Automatic Passenger Counter Systems: The State of the Practice
Carol C. Hodges, Lane Council of Governments (Or.), Federal Transit Administration · ROSA P · 2015
Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs) involve the use of electronic devices or "sensors" to detect transit passenger activity. Data on the number of passengers boarding and alighting (deboarding) the bus and the location of that activity are accumulated and stored in a microprocessor on-board the bus. These data are later transferred (either manually or automatically) to a central, stationary computer for data processing and report generation. Prior to the development of APCs, these tasks were performed exclusively by people. Today, many of the agencies using APCs have limited or discontinued manual data collection activities. This study evaluates the capabilities, costs, and benefits of automated data collection techniques in collecting and analyzing ridership information essential to public transit planning and management. This evaluation presents a broad range of detailed and technical information on APCs which will be a resource for agencies researching alternative data collection techniques. In addition, the discussion on APC system implementation will benefit agencies planning a conversion from manual to automated data collection methods.