Principal Investigator(s):
Alireza Khani, Associate Professor, Civil, Environmental and Geo-Engineering
Co-Investigators:
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Jason Cao, Professor , Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Project summary:
In response to the limited awareness surrounding Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and the A Line, this study provided answers to questions regarding the operation and public perception of the A Line in Minnesota's Twin Cities region. Researchers studied two traffic scenarios: one for high-volume oversaturated traffic during the Minnesota State Fair, and a second for normal operating conditions. Both scenarios compared intersection queue length and traffic flow rate before and after an A Line bus. In both time periods (Fair and non-Fair), the dwelling of an A Line bus during a green traffic signal did not have a statistically significant impact on intersection queue length or traffic-flow rate at either of the two researched stations. From an analysis of the 2016 On-Board Survey, researchers determined that passengers were more satisfied by the overall service of the A Line than local buses, while there is not a significant difference in overall satisfaction compared to express buses, light rail, and commuter rail. The top-three important service attributes to overall satisfaction are "paying my fare is easy," "hours of operation," and "handling of concerns/complaints." Researchers recommended the transit agency improve the attributes that have higher relative influences and lower mean performances (in this case "shelter/station conditions and cleanliness" and "behaviors of other passengers and atmosphere on board").