Community Bus Transportation: An Emerging Transit Mode

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Community Bus Transportation An Emerging Transit
Mode

• Kate Hunter-Zaworski, Ph.D., P.E.
• Director, NCAT
• TRANSED 2007 Montreal Canada

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Outline

• Overview of new transit mode
• Route characteristics
• Vehicle Characteristics
• Case Study
• Ergonomic Challenge

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1. Community Public Transit

• What is it?
• Who does it serve?
• How is it different from current modes?

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2. Route Structure

• Fixed Route
• Flexible Route
• Hybrid Routes
• Flexible service hours

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3. Vehicles

• Typically smaller 12-20 passengers
• Built on truck chassis
• High Floor
• 8-10 year life expectancy

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Vehicle Challenges

• Steps
• Lifts
• Front, Side or Rear
• Mobility Aid Securement
• Internal circulation
• Ride quality
• Lighting

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So what is the problem?

• Current vehicles do not meet needs of seniors
  and people with disabilities
• Current low floor smaller vehicles do not have
  long service life

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Universal Design for Vehicles

• Low floor
• Mobility Aid Accommodation
• Seats for All
• Comfortable Ride Quality
• 8-10 year service life

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Potential Vehicles Top Five

• The Friendly Bus, by Dallas Smith Corp.
• Hybrid HD Senator Citibus, by Azure
• Titan II, by Glaval
• LC Series, by IC Corp.
• President Low Floor, by Startrans

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President Low Floor, Startrans

• 10 Entry
• 19,000 Lbs GVW
• 19 passengers 2 W.C.
• 12,000 General Warranty

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LC Series, IC Corp.

• 14.5 Entry, with 11 kneel
• 20,500 lbs GVW
• Assumed - 19 passengers, or 15 2 W.C.
• Chassis Custom made by International

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Titan II, Glaval

• Higher Floor
• 12,300 lbs GVW
• 14 passengers 2 W.C.
• 5 year or 150k mile warranty
• Chassis GMC G-Cutaway

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Hybrid HD Senator Citibus, Azure

• Higher floor 12 at first step
• 14-16 Passengers 2 W.C.
• Electric Hybrid Motor
• Chassis Workhorse W42

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The Friendly Bus, Dallas Smith Corp.

• 8 Entry, or 5 kneel
• 18,000 lbs GVW
• 15 Passengers, or 9 2 W.C.
• Chassis Ford F450 Lo-Floor

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4. Case Studies

• Translink Vancouver B.C.
• Oregon Paratransit Operators

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Small Vehicle Issues

• Common to most transit agencies
• Limited number of vehicles in market
• Challenge to industry to develop innovative and
  sustainable solutions

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Community Shuttle -Translink

• Essential component of multi-modal transit system
• Reaches out into lower density neighborhoods
• Serves seniors and also people with disabilities

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5. Ergonomic Challenges

• Steep steps at front of vehicle
• Mobility Aid lift at back side of vehicle
• Limited Securement Space
• Poor Ride Quality
• Wheelchairs ride behind rear axle
• Problems with over-size Mobility Aids

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5. Industry Challenges

• Lack of low floor vehicles with service life
  expectations required by public transportation
• Limited market size
• Need to also consider fuel options

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Acknowledgement

• Thank you to the students in Public
  Transportation Class at Oregon State University
  for their assistance with this project. Thank you
  to all the transit agencies who keep asking for
  new low floor small vehicles.

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CONTACT US

• National Center for Accessible Transportation
• 220 Owen Hall
• Oregon State University
• Corvallis, OR , 97331-3212
• Tel [phone]
• ncat_at_oregonstate.edu
• http//ncat.oregonstate.edu