit System

There are both great and bad transit systems. What factors make a great transit system? What are the common characteristics of the top transit systems? While the most effective transit networks are usually situated in urban areas with dense populations, they can still provide lessons for transit authorities in suburban areas. This article will outline six fundamental elements of a great public transit system that can be used anyplace.

Multi-Modal

Multimodal transit options are an essential component of a great system. Multi-modal transportation options like bus, train, bike and car-share are a great method to increase the number of riders and satisfy the needs of riders. With the availability of a range of applications that combine both private and public transportation offerings, and even book and pay for the services, multi-modal transportation is the future of effective, convenient transit. Going multi-modal also doesn't have cost increase significantly: suburban areas all over the U.S. are partnering with private ride-hailing companies, such as Uber and Lyft to be able to offer last mile transport at a reduced cost and increase overall usage of transit. You may get more info on public transportation by browsing http://www.aarp.org/home-garden/livable-communities/info-03-2010/streetcar_revival.html website.

Informative

Information is essential to improve rider experience and increasing ridership. Uncertain times for arrival makes waiting in line for a bus or train appear longer, and can be difficult to plan your trip. A system for passenger information that displays arrival times updated in real-time could make a huge difference in making wait times feel less long and will encourage more people to trust the system of transportation. While providing information at transit stations is important, making real-time information available via a sophisticated app improves the users' experience and allows them to plan ahead.

Frequent

Everyone doesn't want to be waiting in a bus stop for more than 30 minutes. Frequency is among essential elements of a good transport system, and it is directly related to effectiveness of the route and ridership. A survey of 3,000 people from 17 metropolitan areas frequency was identified as one of the most important factors for satisfaction with transit. By increasing frequency, you can be an extremely effective method to improve service and make clients happy. This ability is obviously highly dependent on available budget however, as we have mentioned previously multi-modal solutions as well as alliances with ride-hailing services could provide more options for frequency when it is a problem.

Fast

If a group of buses get blocked in traffic, regular transit isn't worth it. A good transit system is both fast and frequent. This can be accomplished through the creation of dedicated bus lanes to reduce congestion. The dedicated bus lanes could double, or even triple bus speeds and move over four times the amount of passengers per hour as regular-lane traffic. Transit systems are used by people that are quicker and more reliable when they are utilized more.

Interessant

Transit is often seen as merely an unpleasant but necessary part of a daily routine. This isn't the best way to look at transit. Certain agencies are considering the possibility of gamifying transportation to increase ridership. There are many different methods to achieve this. TriMet in Portland, Oregon, created a digital scavenger hunt around stations of its new Orange Line in 2015. Users who downloaded the TriMet app were able to participate in the scavenger hunt in order to take home prizes. Montreal used a similar method. The city's STMMerci app tracked transit usage and offered discounts based on popular travel zones.

The most comfortable

Comfort is often overlooked as a foundational component to great public transportation. Transit needs to be convenient and accessible to all users. In an McKinsey survey of passengers, the top ten systems rated for comfort were wheelchair-friendly. General comfort and cleanliness are also important: one study revealed that comfort was one of the top factors in satisfaction with transit services.

The most effective public transit systems in the world have a lot of the six fundamental elements. Of course, overhauling a transit system isn't easy and the realities of finances often determine what can be accomplished. However, it is worth keeping these six factors in your thoughts. Because of the advancements in technology, such as transportation apps and ride-hailing services the market is evolving and transit authorities have no choice but to change.