It should never be forgotten that Transit is funded primarily through public money. Also in Europe, the fares don’t cover the expenses, yet the discussion around Transit is seldon financial vs. public need focused as it is often in the U.S.
However, the data from the Transit Waste Index Assessments offers an interesting conclusion that bridges both perspectives. By reducing operational uncertainties through multi-modal traffic flow optimization, significant benefits are realized: travelers experience shorter travel times and improved schedule reliability, while transit agencies are able to reduce the number of vehicles in service. This creates an opportunity for self-sustaining programs, where the savings and efficiencies generated can be reinvested into further improving the system, requiring only a relatively small initial capital investment.
The Transit Waste Index assessments reveal the large portion of service hours transit vehicles are approaching or at a red signal or idling at a time stop. Even in corridors like El Camino Real where Transit Signal Priority has been implemented, over 43% vehicles are not traveling at posted speed while not at a transit stop…
The Operational Expenses (OpEx, ongoing cost for running a product, business, or system) of Transit is significant and rising. New technology provides new tools to programmatically reduce OpEx which can be re-invested in new projects without the need for additional funding.
As the benefits of the OpEx reduction and Transit Service improvements are realized in the Transit Agency, Bridging will be required back to the Transportation Agency.
A Service Strategy Improvement Framework can be leveraged to align the activities within an agency. Across agencies, the Governance Structure enables alignment on project governance, assessments, implementations, and benefit realization. Funding, knowledge, best-practices are provided through the Smart City Mobility Council
The Governance Structure provides the Transportation and Transit agencies to set priorities, allocate budgets and resources, order and evaluate assessments, act as Steering Committee for Implementations, and assure the benefits are realized.
Benefits sought are Transit Service improvements, OpEx reduction, capability building, optimizing processes, all with a focus on people: flow, safety, climate: Joy of living, working, entertaining in our urban environments
The SFMTA Transit Waste Index Assessment revealed 34.8% waste in the T-line on Third Street. SFMTA conducted a Proof of Concept leveraging a dynamic, multi-mode traffic flow optimization solution which yielded a 15.8% Service Hour reduction, 73% red-light delay reduction, increased speed, and 26% GHG emission reduction.
MTC has awarded a $3M grant to scale the testing to 75 intersections. The expected initial benefits include removal of 3-4 Light Rail Vehicles running $1.4M OpEx each.
This savings can be re-invested without any need for external funding.