text:
Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices
Funds: $700,000 (FY '92)
$625,000 (FY '93)
$750,000 (FY '16)
$315,000 ( FY'20)
Staff Responsibility: Mariela Garcia-Colberg
Principal Investigator: Mariela Garcia-Colberg
A vast storehouse of information exists on nearly every subject of concern to the transit industry. Much of this information has resulted from both research and the successful application of solutions to the problems faced by practitioners in their daily work. Because previously there has been no systematic means for compiling such useful information and making it available to the entire transit community, the TOPS Committee, in 1992, authorized the Transportation Research Board to undertake a series of studies to search out and synthesize useful knowledge from all available sources and to prepare reports on current practices in the subject areas of concern.
This synthesis series reports on various practices, making specific recommendations where appropriate but without the detailed directions usually found in handbooks or design manuals. Nonetheless, these documents can serve similar purposes, for each is a compendium of the best knowledge available on measures found to be successful in resolving specific problems. The extent to which these reports are useful will be tempered by the user's knowledge and experience in the particular problem area.
To develop these syntheses in a comprehensive manner and to ensure inclusion of significant knowledge, the Transportation Research Board analyzes available information assembled from numerous sources including a large number of transit agencies.
A topic panel of experts in the subject area is established to guide the researchers in organizing and evaluating the data collected on each topic and to review the synthesis report. A topic consultant is selected by the panel to perform the research, assemble the information, and write the report. The consultant may be an individual or a firm, selected by the topic panel. The TRB synthesis staff officers serve as the principal investigators, guiding the preparation of the work plan, overseeing the progress of the research and report writing, providing assistance to the consultant in obtaining information, supervising the review and comments on the draft reports, and preparing and editing the final manuscript for publication.
For each topic, the project objectives are to (1) locate and assemble documented information; (2) learn what practice has been used for solving or alleviating the problems; (3) identify all ongoing research; (4) learn what problems remain largely unsolved; and (5) organize, evaluate, and document the useful information that is acquired.
Each synthesis is an immediately useful document that records practices that were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As the processes of advancement continue, new knowledge can be expected to be added to that which is now at hand.
Status: Eight syntheses are currently in progress; 164 have been published. For instructions on how to submit a synthesis topic for consideration, please see www.trb.org/tcrp.
J-07/Topic SA-01 Bus-Route Evaluation Standards
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 10: Bus Route Evaluation Standards provides updated information to the 1984 United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) report entitled Bus Service Evaluation Methods: A Review, however, the results are not directly comparable as the respondents, questions asked, and analytical procedures differ in the 1994 synthesis. It does report what agencies do in the area of bus route, not system, evaluation standards, and how they undertake these efforts.
This report is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2451
J-07/Topic SA-02 System-Specific Spare Bus Ratios
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 11: System-Specific Spare Bus Ratios documents critical site specific variables that influence transit agencies' spare bus ratio policies. It profiles a select group of transit agencies of varying sizes and geographic locations and describes their operating environments in order to relate how these affect the number of spare buses each agency needs to meet its service requirements.
J-07/Topic SA-03 System-Specific Spare Rail Vehicle Ratios
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 15: System-Specific Spare Rail Vehicle Ratios addresses the system-specific variables that directly impact fleet size, and the spare ratios that are maintained by individual transit agencies. From the information obtained, it appears that most rail transit agencies closely monitor the spare vehicles they maintain to maximize efficiency and thereby reduce operating costs.
J-07/Topic SA-04 AVL Systems for Bus Transit
This synthesis will be of interest to transit agency general managers, bus operations, planning, scheduling, safety, and procurement staff, as well as agency communications and engineering staff. It addresses various aspects of developing and deploying automated vehicle location ( AVL) systems over the last 20 years. Current practice, AVL architecture and technologies, and the institutional context of AVL defined in terms of funding, justification, staffing and procurement are discussed. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes the different approaches to AVL deployment used at selected transit agencies. It attempts to define the role of AVL for bus transit by examining objectives of implementation and both technological and operational frameworks.
The report for this topic can be purchased at http://gulliver.trb.org/bookstore/
J-07/Topic SA-05 Customer Information at Bus Stops
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 17: Customer Information at Bus Stops addresses user information systems and describes current transit agency practices regarding customer information at bus stops within the text and through tables and multiple graphic illustrations.
J-07/Topic SA-06 Passenger Transfer System Review
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 19: Passenger Transfer System Review offers user information on a variety of transit agencies' approaches to transfer programs. Policy and operational issues, service design, and transfer automation are discussed, based on the experience of transit agencies in the United States and in Europe.
J-07/Topic SA-07 Changing Roles and Practices of Bus Field Supervisors
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 16: Changing Roles and Practices of Bus Field Supervisors addresses the roles and responsibilities of bus field supervisors, including emerging concerns about how to improve the relationship between supervisors and bus operators, while placing supervisors in a more positive role; how to obtain a greater return from employee productivity with tightening budgets and declining ridership; and how to improve customer service.
J-07/Topic SA-08 Bus Transit Fare Collection Practices
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 26: Bus Transit Fare Collection Practices It documents fixed route bus fare collection practices at selected transit agencies. Survey responses about fare policy, fare collection equipment, fare disputes, and fare evasion issues, as well as customer information and the impact of financial assistance are offered.
J-07/Topic SA-09 Passenger Counting Technologies and Procedures
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 29: Passenger Counting Technologies and Procedures summarizes information from selected transit agencies about benefits and problems associated with each passenger counting technology, as reported by current users. It also presents advice for agencies considering each technology.
J-07/Topic SA-09A Accessibiity of Automated Fare Vending and Collection for Customers with Disabilities
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Research Results Digest 32: Accessibility of Automated Fare Vending and Collection for Customers with Disabilities identifies issues of accessibility to automated fare collection and vending machines by transit customers, examines the extent to which these issues arise, and describes solutions that have been implemented or identified as promising.
J-07/Topic SA-10 Data Collection for Bus Planning and Monitoring
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 34: Data Analysis for Bus Planning and Monitoring reviews the state of the practice in how data are analyzed. It addresses methods used to analyze data and what computer systems are used to store and process data. It also covers accuracy issues, including measurement error, and other problems, including error in estimates.
J-07/Topic SA-11 Transportation on College and University Campuses
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 39: Transportation on College and University Campuses offers survey information from 30 campus transit agencies including insights into the lessons learned and issues related to planning, implementing, and operating campus transit service. The focus is on the recent trend toward unlimited access funding systems for campus transit service, whereby students, faculty, staff, and in some cases, non-university-affiliated residents of a campus community are afforded unlimited use of transit service without paying a fare.
This report is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=562
J-07/Topic SA-12 Electronic Surveillance Technology on Transit Vehicles
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 38: Electronic Surveillance Technology on Transit Vehicles describes the state of the practice concerning the use of on-board vehicle surveillance technologies designed to address both safety and security issues at public transportation agencies. It includes a review of emerging technologies likely to be implemented in the near future in the transit environment. Issues and shortcomings with surveillance are addressed, including financial, legal, maintenance, and procedural concerns. This document touches on the successes and failures of systems in meeting both system needs and product descriptions.
J-07/Topic SA-13 Yield to Bus --State of the Practice
TRB's Transportation Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 49: Yield to Bus -- State of the Practice examines yield to bus programs in California, Florida, Oregon, Washington State, and British Columbia. It documents information gathered about the legislative process and history; program implementation, including public awareness and education campaigns, employee awareness and training, and the design and location of the yield display on the bus; as well as transit agency experiences covering transit operational issues, traffic operational issues, institutional issues, and public acceptance.
J-07/Topic SA-14 Real Time Bus Arrival Information Systems
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis Report 48: Real-Time Bus Arrival Information Systems includes information on relevant technical capabilities, agency experience, cost, and bus rider reactions to real-time bus arrival information systems. The report describes the state of the practice, including both U.S. and international experience.
The report is published at http://www.trb.org/main/blurbs/152932.aspx
J-07/Topic SA-15 Computer-Aided Scheduling and Dispatch in Demand-Responsive Transit Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 57: Computer-Aided Scheduling and Dispatch in Demand-Responsive Transit Services explores the experiences of selected transit agencies, four contract service providers, and four software vendors, focusing on current practice, successful implementation of computer-aided scheduling and dispatch (CASD) systems, and impediments to success. The report summarizes the state-of-the-practice experiences of a selected group of transit agencies about the implementation and use of CASD systems employed to provide Americans with Disabilities Act and other DRT services. In addition, it identifies much of the past and ongoing research pertaining to the topic.
J-07/Topic SA-16 Uses of Higher Capacity Buses in Transit Service
TRB's Transportation Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 75: Uses of Higher Capacity Buses in Transit Service explores the use of higher capacity (HC) public transit buses in trunk, express, long-distance commuter, Bus Rapid Transit, and special (e.g., sports and special events) services in North America. For purposes of this study, HC buses included articulated, double-deck, 45-ft, and other buses that have a significant increase in passenger capacity compared with conventional 40-ft buses.
J-07/Topic SA-17 AVL Systems for Bus Transit Update
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 73: AVL Systems for Bus Transit: Update explores the uses of computer-aided dispatch/automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) systems in fixed-route and demand-responsive services (bus AVL), as well as changes in agency practices related to the use of AVL systems.
The report is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9051
J-07/Topic SA-18 Passenger Counting Systems
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 77: Passenger Counting Systems explores analytical tools and technologies for collecting transit ridership and other subsidiary data. The report also examines issues of potential concern to transit agencies considering automatic passenger counter systems.
J-07/Topic SA-19 Transit Systems in College and University Communities
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 78: Transit Systems in College and University Communities has released a report that explores practices and trends in the areas of campus transit operations, policies, and planning, with a special focus area in technology and environmental innovations. The report also examines innovative partnership strategies used to enhance services for students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.
The report is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=9857.
J-07/Topic SA-20 Light Rail Vehicle Collisions with Vehicles at Signalized Intersections
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 79: Light Rail Vehicle Collisions with Vehicles at Signalized Intersections explores mitigation methods tested and used by transit agencies to reduce collisions between light rail vehicles (LRVs) and motor vehicles where light rail transit (LRT) runs through or adjacent to highway intersections controlled by conventional traffic signals.
The report is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=10004.
J-07/Topic SA-22 Bus Rail Preferential Treatments in Mixed Traffic
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 83: Bus and Rail Transit Preferential Treatments in Mixed Traffic explores the application of different transit preferential treatments in mixed traffic. The report also examines the decision-making process that may be applied in deciding which preferential treatment might be the most applicable in a particular location.
The report is published at www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/163890.aspx
J-07/Topic SA-23 Practices in the Development and Deployment of Downtown Circulators
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 87: Practices in the Development and Deployment of Downtown Circulators explores the development, deployment, and sustainability of downtown circulator systems.
The report is published at www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/Practices_in_the_Development_and_Deployment_of_Dow_165166.aspx
J-07/Topic SA-24 Video Surveillance Uses By Rail Transit Agencies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 90: Video Surveillance Uses by Rail Transit Agencies explores the current use of electronic video surveillance technology solely by passenger rail agencies onboard railcars, along rights-of-way, and more.
The report is published at www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/Video_Surveillance_Uses_by_Rail_Transit_Agencies_165822.aspx
J-07/Topic SA-25 Use of Mobile Device Technology for Real-Time Transit Information
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 91: Use and Deployment of Mobile Device Technology for Real-Time Transit Information examines the use and deployment of real-time transit information on mobile devices. The report explores the underlying technology required to generate the information to be disseminated, the mobile technology used for dissemination, the characteristics of the information, the resources required to successfully deploy information on mobile devices, and the contribution of mobile messaging to an overall agency communications strategy, including "information equity."
J-07/Topic SA-26 Implementation and Outcomes of Fare-Free Transit Systems
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 101: Implementation and Outcomes of Fare-Free Transit Systems highlights the experiences of public transit agencies that have planned, implemented, and operated fare-free transit systems. The report focuses on public transit agencies that are either direct recipients or subrecipients of federal transit grants and that furnish fare-free services to everyone in a service area on every mode provided.
The report is published at www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/167498.aspx
J-07/Topic SA-27 Off-Board Transit Fare Payment Using Proof-0f-Purchase Verification
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 96: Off-Board Fare Payment Using Proof-of-Payment Verification examines the application of proof-of-payment (PoP) on transit systems in North America and internationally. TCRP Synthesis 96 updates TCRP Report 80: A Toolkit for Self-Service, Barrier-Free Fare Collection. Issues address by TCRP Synthesis 96 include evasion rates, inspection rates, enforcement techniques, duties of fare inspection personnel, adjudication processes, and the kinds of penalties involved for evasion.
J-07/Topic SA-28 Use of Electronic On-Street Signage in Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 104: Use of Electronic Passenger Information Signage in Transit documents U.S. and international use of electronic passenger information signage in terms of the underlying technology, sign technology, characteristics of the information, resources required, and decision processes used to determine its use.
J-07/Topic SA-29 Energy Savings Strategies for Transit Agencies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 106: Energy Savings Strategies for Transit Agencies describes energy reduction strategies being used in the United State and Canada that address vehicle technologies; vehicle operations, maintenance, and service design; non-revenue vehicles; stations and stops; building; indirect energy use; and renewable power generation.
J-07/Topic SA-30 Maintaining Transit Effectiveness under Major Financial Constraints
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 112: Maintaining Transit Effectiveness Under Major Financial Constraints discusses transit agencies that implemented plans to increase their cost effectiveness and how the agencies communicated with their communities during challenging fiscal circumstances.
J-07/Topic SA-31 Common Sense Approaches for Improving Transit Bus Speeds
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 110: Commonsense Approaches for Improving Transit Bus Speeds explores approaches transit agencies have taken to realize gains in average bus speeds. The report also identifies metrics pertaining to measures such as changes in travel speed and its components, operating cost, and ridership. It shows the results of each or a combination of approaches implemented.
J-07/Topic SA-32 System-Specific Spare Bus Ratios Update
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 109: System-Specific Spare Bus Ratios Update documents successful practices in the United States and Canada, and presents information on efforts employed to achieve optimal bus fleet size and effective spare bus ratios. The synthesis is designed to provide guidance to transit agencies on how various factors may affect optimal fleet size. TCRP Synthesis 109 updates the findings of TCRP Synthesis 11: System-Specific Spare Bus Ratios, as significant changes have occurred in the transit industry since 1995.
Appendix D: Compilation of Agency Survey Responses was not printed not included in the print or PDF version of TCRP Synthesis 109. It is, however, available for download from this site http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_109AppD.pdf.
J-07/Topic SA-33 Critical Incident Management and Clearance Practices for Rail Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 114: Critical Incident Management and Clearance Practices for Rail Transit summarizes the current state of the practice regarding incident response and identifies strategies for post-incident evaluations.
J-07/Topic SA-34 Open Data: Challenges and Opportunities for Transit Agencies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 115: Open Data: Challenges and Opportunities for Transit Agencies documents the current state of the practice in the use, policies, and impact of open data for improving transit planning, service quality, and treatment of customer information.
J-07/Topic SA-35 Better On-Street Bus Stops
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 117: Better On-Street Bus Stops explores major issues and successful approaches to address on-street bus stops from both the transit agency's perspective and customer's perspective. It documents the current state of the practice with regard to actions taken to address constraints and improvements to on-street bus stops.
J-07/Topic SA-36 OnBoard Camera Applications for Buses
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 123: Onboard Camera Applications for Buses explores the current technologies, research, and opportunities for use. The report also provides examples of how surveillance systems are used to improve operations, safety, security, training, and customer satisfaction.
J-07/Topic SA-37 Multi-agency Electronic Fare Payment Systems
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 125: Multiagency Electronic Fare Payment Systems describes the current practice, challenges, and benefits of utilizing electronic fare payment systems (EFPS), such as smart cards. This synthesis reviews current systems and identifies their major challenges and benefits; describes the use of electronic fare systems in multimodal, multiagency environments; and reviews next-generation approaches through existing implementation case examples.
J-07/Topic SA-38 Successful Practices and Training Initiatives to Reduce Accidents and Incidents at Transit Agencies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 126: Successful Practices and Training Initiatives to Reduce Accidents and Incidents at Transit Agencies documents current practices and training initiatives, including bus operator training and retraining programs that have been effective in reducing accidents and incidents at transit agencies. The study also focuses on other system approaches that have been implemented to address safety hazards. These approaches include various technology applications, infrastructure modifications, and programs and initiatives such as driver incentive programs and close call/near miss reporting.
J-07/Topic SA-39 Managing Extreme Weather at Bus Stops
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 129: Managing Extreme Weather at Bus Stops documents current practices of transit systems to determine methods and procedures used for maintaining transit stops and associated infrastructure during and following such weather events. This synthesis provides a state-of-the-practice report on transit systems' management of extreme weather events; associated planning; management responsibilities; efforts to respond; standards and specifications; associated legal claims; and communication with customers.
J-07/Topic SA-40 Planning and Design for Fire and Smoke Incidents in Underground Passenger Rail Systems
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 124: Planning and Design for Fire and Smoke Incidents in Underground Passenger Rail Systems documents the state-of-the-practice to address fire and smoke incidents. Fires in underground passenger rail tunnels require implementation of different measures in order to provide safety for the passengers and ensure structural and system integrity of the facilities and operating infrastructure. The publication addresses planning, design, and operations to address fire and smoke incidents, and identifies current practices including lessons learned, challenges, and gaps in information.
J-07/Topic SA-41 Battery Electric Buses - State of the Practice
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 130: Battery Electric Buses—State of the Practice documents current practices of transit systems in the planning, procurement, infrastructure installation, operation, and maintenance of battery electric buses (BEBs). The goal of this study is to provide an overview of the current state of practice regarding the deployment of electric battery buses (i.e., service, operations and maintenance). Information will be gathered by a literature review and a survey of the current transit systems that deploy electric buses.
J-07/Topic SA-42 College Student Transit Pass Programs
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 131: College Student Transit Pass Programs focuses on the relationship established between transit agencies and universities and colleges, and documents current state of the practice to better develop and evaluate college student transit pass programs. Many large transit agencies currently have student pass programs with colleges and universities. These are commonly known as U-Pass programs. These may have very different structures and operating regimes. Compiling information on these programs would be very useful for all transit agencies serving college student populations.
The report is published at www.trb.org/TCRP/Blurbs/177362.aspx
J-07/Topic SA-43 Transit Service Delivery Evaluation Standards
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 139: Transit Service Evaluation Standards provides an overview of the purpose, use, and application of performance measures, service evaluation standards, and data collection methods at North American transit agencies. The report addresses the service evaluation process, from the selection of appropriate metrics through development of service evaluation standards and data collection and analysis to the identification of actions to improve service and implementation. The report also documents effective practices in the development and use of service evaluation standards. The report includes an analysis of the state of the practice of the service evaluation process in agencies of different sizes, geographic locations, and modes.
Appendix D contains performance evaluation standards and guidelines provided by 23 agencies.
J-07/Topic SA-44 Comprehensive Bus Network Redesign
TCRP Synthesis 140: Comprehensive Bus Network Redesigns provides an overview of the current state of practice regarding comprehensive bus network redesign. The study examines practices among agencies of different sizes, geographic locations, and modes.
The report captures the many components that are needed to successfully plan and implement a redesign and carefully considers the goals and objectives that agencies set forth when they began that process, helping them determine whether a redesign even made sense for the agency at that point in time.
Comprehensive bus network redesigns, in which transit agencies fundamentally alter the structure and organization of their bus networks, are not completely novel in transit. However, redesigns have become seemingly more common in recent years. The motivations for embarking on network redesigns vary across transit agencies, but, given the prevalence of redesigns in recent history and with more redesigns likely to come, the transit industry will benefit from improved documentation of network redesign rationales, outcomes, best practices, and challenges.
J-07/Topic SA-45 Current Practices In The Use of Onboard Technologies to Prevent Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents
Transit agencies around the country are facing the challenges of reducing transit bus collisions and the injuries, fatalities, and liability expenses associated with these collisions.
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 145: Current Practices in the Use of Onboard Technologies to Avoid Transit Bus Incidents and Accidents documents the current practices in the use of the various onboard technologies on transit buses to prevent incidents and accidents, with a primary objective of determining whether these technologies are effective in actual practice.
The examination shows that many transit agencies are proactively instituting a number of approaches to address these collisions, including the piloting and use of collision avoidance technologies, such as forward collision warning (FCW), emergency braking, lane departure warning (LDW), and electronic stability control (ESC).
J-07/Topic SA-46 Mobile Fare APPs Business Models
Five different business models for mobile fare payment apps are examined, as the world of apps used by transit agencies in the United States and Canada continues to steadily grow.
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 148: Business Models for Mobile Fare Apps documents current practices and experiences of transit agencies that offer mobile fare payment applications to transit riders.
The report includes case examples from six cities: Santa Monica, Denver, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, and Ontario, Canada.
J-07/Topic SA-47 Transit Signal Priority – Current State of the Practice
The goal of this study is to provide an overview of the current state of practice regarding the implementation and practice of using TSP (i.e., planning, service, operations and maintenance).
J-07/Topic SA-48 Transit Security Preparedness – Current Practices
Sixty percent of the transit-industry practitioners surveyed rate their transit agency's efforts to address their major security challenges as somewhat or very successful. However, only 25 percent say they have implemented any security-risk-reduction program that they consider to be exceptional or exemplary.
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 146: Transit Security Preparedness identifies current practices transit systems can use to enhance their security measures and to identify opportunities to apply security technology applications used in other industries to the transit environment.
One size does not fit all in the context of transit security. However, there are common themes in all effective security preparedness approaches.
J-07/Topic SA-49 Multi-Modal Fare Payment Integration
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 144: Multimodal Fare Payment Integration documents current practices and experiences of transit agencies dealing with the complexities of multimodal fare payment convergence.
J-07/Topic SA-50 Cyber Security in Transit Systems
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 158: Cybersecurity in Transit Systems identifies and documents emerging cybersecurity trends related to teleworking/remote worker offices, contactless customer service, real-time information services, transit-on-demand services, and cyber resilience affecting transit agencies now and in the near future.
J-07/Topic SA-51 Transit Safety Risk Assessment Methodologies
This synthesis will identify the use of new transit safety risk assessment approaches and methodologies, including international models. Research is complete and the final deliverable is available as TCRP Synthesis Report 157.
J-07/Topic SA-52 Assessing Equity and Identifying Impacts Associated with Bus Network Redesigns
This TCRP synthesis will document the current practice of how transit agencies are assessing and addressing the equity impacts of bus network redesigns, including and beyond Title VI analyses. Research is complete and the final deliverable is available as TCRP Synthesis 159.
J-07/Topic SA-53 BRT State of Practice, Experience, and Lessons Learned
This TCRP synthesis will document the current practices and lessons learned of US and Canadian transit systems that utilize BRT components to improve the reliability of bus service, bus travel time, operation efficiency, and customer satisfaction, and to increase ridership. The final report can be found here as TCRP Synthesis 164.
J-07/Topic SA-54 Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety in Bus/BRT Corridors
The objective of this synthesis is to examine the state of practice in bus transit corridor planning, design and construction as it relates to pedestrian and bike safety, public health, and equity. Research in progress.
J-07/Topic SA-55 On Street Bus Operations Management
The purpose of this synthesis is to identify current practices in real-time management of street operations. Research in progress.
J-07/Topic SB-01 Integration of Bicycles and Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 62: Integration of Bicycles and Transit examines how transit agencies may improve their existing services and assist other communities in developing new bicycle and transit services. Synthesis 62 updates TCRP Synthesis 4: Integration of Bicycles and Transit (1994).
The report is published at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tsyn04.pdf
J-07/Topic SB-02 Innovative Suburb-to-Suburb Transit Practices
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 14: Innovative Suburb-to-Suburb Transit Practices provides information about the suburban shift from the more traditional central business district oriented service patterns of selected transit agencies. Transit agencies with limited marketing successes in this area are being challenged to address these nontraditional markets anew.
The report is published at https://www.nap.edu/catalog/9540/tcrp-synthesis-of-transit-practice-14-innovative-suburb-to-suburb
J-07/Topic SB-03 ADA Paratransit Eligibility Certification Practices
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 30: ADA Paratransit Eligibility Certification Practices describes the complexities involved in creating an accurate eligibility determination process that complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and is regionally and politically feasible to implement. This study documents the range of outcomes produced by the different eligibility certification models and offers information about their overall effectiveness.
J-07/Topic SB-04 Transit Advertising Revenue: New Sources and Structures
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 32: Transit Advertising Revenue: Traditional and New Sources and Structures offers information from selected North American and other transit agencies about the existing environment for advertising on transit property and describes agency experiences. It also explores innovative revenue-generating practices.
J-07/Topic SB-05 Communicating with Persons with Disabilities in a Multimodal Transit Environment
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 37: Communicating with Persons with Disabilities in a Multimodal Transit Environment describes current North American transit practice in information and communication technologies, as well as operations, implementation, and human factor issues. Attention is given to information and communication technologies related to planning, customer service, marketing, and training that can improve the travel experience for all persons traveling in a transit environment. The focus is on the communication techniques and technologies for persons with sensory and cognitive disabilities.
J-07/Topic SB-06 Use of Small Buses in Transit Service
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 41: The Use of Small Buses in Transit Service examines the use of small buses -- 30 ft or less in length -- as replacements for large buses in fixed-route, scheduled servcice or those used in innovative, more flexible operations such as route deviation or demand-resonse service.
J-07/Topic SB-07 Customer-Focused Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 45, Customer-Focused Transit, documents the experiences of selected public transportation agencies in developing and implementing customer-service programs by examining the effectiveness of certain customer-focused activities.
The report is published at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tsyn45_Intro.pdf
J-07/Topic SB-08 Effective Use of Transit Web Sites
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 43: Effective Use of Transit Websites explores current practices and recent experiences concerning website design, marketing, and administration.
J-07/Topic SB-09 Operational Experiences With Flexible Transit Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 53: Operational Experiences with Flexible Transit Services examines transit agency experiences with "flexible transit services," including all types of hybrid services that are not pure demand-responsive (including dial-a-ride and Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit) or fixed-route services, but that fall somewhere in between those traditional service models.
This report is published at https://www.nap.edu/read/23364/chapter/2
J-07/Topic SB-10 Transit Advertising Sales Agreements
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 51: Transit Advertising Sales Agreements documents and summarizes transit agency experiences with advertising sales and synthesizes current practices for advertising sales, contracting, and display.
The report is published at https://www.nap.edu/read/23381/chapter/1
J-07/Topic SB-11 Practices in Late Cancellation/No-Show Policies for ADA Paratransit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 60: Practices in No-Show and Late Cancellation Policies for ADA Paratransit examines current and innovative practices of U.S. transit agencies in the development and implementation of passenger no-show and late cancellation policies for paratransit programs operated under the regulatory requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The report reviews the administration, community response, and effectiveness of policies in small, medium, and large transit agencies. The report addresses policies as a way to improve system productivity, efficiency, and capacity, and as a means to better service riders with disabilities who may experience difficulties with the advance reservation aspect of most ADA complementary paratransit operations.
The report is published at http://onestreet.org/documents/BicyclesandTransitUS2005.pdf
J-07/Topic SB-13 Transit Agency Participation in Medicaid Transportation Programs
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 65: Transit Agency Participation in Medicaid Transportation Programs explores the tasks that may help develop successful public transit–non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) partnerships. The report examines real and perceived barriers to NEMT and public transit coordination and includes case studies of Medicaid transportation program participation by transit agencies.
J-07/Topic SB-14 Methods of Ridership Communication
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 68: Methods of Rider Communication examines methods of communicating with transit customers in a variety of situations. The report explores the state of the practice in transit agency communications with customers, investigates how transit agencies determine the effectiveness of their communications activities, and reviews lessons learned in developing communications programs and communicating by electronic means.
The report is published at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_68.pdf
J-07/Topic SB-15 Cost Containment for Paratransit Rider Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 74: Policies and Practices for Effectively and Efficiently Meeting ADA Paratransit Demand highlights policies and practices that transit agencies may be able to apply to their own paratransit services, often without the need to devote significant funds, personnel, or other resources. The report also examines certain practices and technologies that are still under development or have not undergone extensive testing.
J-07/Topic SB-16 Integration of Paratransit and Fixed Route Transit Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 76: Integration of Paratransit and Fixed-Route Transit Services explores the experiences of transit agencies that have attempted to depart from the traditional binary model of separate fixed-route and paratransit services by seeking a variety of ways to integrate their services. Options examined in the report include the provision of paratransit feeder services, community bus or circulators, connectors, fixed-route fare incentives, and route deviation.
J-07/Topic SB-17 Innovative Rural Transit Services
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 94: Innovative Rural Transit Services highlights transit and rural intercity bus service responses to changing rural community transportation needs. The report includes an emphasis on the innovative and/or entrepreneurial spirit, the innovator, and the conditions required for innovation.
J-07/Topic SB-18 Strollers, Carts and Other Large Items on Buses and Trains
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 88: Strollers, Carts, and Other Large Items on Buses and Trains documents the state of the practice of transit agencies managing capacity on vehicles carrying customers with large items. The synthesis also includes a discussion of vehicle designs to accommodate these various large items.
J-07/Topic SB-19 Ridesharing as a Complement to Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 98: Ridesharing as a Complement to Transit explores current practices in using ridesharing to complement public transit and highlights ways to potentially enhance ridesharing and public transit.
J-07/Topic SB-20 Uses of Social Media in Public Transportation
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 99: Uses of Social Media in Public Transportation explores the use of social media among transit agencies and documents successful practices in the United States and Canada.
For the purposes of the report, social media are defined as a group of web-based applications that encourage users to interact with one another, such as blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Foursquare, and MySpace.
J-07/Topic SB-21 Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 103: Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs explores transit agency programs in which local organizations, individuals, or other partners "adopt" a transit station or stop and receive recognition or incentives in exchange for, periodically, performing duties such as removing litter, maintaining vegetation, or reporting suspicious activity.
J-07/Topic SB-22 Use of Customer Market Research Panels in Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 105: Use of Market Research Panels in Transit describes the various types of market research panels, identifies issues that researchers should be aware of when engaging in market research and panel surveys, and provides examples of successful market research panel programs.
The report also provides information about common pitfalls to be avoided and successful techniques that may help maximize research dollars without jeopardizing the quality of the data or validity of the results.
J-07/Topic SB-23 Integrating Passenger Ferry Service with Mass Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 102: Integrating Passenger Ferry Service with Mass Transit examines the integration between land- and water-based transit systems and explores successful aspects of seamless integration.
J-07/Topic SB-24 Methods for Title VI Fare and Service Equity Analysis
This synthesis can report on successful practices for undertaking fare and service equity analysis. It can identify methods for collecting data, including demographic information, transit survey techniques, and information available from government and private sources in the public domain. Additionally, the analytical methods used to complete the fare and service equity analysis may be identified for a variety of fare and service change applications. This would be helpful to small, medium, and large transit agencies which are required to undertake the Title VI Equity Analysis when fares are changed, transit service is expanded, or routes are reduced.
J-07/Topic SB-25 Practices for Establishing ADA Paratransit Assessment Facilities
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 116: Practices for Establishing ADA Paratransit Eligibility Assessment Facilities examines practices that transit agencies use to determine if a user is eligible for paratransit under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Specifically, it reviews the processes, facilities, equipment, and tools used by transit agencies, through data collection that included in-person interviews and functional assessments.
J-07/Topic SB-26 Use of Taxis in Public Transportation for People with Disabilities and Older Adults
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 119: Use of Taxis in Public Transportation for People with Disabilities and Older Adults explores and summarizes how taxis may be used by public transportation agencies to provide disabled or older adults with greater mobility and access to their destinations. The report also identifies potential advantages and challenges that public transportation agencies may face when using taxis.
J-07/Topic SB-27 Public Transit and Bikesharing
The goal of this synthesis is to provide a better understanding of cooperative transit and bikesharing relationships and to document the experiences of transit systems with bikesharing as a mode.
J-07/Topic SB-28 Administration of ADA Paratransit Eligibility Appeal Programs
Although several reports describe transit agency practices for determining eligibility for ADA paratransit service, little has been documented about how transit agencies manage appeals by applicants who are determined to be "not eligible" or are found "conditionally eligible," including temporary eligibility. This synthesis will document the current state of the practice and identify challenges and lessons learned through a literature review, survey of representative transit agencies, and documentation of selected case examples/profiles.
J-07/Topic SB-29 Customer Focused Service Guarantees and Transparency Practices
This synthesis will document the nature and prevalence of service guarantees among transit providers in North America and assess their impact on revenue and ridership.
J-07/Topic SB-30 Microtransit or General Public Demand-Response Transit Services: State of the Practice
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 141: Microtransit or General Public Demand–Response Transit Services: State of the Practice provides an overview of the current state of the practice of transit systems that are directly providing general public demand–response or microtransit with their own vehicles and personnel or using a traditional contractor.
The report presents a literature review and results from a survey of 22 transit agencies that have had current experiences with microtransit. Case examples of five transit systems are provided. These case examples present in-depth analyses of the processes and considerations, challenges, lessons learned, and keys to success.
General public demand–response transit service is the chameleon of the public transportation world. The service can take many forms in different environments and can even change its form in the middle of its duty cycle. The service can be delivered through point deviation or route deviation methods, as a feeder to fixed route transit, or as a circulator within a community providing a many-to-many or many-to-few service, and can provide circulator and feeder services with the same vehicle.
J-07/Topic SB-31 Implementing the US DOT Reasonable Modification Rule
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 142: Implementing the U.S. DOT Reasonable Modification Rule provides an overview of the current state of practice regarding transit systems implementation of the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) regulation 49 C.F.R Part 37.
The report describes the experiences of agencies as they make reasonable modifications to their practices and policies in order to both respond to the regulation and ensure service to people with disabilities. The report also includes case examples of six transit systems, which present an in-depth analysis of the issues, opportunities, challenges, lessons learned, and keys to success in implementation of reasonable modifications . The need for future research is also discussed.
Under the U.S. DOT regulations for implementing the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (49 C.F.R. Parts 37 and 27), transportation service providers and recipients of federal funding are required to ensure their services do not discriminate against people with disabilities.
In 2015, the U.S. DOT amended 49 C.F.R. Parts 27 and 37 to require transportation entities to make "reasonable modifications/accommodations to policies, practices, and procedures to avoid discrimination and ensure that their programs are accessible to individuals with disabilities." Effective July 13, 2015, 49 C.F.R. §37.169 of this final rule requires that public entity transit providers develop their own processes for making decisions and for providing reasonable modifications to their policies and practices.
J-07/Topic SB-32 Use of Agency Trip Agreements in ADA Paratransit Service Delivery
This synthesis will include a literature review, practice overview, and survey of transit agencies, diverse in terms of geography, size, and governance (i.e., city or county department versus transit authority) operating ADA paratransit services in house and under contract.
This synthesis topic will update Synthesis 99 and will again explore the use of social media among transit agencies as well as document innovative practices in the United States and Canada. Research is complete and the final deliverable, TCRP Synthesis Report 156, is located here.
J-07/Topic SB-34 Coordination of Public Transit Services and Investments with Affordable Housing Policies
The goal of this Synthesis is to identify the potential mechanisms (both policies and programs) to coordinate public transit (both services and capital investments) with local affordable housing policies, and synthesize the current state-of-the-practice of transit systems that coordinate public transit services and capital investments with local affordable housing policies. Research is complete and the final deliverable is available here.
J-07/Topic SB-35 Customer Education and Awareness of On-Demand Mobility
This synthesis will document current practices in how on-demand services with transit agencies are marketed to various rider groups, with a particular focus on outreach to persons with disabilities, older adults, and marginalized populations. Research in progress.
J-07/Topic SB-36 Dynamic Optimization on ADA Paratransit Service
This Synthesis will document the current use of dynamic optimization in ADA paratransit, and the benefits realized, if any. This synthesis will develop benchmarks and operational performance measures that define the experience in the industry from the perspective of transit agencies, dispatchers, drivers, and riders. Research in progress.
J-07/Topic SC-01 Safe Operating Procedures for Alternative Fuel Buses
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 1: Safe Operating Procedures for Alternative Fuel Buses includes information on the use of methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other alternative fuels for buses. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2460
J-07/Topic SC-02 Waste Control Practices at Bus Maintenance Facilities
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 9: Waste Control Practices at Bus Maintenance Facilities explores waste management practices employed in bus maintenance and fueling operations and it identifies some successful practices that are being employed to reduce or eliminate waste. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2452
J-07/Topic SC-03 Low-Floor Transit Buses
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 2: Low-Floor Transit Buses examines the operational experiences of low-floor transit buses in fixed route service and the viability of this technology in meeting the transit industry's accessibility goals for the future. Information on low-floor transit buses operating in the United States and Canada, including technical specifications as well as status reports on buses manufactured in North America; buses under development; and buses in Europe, obtained from contacts with international organizations is included. It contains descriptions of standard low-floor buses, as well as another smaller bus used primarily in paratransit service. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2459
J-07/Topic SC-04 Retrofit of Buses to Meet Clean Air Regulations
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 8: Retrofit of Buses to Meet Clean Air Regulations summarizes the options available under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Program for heavy-duty diesel bus engines and clarifies the information in the regulations for transit agencies developing their own strategies for compliance. This synthesis also provides an overview of transit agency programs already in place to reduce particulate matter (PM)emissions.
This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2453
J-07/Topic SC-05 Light Rail Vehicle Compression Requirements
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 25: Light Rail Vehicle Compression Requirements describes compression test requirements, presents available information on the development of specifications and standards, and provides examples of adjustments under particular circumstances. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2436
J-07/Topic SC-06 Use of Rear-Facing Position For Common Wheelchairs on Transit Buses
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 50: Use of Rear-Facing Position for Common Wheelchairs on Transit Buses describes the international state of the practice with respect to use of the rear-facing position for accommodating "common wheelchairs" (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act) on large transit buses (more than 30,000 lbs) and identifies pertinent issues related to its transferability to the U.S. context. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2311
J-07/Topic SC-07 Emergency Response Protocols for Natural Gas PoweredTransit Vehicles
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 58: Emergency Response Procedures for Natural Gas Transit Vehicles identifies and documents the state of the practice on emergency response protocols to incidents involving natural gas-filled transit buses. The report is designed to assist first responders to natural gas incidents—emergency response professionals such as police officers and fire-fighters; transit agency operations and maintenance employees, police, and security guards; and certain members of the general public. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=4806
J-07/Topic SC-08 Use of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) in Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 70: Mobile Data Terminals explores the state-of-the-practice of mobile data terminals in transit and examines the capability of mobile data computers offered by technology vendors to the industry. The report also reviews wireless communications infrastructure that supports mobile data terminal (MDT) deployment in transit. A copy of this report can be found at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_70.pdf
J-07/Topic SC-09 Use of Biodiesel in a Transit Fleet
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 72: Use of Biodiesel in a Transit Fleet explores potential benefits offered by biodiesel in order to help transit agencies make informed decisions regarding its use. A copy of this report can be found at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_72.pdf
J-07/Topic SD-01 Regulatory Impacts of Design and Retrofit on Bus Maintenance Facilities
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 7: Regulatory Impacts on Design and Retrofit of Bus Maintenance Facilities describes how recently enacted legislation and implemented regulations have affected the design of bus maintenance facilities. Several case examples of changes implemented by transit agencies are included. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2454
J-07/Topic SD-02 Rail Transit Tunnel and Underground Structures Inspection Policy and Procedures
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 23: Inspection Policy and Procedures for Rail Transit Tunnels and Underground Structures describes the current state of the practice for specific management policies and procedures and engineering/physical techniques used to inspect rail transit tunnels and underground structures. It discusses the available data on, different approaches of, and potential data inadequacies for agency rail transit tunnel inspection policies and procedures and inspection techniques.
J-07/Topic SD-03 Bus Use of Shoulders
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 64: Bus Use of Shoulders explores transit agencies' experiences with policies and regulations that permit buses to use shoulders on arterial roads or freeways to bypass congestion either as interim or long-term treatments. The report examines the issue from the transit and highway perspectives.
J-07/Topic SD-04 Rail Transit Track Inspection Practices
TRBs Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 107: TCRP Synthesis 107, Rail Transit Track Inspection Practices offers information across a range of older and newer U.S. rail transit agencies on track inspection practices and policies.
Since there are no actual rail track safety or maintenance standards promulgated for transit, this report is designed to help to provide rail transit agencies with information that might help it develop its own set of track safety and maintenance standards.
Issues addressed in the report include agency staffing, agency organization and characteristics, track inspection program criteria, training and certification, procurement, and track safety practices.
J-07/Topic SD-05 Third Rail Insulator Failures- Current State of the Practice
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis Report 150: Third Rail Insulator Failures: Current State of the Practice documents the present practices and lessons learned, challenges, and gaps in the information related to the use of third rail insulator systems in the United States.
J-07/Topic SD-06 Transit Agency Relationships and Initiatives to Improve Bus Stops
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 152 Transit Agencies Relationships and Initiatives to Improve Bus Stops and Pedestrian Access summarizes the current state of practice for bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs and processes in place at transit agencies and other public organizations.
The Report is published here.
J-07/Topic SE-01 Transit Bus Service Line and Cleaning Functions
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 12: Transit Bus Service Line and Cleaning Functions provides a variety of approaches to transit bus service line and cleaning functions so transit agencies can evaluate the effectiveness of their own operations.
J-07/Topic SE-02 Maintenance Productivity Practices
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 54: Maintenance Productivity Practices provides descriptions of successful maintenance productivity programs and creative modifications to existing programs.
J-07/Topic SE-03 Maintenance Staffing Levels for Light Rail Transit Systems
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 61: Maintenance Staffing Levels for Light Rail Transit examines light rail maintenance staffing practices and factors important in their development at U.S. transit agencies. It covers the areas of maintenance functions, new light rail start-up, and management in attempting to give better insight into the variables affecting maintenance staffing.
J-07/Topic SE-04 Track Maintenance Costs on Rail Transit Properties
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Web-Only Document 43: Track Maintenance Costs on Rail Transit Properties examines agency practices, innovations, and lessons learned in track maintenance costs. A link of this report is located at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=10535.
J-07/Topic SE-05 Preventive Maintenance Intervals for Transit Buses
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 81: Preventive Maintenance Intervals for Transit Buses explores preventive maintenance measures taken by a sampling of transit agencies to ensure buses are on time, protect taxpayer investments, and promote passenger satisfaction and public safety.
J-07/Topic SE-06 Elevator and Escalator Maintenance Practices
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 100: Elevator and Escalator Maintenance and Safety Practices documents elevator and escalator maintenance activities, safety practices, and passenger communication efforts at five U.S. transit agencies.
The five agencies where information was gathered are MARTA (Atlanta, Georgia), NYCTA (New York, New York), SEPTA (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), CTA (Chicago, Illinois), and BART (San Francisco, California). These five agencies together operate 1,418 elevators and escalators throughout 850 rail stations.
Together, they are part of a U.S. Federal Transit Administration-sponsored consortium with the American Public Transportation Association, Amalgamated Transit Union, and the Learning Center, engaged in developing a Transit Elevator/Escalator Maintenance Training and Apprenticeship Program.
The following four appendixes to TCRP Synthesis 100 are available in electronic format only. Links to the appendixes are below.
• BART Elevator PM, 59
• BART Escalator PM, 254
• BART El-Es Training 1, 507
J-07/Topic SE-07 Maintenance Planning for Rail Asset Management – Current Practices
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 151: Maintenance Planning for Rail Asset Management - Current Practices presents the results of a survey and the analysis of the response data in an effort to synthesize current practices.
J-07/Topic SF-01 Bus Occupant Safety
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 18: Bus Occupant Safety offers information on the current practices of transit agencies to reduce injuries to bus occupants during collisions and injuries to passengers while boarding, riding, and leaving the bus.
J-07/Topic SF-02 Employee Incentive Programs to Improve Transit Performance
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 3: Employee Incentive Programs to Improve Transit Performance provides an overview of current practice in employee incentive programs. Information on incentive programs that provide a one-time payment or recognition for a particular job accomplishment are presented as gleaned from survey responses from a varied group of public transit agencies. The synthesis contains observations on establishing incentive programs in public transit agencies, information on the types of incentive programs in transit organizations, and describes samples of programs in use, as well as offering general perceptions from survey recipients.
J-07/Topic SF-03 Methods for Reducing Violence and Improving Transit Security
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 21: Improving Transit Security examines the nature and extent of transit crime, effective strategies to combat problem situations, and case studies of specific control practices deemed successful by transit agency professionals (with no distinctions drawn between bus and rail modes) are discussed.
J-07/Topic SF-04 Monitoring Maintenance Performance
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 22: Monitoring Bus Maintenance Performance describes current practices related to maintenance performance. The objective is to identify how maintenance performance measures drive day-to-day and strategic decisions.
J-07/Topic SF-05 Emergency Preparedness for Transit Counter Terrorism
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 27: Emergency Preparedness for Transit Terrorism provides a useful perspective on mass transit preparedness, offering information on the current practices of selected transit agencies to prevent and respond to terrorism and acts of extreme violence. This synthesis contrasts transit perspectives to those of general service police through a review of the relevant literature.
J-07/Topic SF-06 Practices in Ensuring Employee Availability
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 33: Practices in Assuring Employee Availability presents state of the practice information about the various actions transit agencies (and other employers) have taken to help ensure the availability of quality employees in an increasingly competitive employment environment. It focuses on the practices and policies transit agencies have put in place to help minimize absenteeism at their agencies, from which other agencies may find useful applications.
J-07/Topic SF-07 A Challenged Employment System: Hiring,Training,Performance Evaluation, and Retention of Bus Operators
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 40: A Challenged Employment System: Hiring, Training, Performance Evaluation, and Retention of Bus Operators provides a snapshot of public agencies' practices in bus operator hiring, training, performance evaluation, and retention.
J-07/Topic SF-08 Diversity Training Initiatives
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 46: Diversity Training Initiatives identifies diversity training initiatives and related performance measures, examines the effectiveness of existing transit diversity initiatives, and discusses unmet needs and potential research. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=1608
J-07/Topic SF-09 Training for On-Board Bus Electronics
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 44: Training for On-Board Bus Electronics documents training practices concerning the application and repair of advanced on-board electronics. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=806
J-07/Topic SF-10 Corporate Culture as the Driver of Transit Leadership Practices
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 47: Corporate Culture as the Driver of Transportation Leadership Practices provides an accounting of how transit agencies are addressing transit leadership development and retention. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=1607
J-07/Topic SF-11 Transit Operator Health and Wellness Programs
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 52: Transit Operator Health and Wellness Programs examines health and wellness issues faced by bus and rail operators, the impacts of these issues on operators' abilities to be productive employees, and programs that transit agencies have implemented to improve the health status of operators. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=3693
J-07/Topic SF-12 Paratransit Manager's Skills, Qualifications, and Needs
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 71: Paratransit Manager's Skills, Qualifications, and Needs examines current requirements for being a paratransit manager and actual experiences of current paratransit managers in their positions. The synthesis is designed to help enhance the paratransit management profession and paratransit service delivery. A copy of this report can be found at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_71.pdf
J-07/Topic SF-13 Transit Security Update
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 80: Transit Security Update explores transit-related counterterrorism and anti-crime security measures and practices; examines crime and security incident trends; and highlights other related topics, including major issues and obstacles to security and policing management. The report is an update to TCRP Synthesis of Transit Practice 21: Improving Transit Security, which did not address terrorism. A link to the report can be located at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=10105.
J-07/Topic SF-14 Practices to Protect Bus Operators from Passenger Assault
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 93: Practices to Protect Bus Operators from Passenger Assault highlights practices and policies implemented by transit agencies to deter and mitigate assaults on bus operators.
J-07/Topic SF-15 Practices in Wayside Rail Track/Transit Worker Safety Protection
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 95: Practices for Wayside Rail Transit Worker Protection is designed to highlight knowledge, practice, lessons learned, and gaps in information related to wayside rail transit worker protection programs.
J-07/Topic SF-16 Improving Bus Transit Safety through Rewards and Discipline
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 97: Improving Bus Transit Safety Through Rewards and Discipline addresses the practices and experiences of public transit agencies in applying both corrective actions and rewards to recognize, motivate, and reinforce a safety culture within their organizations.
J-07/Topic SF-17 Transit Bus Operator Distraction Policies and Outcomes
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 108: Transit Bus Operator Distraction Policies is designed to help transit agencies develop policies and programs to address and prevent distracted driving incidents.
J-07/Topic SF-18 Use of Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Tests Within Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 120: Use of Automotive Service Excellence Tests Within Transit documents how the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) program is accepted and used within the transit bus maintenance community. The ASE program is nationally recognized as the standard industry credential provider for automotive professionals. The report explores how a cross section of transit bus maintenance personnel view the ASE certification program and summarizes their perspectives to improve ASE certification acceptance and participation.
J-07/Topic SF-19 Addressing Difficult Customer Situations
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 127: Addressing Difficult Customer Situations explores issues surrounding difficult customers or passengers and the variety of circumstances that can arise when they utilize transit system facilities or vehicles. The report identifies current practices used by transit agencies to prevent, prepare for, and deal with these incidents.
J-07/Topic SF-20 Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 143: Managing the Transit Scheduling Workforce examines how transit agencies are recruiting, training, developing, and retaining schedulers. In the case where transit agencies use third parties to create schedules, the report also shows how transit systems manage those third parties.
The report is designed to assist transit agencies in managing their transit scheduling human capital. The report presents an overview of the practices and procedures transit agencies use to manage their scheduling workforce and will allow agencies to compare what they are currently doing with what others are doing in this area. The report also analyzes how transit systems are evolving their practices to adapt to industry and technological changes. It provides transit systems with new ideas and strategies to retain good schedulers.
The report also presents a literature review and results of a survey of transit agencies that use transit schedulers in their workforce. Case examples of five transit systems are provided; these present an in-depth analysis of various recruitment, selection, training, retention, and performance management strategies.
Transit schedules provide the blueprint for fixed-route transit—they affect operating and capital costs, safety, customer satisfaction, and operator well-being and health. Although scheduling has moved from a largely paper-based practice to one that now uses purpose built scheduling software and utilizes data collected from automated systems, transit scheduling is still a human process that is merely assisted by software and data.
Knowledgeable people are needed to perform most scheduling tasks, supply direction, and provide quality control. Moreover, the increasing availability and reliance on data and scheduling software are gradually changing the nature of a transit scheduler's job—making computer and data analysis skills and acumen increasingly central to the transit scheduler role.
The scheduling process is labor intensive, detail driven, and ripe with opportunities for errors; to be done well, scheduling requires qualified and talented transit schedulers.
J-07/Topic SF-21 Attracting, Retaining and Advancing Women in Transit
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 147: Attracting, Retaining, and Advancing Women in Transit explores the strategies that have been deployed in transit and other related industries in order to attract, retain, and advance women in a variety of roles.
A critical first step to ensure success in these areas is to remove barriers to entry and address challenges women face once employed.
J-07/Topic SG-01 Risk Management for Small and Medium Transit Agencies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 13: Risk Management for Small and Medium Transit Agencies provides information on how small and medium-sized transit agencies can evaluate various approaches to risk management and can access risk management services at reasonable cost. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2448
J-07/Topic SG-03 Management Information Systems
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 35: Information Technology Update for Transit is an update of TCRP Synthesis 5: Management Information Systems, and documents the transit industry's state of the practice in information and communication technologies against a contemporary background of business practice. It is organized into the basic architectural pieces that constitute an IT plan in order to provide the essential framework for the planning process. Additionally, organizational issues and policies and market trends affecting investment in and deployment of Management Information System (MIS) technology are documented. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2426
J-07/Topic SG-04 The Role of Performance-Based Measures in Allocating Funding for Transit Operations
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 6: The Role of Performance-Based Measures in Allocating Funding for Transit Operations explores current practice and trends regarding the linkages between financial assistance, service provision, and performance measurement. It provides an overview of selected transit agency funding programs, as well as some current information from state departments of transportation. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=2455
J-07/Topic SG-05 Managing Transit Construction Contract Claims
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 28: Managing Transit Construction Contract Claims offers information from selected transit agencies about the underlying causes of construction disputes and practices in use today to identify and resolve them before they become formal claims. The synthesis focuses on avoidance and resolution of disputes, examines ways of settling disputes at their inception, and considers the experiences of the transit industry in the use of alternative dispute resolution techniques.
J-07/Topic SG-06 Paratransit Contracting and Service Delivery Methods
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 31: Paratransit Contracting and Service Delivery Methods offers information from selected transit agencies about the operational practices used to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services and identifies factors perceived by transit personnel to have influenced the selection of service delivery methodology. It focuses on the state of the practice in paratransit contracting and service delivery methods to comply with ADA paratransit provisions.
J-07/Topic SG-07 Identifying and Reducing Fraudulent Third Party Tort Claims Against Public Transit Agencies
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 36: Identifying and Reducing Fraudulent Third Party Tort Claims Against Public Transit Agencies Research Board describes those practices in place at public transit agencies to prevent and respond to third party fraudulent claims, including a review of salient aspects of the public transit claims process in the context of managing current and partial tort liability. It examines the level of claims, presents a structured methodology for approaching the fraudulent claims issue, and describes practices that have been implemented to reduce claims abuse. The emphasis is on strategies that organizations have adopted to counter insurance fraud.
J-07/Topic SG-08 Information Technology Update for Transit
TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 35: Information Technology Update for Transit is an update of TCRP Synthesis 5: Management Information Systems, and documents the transit industry's state of the practice in information and communication technologies against a contemporary background of business practice. It is organized into the basic architectural pieces that constitute an IT plan in order to provide the essential framework for the planning process. Additionally, organizational issues and policies and market trends affecting investment in and deployment of Management Information System (MIS) technology are documented.
J-07/Topic SG-10 Performance-Based Measures in Transit Fund Allocation
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 56: Performance-Based Measures in Transit Fund Allocation examines the extent to which traditional measures of transit performance, such as internal measures of economic efficiency, service effectiveness, and productivity, are used in allocating funds to transit.
J-07/Topic SG-11 Transit Asset Condition Reporting
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 92: Transit Asset Condition Reporting examines and documents the current state of the practice in transit asset condition management. The report defines transit asset management as a strategic planning process that supports informed capital investment planning and programming.
The report's objective is to provide transit agencies and their federal, state, and local funding partners with a review of current practices in order to help encourage an industry-wide discussion on standards and the data needed to measure conditions and use the information in making effective investment decisions.
J-07/Topic SG-12 Optimizing Bus Warranty
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 111: Optimizing Bus Warranty explores how some transit agencies address key aspects of their warranty programs. The report examines the steps taken to more accurately monitor warranty coverage periods, optimize the warranty process, and maximize warranty reimbursement to fulfill U.S. Federal Transit Administration requirements and taxpayer expectations.
J-07/Topic SG-13 Practices for Utility Coordination in Transit Projects
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 118: Practices for Utility Coordination in Transit Projects summarizes utility coordination practices at transit agencies around the country. Specifically, the report focuses on utility coordination issues that transit agencies undertake during typical phases of project development and delivery, including planning, designing, and constructing civil infrastructure facilities.
J-07/Topic SG-14 ADA Paratransit Service Delivery Models
Approximately 80% of medium to large paratransit systems in the United States (US) use contractors for service delivery and often for call center or turnkey functions. The objective of this synthesis is to document, for a comprehensive set of service models, the way various elements of the RFP and contract are structured to enhance the likelihood of achieving certain results related to cost efficiency, service quality, or the balance of the two that will persist through the entire contract term. The synthesis will provide examples from the industry, including specific wording, of what is currently being done.
J-07/Topic SG-15 Contracting Fixed-Route Bus Transit Service
Many fixed-route transit systems choose to contract a portion or the entirety of their bus operations to one or more contractors as opposed to directly operating the service. This study will seek to determine effective practices when procuring and managing contracted service
J-07/Topic SG-17 The Use and Practice of Intelligent Transportation Systems in Real-Time Headway Based Service Bus Operations
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 155: Intelligent Transportation Systems in Headway-Based Bus Service synthesizes the current state of the practice of headway-based service operations and focuses on the proactive use of intelligent transportation systems technologies to optimize these services.
J-07/Topic SG-18 The Transit Analyst Toolbox: Analysis and Approaches for Reporting, Communicating, and Examining Transit Data
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 153: The Transit Analyst Toolbox: Analysis and Approaches for Reporting, Communicating, and Examining Transit Data will assist transit agencies that want to develop and/or adopt data-drive culture.
J-07/Topic SG-19 Paratransit Service Delivery Models for Small Systems
This Synthesis will explore paratransit delivery models for small systems (fewer than 50 fixed-route buses and often a dozen or fewer vehicles operating paratransit service). Research is complete and the final deliverable is available as TCRP Synthesis 161.
J-07/Topic SG-20 Performance Metrics in Third Party Contracts for Bus Operations and Maintenance
The synthesis will document current practices and metrics used to contract out bus operations and maintenance in North America. It will look at all situations where O&M services are contracted out (i.e. the entire network is contracted out or divisions or sections of the network are contracted out). The synthesis will document the reasons for outsourcing and the metrics used by agencies for evaluating whether to self-operate or contract out bus operations and maintenance in North America. In addition, the synthesis will ascertain how agencies are holding their third party providers accountable against contractual terms as well as methodologies that agencies use to monitor and oversee contractors. Research in progress.
J-07/Topic SH-01 Transit-Focused Development
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 20: Transit-Focused Development offers information on a variety of municipalities' and transit agencies' attitudes toward the built environment around rail stations. Policy and implementation issues, completed and unimplemented projects are discussed.
J-07/Topic SH-02 Use of Flexible Funding Under ISTEA and TEA-21
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 42: Use of Flexible Funds for Transfer Under ISTEA and TEA-21 reviews how current flexible funding provisions are being used to support transit investment and to examines lessons that may have the broadest relevance throughout the transit industry. The scope of the synthesis includes references to summary FTA data from FY 1992–2000, spanning the entire life of the ISTEA legislation and the first 3 years of TEA-21.
J-07/Topic SH-03 Geographic Information Systems Applications in Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 55: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications in Transit examines the value of GIS to transit agencies in service and cost savings. The synthesis summarizes the experiences of a variety of transit agencies, with information from small- and medium-sized transit operators, as well as from large transit agencies. It documents current practices, effective applications, and challenges.
J-07/Topic SH-04 Strategic Planning and Management in Transit Agencies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 59: Strategic Planning and Management in Transit Agencies examines the value and benefits of strategic planning and management in transit agencies. The report also provides case studies from five transit agencies based on the comprehensiveness of process or presence of innovative or noteworthy practices.
J-07/Topic SH-05 On-Board and Intercept Transit Survey Techniques
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 63: On-Board and Intercept Transit Survey Techniques examines transit agencies' experiences with planning and implementing on-board and intercept surveys. On-board and intercept surveys include self-administered surveys distributed on board buses and railcars, and in stations, as well as interviews conducted in these environments. The report provides an overview of industry practices and covers a broad range of issues addressed in planning a given survey.
J-07/Topic SH-06 Fixed Route Transit Ridership Forecasting and Service Planning Methods
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 66: Fixed-Route Transit Ridership Forecasting and Service Planning Methods examines the state of the practice in fixed-route transit ridership forecasting and service planning. The report also explores forecasting methodologies, resource requirements, data inputs, and organizational issues. In addition, the report analyzes the impacts of service changes and reviews transit agency assessments of the effectiveness and reliability of their methods and of desired improvements. A link of this report is located at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=7084
J-07/Topic SH-07 Web Based Survey Techniques for Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 69: Web-Based Survey Techniques explores the current state of the practice for web-based surveys. The report examines successful practice, reviews the technologies necessary to conduct web-based surveys, and includes several case studies and profiles of transit agency use of web-based surveys. The report also focuses on the strengths and limitations of all survey methods. A copy of this report can be found at http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_syn_69.pdf
J-07/Topic SH-08 Incorporating Bus Transit Service in Planning for New Development
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 67: Bus Transit Service in Land Development Planning examines successful strategies that assist in the incorporation of bus transit service into land developments, as well as the challenges that transit agencies face when attempting to do so. The report also explores the state of the practice regarding the use and components of transit agency development guidelines. This topic is published at http://www.trb.org/news/blurb_detail.asp?id=7085
J-07/Topic SH-09 Current Practices of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Savings from Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 84: Current Practices in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Savings from Transit explores the role of transit agencies in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and examines the current practice of a sample of transit agencies.
J-07/Topic SH-10 Effective Use of Citizen Advisory Committees for Transit Planning and Operations
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 85: Effective Use of Citizen Advisory Committees for Transit Planning Operations examines the involvement of advisory committees in transit planning and operations by exploring the experiences from a few agencies in detail.
J-07/Topic SH-11 Pass Fare Arrangements for Public Employees
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 82: Transit Fare Arrangements for Public Employees explores the state of the practice for transit agencies in terms of fare arrangements for public employees. The report examines issues such as leadership of the program; barriers, obstacles, and constraints; administrative procedures; implementation; lessons learned; cost, financing, and pricing; and program evaluation.
J-07/Topic SH-12 Relationships Between Street Cars and the Built Environment
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 86: Relationships Between Streetcars and the Built Environment examines selected, built streetcar and trolley systems to trace their evolution, define significant factors, and identify commonalities among levels of success in impacting the built environment.
J-07/Topic SH-13 Public Participation Strategies for Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 89: Public Participation Strategies for Transit documents the state-of-the-practice in terms of public participation strategies to inform and engage the public for transit-related activities.
The synthesis also provides ideas and insights into practices and techniques that agencies have found to be most successful, and discusses challenges relating to engaging the public.
J-07/Topic SH-14 Sub-Allocating FTA Section 5307 Funding Among Multiple Recipients in Metropolitan Areas
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 113: Sub-allocating FTA Section 5307 Funding Among Multiple Recipients in Metropolitan Areas documents the approaches, methodologies, and practices for the sub-allocation of U.S. Federal Transit Administration Section 5307 Formula Funds in urbanized areas of multiple types and sizes.
Section 5307 formula funds are the primary source of financial support for public transportation capital projects including vehicle, facility, and equipment purchases; preventive maintenance; and other eligible expenses. The report also summarizes practices for fund distribution to help regions interested in developing a distribution practice or altering their current methodology.
J-07/Topic SH-15 Transit Supportive Parking Policies and Programs
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 122: Transit Supportive Parking Policies and Programs documents transit agency parking policies and parking management at transit stations using three primary resources: a scan of current research on transit supportive parking policies, an original survey distributed to a sample of transit agencies, and several brief agency profiles based on interviews and existing available data. Participating transit agencies represent a broad spectrum of service type, jurisdiction, ridership, mode, types of parking, and parking policy.
J-07/Topic SH-16 Transit Agency Practices in Interacting with People Who are Homeless
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 121: Transit Agency Practices in Interacting with People Who Are Homeless reports on effective practices, approaches, and outcomes regarding interactions within the transit industry with people who are homeless. A literature review summarizes policies and practices used in both the transit and library communities. Because public libraries are similar to public transportation in offering services to all members of the general public and in being viewed as a safe haven for people who are homeless, the literature review includes an examination of library policies and procedures related to people who are homeless.
J-07/Topic SH-17 Practices for Evaluating the Economic Impacts and Benefits of Transit
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 128: Practices for Evaluating the Economic Impacts and Benefits of Transit provides state-of-the-practice information for transit agencies to help them in incorporating economic benefits and impacts into their decision-making processes, which may lead to more sustainable funding solutions for transit agencies. The report describes the methods used for assessing transit economic impacts and benefits, the types of effects that are covered by these methods, and the ways that agencies are using the information obtained for planning, prioritizing, funding, and stakeholder support.
J-07/Topic SH-18 Public Transit Rider Origin-Destination Survey Methods and Technologies
TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 138: Public Transit Rider Origin–Destination Survey Methods and Technologies captures the state of the practice among agencies of different sizes, geographic locations, and modes and evaluates the opportunities for and challenges of conducting surveys in an era of emerging technologies.
The report presents the reality and complexity of conducting origin–destination surveys and will allow agencies to compare what they are currently doing with what others are doing, get ideas about what other strategies are possible, and make better decisions about surveying in the future.
The report includes case examples of five transit systems that present an in-depth analysis of various survey strategies and include two agencies that have leveraged passive data to complement or eliminate origin–destination surveys.
J-07/Topic SH-19 Considering the Unbanked in Cashless Fare Payment at Point of Service for Bus/Demand Response Services
This study will inform transit executives and board members on the effects of going cashless at point of service to the unbanked population's access to public transportation. The study will focus on operational, financial, policy and regulatory considerations in no longer accepting cash on board bus or demand response vehicles. Research is completed and the final report can be found here as TCRP Synthesis 163.
J-07/Topic SH-20 Innovative Practices for Transit Planning at Small- to Mid-Sized Agencies
The TRB Transit Cooperative Research Program's TCRP Synthesis 154: Innovative Practices for Transit Planning at Small to Mid-Sized Agencies documents innovative practices for solving transit planning challenges faced by small and mid-sized transit agencies.
J-07/Topic SH-21 Transit Fare Capping: Balancing Revenue and Equity Impacts
The objective of this synthesis is to document the implementation of fare capping in U.S. transit agencies. Research is complete and the final deliverable can be found here.
J-07/Topic SH-22 Inclusive Public Participation in Transit Decision Making
This synthesis will document current, effective, ongoing public participation mechanisms resulting in and instilling participation from communities of color, LEP and low-income populations, and people with disabilities in transit decision making. Research in progress.
J-07/Topic SH-23 Partnerships for Equitable Pandemic Response and Recovery
The objectives of this synthesis are to document COVID-19 public transportation incidental use and other cross-sector partnerships for essential services, how the partnerships developed, and what critical services were provided to the community; Identify how the partnerships aligned public transportation funded assets with community needs during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and how these partnerships could be utilized in the future as well as in future emergencies; Record data collection practices, including communities who shared relevant data to help assess excess capacity, gaps in services, and community needs; and Understand policy guidance necessary to sustain pandemic- catalyzed- partnerships in 'normal' times, identifying opportunities to leverage federal transportation funding from non-DOT federal agencies to meet community needs.


Here To Stay Or Will This Trend Just Go Away?
Studs. They hit the street style blogs and personal style blogs in a roll out, no way you can ignore them fashion.
Will you be wearing studs anytime soon or are they so last season?
here to stay here to stay here to stay !!!!!
here to stay. Studs are cheap for designers and add a ton of individuality to a piece for the consumer. They are not leaving!
pretty sure there is nothing better than studs. it's like weaponizing your clothing, what more could you want?
reminiscent of the no doubt song "just a girl", i love the toughness metal adds to any outfit. who wants to be dainty all the time? not this girl. bring on the motorcycles.
i like studs in small doses! i think if worn the correct way (with confidence!) nothing goes out of style.
Not a fan of studs, I think they look quite dated already.
Very last season, no longer a fan..
I like studs, but you gotta have the right personality to really rock it. This jacket is hot!
I've always loved studs. Perhaps it goes back to my days as a punk rocker/gothic girl. But skinny pants, plaid and studs are here to stay in my closet.