The intermodal connection : integrating new rail lines with existing transit services

Abstract

Many North American cities have recently opened or extended existing heavy and light rail systems to provide high-quality public transport alternatives. Due to the high capital and operating costs of rail transit, however, expanding the service coverage in a cost-effective manner requires more flexible and less capital-intensive supplementary modes such as buses. Integrating bus and rail services well can allow a transit system to serve a broad variety of travel needs. One recent example of a city pursuing rail transit is San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the 11-mile Tren Urbano heavy rail line is now under construction and expected to open in 2002. Tren Urbano will connect with existing bus and público (privately-operated jitney) systems. Over time, bus and pdiblico services have generally declined as the region has grown more automobile-dependent. This thesis considers the broad question of how to integrate bus and rail services successfully, focusing on the transition from a bus-only system to an intermodal system. Specifically, this thesis first develops a framework for analyzing specific integration strategies and evaluates several potential approaches a transit agency can pursue. It then discusses various planning principles that can assist decision-makers with strategic and tactical integration issues. Some of these issues include operating arrangements, fare integration, network design, and schedule coordination. To support these principles and to provide insight for the San Juan case, this research evaluates the intermodal integration experiences of five cities in the United States (Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Washington, and Portland). In some cases, transit became more effective in both traditional and non-traditional travel markets when buses were used to supplement rather than compete with rail. In other cases, inattention to buses and a general lack of schedule, fare, and route coordination resulted in less favorable outcomes. Finally, this thesis applies the analytical framework, planning principles, and case study lessons to develop and evaluate strategies for integrating San Juan's existing transit network with Tren Urbano. For the buses, it focuses on evaluating service proposals for key corridors and finds that the current network structure is well-suited to feeding Tren Urbano and serving existing bus riders. For the público, it addresses more fundamental institutional issues. It explores the possibility of developing new contracted feeder small bus or van service to Tren Urbano, redirecting routes to avoid direct competition with públicos, and creating "Tren Urbano Plazas" to attract suburban motorists to transit.