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2008 Update

iXpress: Central Transit Corridor Express Bus Project

Region of Waterloo

This report summarizes progress on the iXpress: Central Transit Corridor Express Bus Showcase from April 2007 through March 2008. The main sections of this update are:

Introduction

This demonstration project was implemented to shift people to sustainable modes of transport in the Waterloo region via a new express bus service called iXpress and other complementary transportation enhancements. The iXpress project is a limited-stop express service utilizing advanced transit technology and inter-modal integration initiatives. Its main components are: inter-modal integration, advanced transit technology, and marketing and community outreach.

This summary reports progress made in 2007-08 to complete the various components of the iXpress project in the areas of transit technology, umbrella marketing, social-based marketing, intermodal integration, and measuring and monitoring.

Summary of work completed

Inter-modal Integration

The goal of this project component is to provide facilities and amenities that encourage multi-modal transit travel as follows:

iXpress shelters: Shelters were installed for the northbound and southbound direction at the Bridgecam station,-University of Waterloo (northbound stop) Uptown Waterloo (southbound stop), Charles Street and Ottawa Street (southbound stop), Charles Street and Ottawa Street (northbound stop), and Cambridge Centre Transit Terminal.

Bike racks on buses installation and awareness/education campaign: Education and awareness of GRT's bus-n-bike initiatives continued at local events, including: the Sunoco Earth Day and Manulife Bike and Hike for Heart at RIM Park in Waterloo, the Cambridge Tour de Grande, and at Car Free Week in Kitchener and at the University of Waterloo, as well as Commuter Challenge throughout the Region.

Bicycle storage at key stops: No additions were made to the bicycle parking (short and long term) supply during this period. The lack of rental activity for the lockers meant there was no feedback available from users, which is necessary before additional purchases are made.

Cycling links: Workload challenges and some budgets uncertainties resulted in no activity during this period.

Advanced Transit Technology

Progress was made on the implementation of the global positioning system (GPS), automatic passenger counting (APC) system, real-time information displays for express service, web-based trip planning for all Grand River Transit services, and transit signal priority, including both installations and staff training. The equipment was provided by Innovations in Transportation Inc. (INIT).

Global positioning system: The central system was installed and on-board equipment was installed on 15 iXpress buses. The mobile data terminals (MDTs) on the buses have experienced periodic service interruptions and the problem is under review. When it is working as planned, supervisors can use the MDTs to monitor the system and communicate with operators. Operators use the MDTs to monitor schedule adherence and keep track of scheduled arrivals at the next stops along the route.

Automatic passenger counting (APC) system: Installation was completed on 19 non-iXpress buses and 15 iXpress buses, and initial testing commenced. One of the main goals of the system is to gather data on bus performance. This is done via the MOBILEstatistics application, which provides information such as schedule adherence and passenger counts. This was operational for the iXpress vehicles since the APCsystem system was first connected. However, non-iXpress buses required manual data intervention. Problems were resolved and the system now allows the gathering of information on all iXpress vehicles and a sampling of other routes. This information will allow comparison of the performance of the iXpress route to other routes.

Real-time information displays for express service: Displays were installed at all but one location. Passengers also receive information via digital displays on the buses and automated ‘next stop’ announcements. Problems were encountered at shelters where the units were solar powered. Attempts to rectify the problem were not successful and alternatives are under examination. Personal digital assistant feasibility was reviewed which would make real time transit information available to people with personal data devices. A text-messaging system for ‘next bus information by stop’ was developed and installed, and testing commenced. This feature involves updating all bus stop identification numbers that the public uses to find the schedule for each stop. These numbers have to be installed at each stop in the system for both the text messaging and the telephone next-bus schedule information that is also being installed. There are about 2,700 stops and the signage at all of the stops needs to be updated. Cambridge was done last fall. Kitchener and Waterloo were started in January and will be completed in April.

Web-based trip planning for all Grand River Transit services: The GIRO web-based trip planner was developed and testing was initiated. Data uploads were done and modifications were made to make the information easier for the public to understand.

Transit signal priority (TSP): The installation of queue jumps was delayed. It was determined there are few locations where real benefits may be gained, and work is continuing to assess options. Work was done to fine-tune traffic signal priority. Initial data was collected on four iXpress runs with the TSP system operating. Follow-up data collection was then collected with the TSP system turned off. A comparison was made to evaluate effectiveness and identify adjustments.

Marketing and Community Outreach

Basic service marketing: Marketing activities continued to include articles/ads in various publications to provide information updates about schedule enhancements and new information services. The customer newsletter TransitTALK was distributed to provide customers with updates on iXpress service enhancements and changes to bus stop markers. An article promoting the new customer information systems was published in the Region’s publication “Living Here” and distributed to over 150,000 households in the Region. Grand River Transit continued to promote iXpress through advertisements in university and community publications.

Customer feedback increased since the installation of the new customer information displays in Malls and Terminals, and the iXpress real-time digital displays in iXpress stations. All customer comments were tracked and reviewed to identify common issue trends that can be addressed.

Umbrella marketing program: The EasyGo name was trademarked and marketing and promotional strategies were developed for the official launch of the new services.

Community-based social marketing program: This project component tested the use of marketing directed toward residents to encourage the use of public transit. Information was sent to the 538 households that already use one or more sustainable transportation modes, and those that rely on personal vehicles but expressed an interest in public transit. Further information was requested by 23 households.

Benefits measurement

A number of monitoring and evaluation activities were conducted in 2007-2008 to assess the impact of inter-modal integration, advanced transit technology; and marketing and community outreach, as follows

Impacts of transit signal priority: The VISSIM microscopic traffic simulation model was used to evaluate the impacts of transit signal priority (TSP) on transit vehicle and general vehicle delay. Preliminary results suggest that the type of recovery strategy (i.e. how the signal timing plans are changed after transit signal priority has been granted) has a significant influence on the impact of TSP on main-street and cross-street vehicle delays. Analysis of these results, as well as investigations of other factors influencing TSP performance, are continuing.

Accuracy of the passenger information displays: A survey was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the passenger information displays at iXpress bus shelters. Preliminary results suggest that the displayed “time to next bus” information is within 2 minutes of the actual time about 75% of the time during the peak-period and within 4 minutes about 90% of the time during the off-peak period.

Schedule adherence: Data was collected to quantify schedule adherence on local routes (those not benefiting from TSP) and the iXpress service. Analysis of these data is expected to be completed by the end of April.

Intercept survey: A system-wide passenger intercept survey was conducted to update estimates of the impact of the iXpress service on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Geocoding of the survey responses and analysis remains to be completed.

Individualized marketing survey: Following a pilot survey done in September 2006 to determine household commuting habits, a second survey was conducted in September 2007 of the same households to establish the impact that the individualized marketing had on trip-making behaviour. The results indicated that respondents had increased their use of environmentally friendly modes (i.e. walking, cycling, and transit) from 16.7% to 18.8% of all trips and decreased their use of auto modes (i.e. as driver, as passenger, or taxi) from 82.4% to 80.0%. Cost/benefit and sensitivity analyses are currently being conducted to determine the economic attractiveness of incorporating individualized marketing as part of the on-going marketing activities of Grand River Transit.

Challenges and successes

When it was started in 2005, iXpress service ran every 15 minutes at peak times and 30 minutes in off-peak hours. In mid 2007, Saturday and Sunday service was added at 30-minute intervals. In September 2008, 15-minute interval service will be introduced for off-peak weekdays. Daily passenger counts have been made since iXpress was launched and targets have consistently been reached. Recently, the final target of 6,000 daily passengers was exceeded. The project continues to promote inter-modal integration. All buses are fitted with bike racks and ring-and-post bike racks were installed at each station. Longer-term bike parking lockers are also available at key transit terminals. Ridership levels for iXpress have exceeded the initial targets. The iXpress has developed a solid community profile due to promotion, bus shelter design and bus fleet identification. The demonstration project has opened lines of cooperation between staffs in regional organizations and has increased in-house knowledge and expertise.

Balancing the number of iXpress stops with associated delays and effect on travel time has been a challenge, as was integrating the iXpress with local routes. Fifteen iXpress buses are equipped with vehicle location control systems. Dispatch and the control centre use this technology to track the location of buses. Thirty-four buses have been fitted with passenger counters to obtain information on passenger activity and running times.

GRT has been measuring the direct impact of certain project components (such as the reduction in delay due to implementing TSP) by collecting field measurements. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo has been engaged to help correlate increasing bus ridership to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Transit signal priority (TSP) has been implemented at 17 intersections within three transit corridors. Vehicular delay, transit delay, and various traffic control parameters were examined to determine which intersections would best benefit from TSP.

Next steps

The next steps include evaluating potential new stations, fine-tuning and expanding transit priority traffic signalling and infrastructure, the system-wide rollout of automatic vehicle location (AVL) and automatic passenger counter (APC) technology, and employer outreach through ecomobility.

Project participants

The lead participants in this project are the Region of Waterloo and Grand River Transit. Other partners and supporters include the Cities of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Grand River Hospital.

For More Information

For more information, visit the iXpress website at http://www.grt.ca or contact:

John Cicuttin
Associate Director, Transportation Planning
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
150 Frederick Street
Kitchener, ON
N2G 4J3
Tel: 519 575-4023
Fax: 519 575-4449
Email: CiJohn@region.waterloo.on.ca

For posted information about this project, visit the UTSP Website Case Study Library.
Date modified:
2010-02-03