This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Archived Versions

1.258J / 11.541J / ESD.226J Public Transportation Service and Operations Planning

As taught in: Spring 2006

Orange County Transportation Authority bus.

Buses and surface transit are transportation modes explored in this course. (Image courtesy of Morven.)

Level:

Graduate

Instructors:

Prof. Nigel Wilson

Course Features

Course Description

This course describes the evolution and role of urban public transportation modes, systems, and services, focusing on bus and rail. Technological characteristics and their impacts on capacity, service quality, and cost are described. Current practice and new methods for data collection and analysis, performance monitoring, route design, frequency determination, and vehicle and crew scheduling are also discussed. In addition, the effect of pricing policy and service quality on ridership and methods for estimating costs associated with proposed service changes are presented together with means to improve operations through real time intervention.