Abstract

This paper derives from feasibility studies for a proposed Bus Division of the Mass Transit Administration (MTA) to serve northeastern Baltimore. The study objective was to determine the comparative savings or additional costs between using existing versus new locations. The focus of the analysis was non-revenue operating costs which are affected by location because of vehicle deadhead travel, associated operator travel and other operator travel for relief purposes.

Based on the premise that “the optimal location of a storage facility is that which minimizes pullout and pull-in distances and times plus relief travel time between the facility and various terminal points”, the model was constructed with detailed data on existing operations and applied to each candidate site. The procedure involved microscopic calculation of each individual pullout and pull-in which mark the beginning and end respectively of bus transit operations.

Compared to existing operations data, the model projected deadhead operations to within 4 percent of actual data and relief travels to within 10 percent. When components were aggregated, the overall margin of error was 1 percent.

Various operating scenarios were tested by distributing combinations of services to existing and proposed facilities with the objective of minimizing non-revenue operations costs. One existing and one new site were identified as the two top choices. An analysis involving the combined cost of construction and operation subsequently aided in the final choice of a site.

The model can serve as a tool for both site selection and distribution of units among various locations. Beyond transit operations, the model is extendable to governmental and municipal facilities.

Disciplines

Urban, Community and Regional Planning

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URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/crp_fac/21