Bus supervision deployment strategies for improved bus service reliability
Christopher Allan Pangilinan · 2006
Bus service reliability has always been a top concern for transit agencies and their customers. Unfortunately, there are several factors detrimental to reliable bus service. Outside influences such as weather, traffic, and road construction can wreak havoc on even the best laid plans. Internally, poor planning, insufficient maintenance, and differing operator abilities can work to undermine bus service reliability. To help counteract these problems, transit agencies typically deploy a team of supervisors who are responsible for monitoring, maintaining, and restoring reliable service. To do their job effectively, supervisors require high levels of operational information and a reliable communications system. These resources, however, can vary in their availability and may not be at ideal levels. This research proposes a framework to aid in the planning of bus supervision deployment given different levels of information, communications, and personnel. The primary focus of the framework is the deployment of post, mobile, and control center supervisors given an agency's current level of information and communication resources.