Highlights of the Transit Bus Technology Workshop - April 29-30, 1982

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-09-01

The Transit Bus Technology Workshop, held at the Transportation Systems Center on April 29-30, 1982, provided UMTA with current information on research, development, and technical assistance needed to improve the economy and performance of transit bu...

75 FR 23843 - Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-04

... transit facilities and equipment. d. For facilities, evidence of proposed project compliance with ``Green Building'' certification. 3. For transit asset management system projects: If asset management system...-New York, Administrator, Region 7-Kansas One Bowling Green, Room 429, New City, MO, 901 Locust Street...

Evaluation of transit operations : data applications of Tri-Met's automated bus dispatching system

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-02-01

This paper presents an analysis of operating performance for Tri-Met, the transit provider for the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. The analysis draws on data recovered by Tri-Met's automated Bus Dispatching System (BDS) and focuses on two main su...

Connecticut DOT statewide bus system study : executive summary

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-07-01

The Connecticut Statewide Bus System Study has been undertaken to ensure that bus transit in Connecticut serves continuing needs in the most efficient manner possible. The Study has taken a comprehensive look at the state's twenty urban and rural tra...

Assessment of the applicability of cooperative vehicle-highway automation systems (CVHAS) to bus transit and intermodal freight : case study feasibility analyses in the Metropolitan Chicago Region.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-12-01

This report presents the results of its performance assessment of the feasibility of applying cooperative vehicle- highway automation systems (CVHAS) to bus transit and freight movements in the metropolitan Chicago area. : CVHAS are systems that prov...

Tradeoffs between costs and greenhouse gas emissions in the design of urban transit systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Griswold, Julia B.; Madanat, Samer; Horvath, Arpad

2013-12-01

Recent investments in the transit sector to address greenhouse gas emissions have concentrated on purchasing efficient replacement vehicles and inducing mode shift from the private automobile. There has been little focus on the potential of network and operational improvements, such as changes in headways, route spacing, and stop spacing, to reduce transit emissions. Most models of transit system design consider user and agency cost while ignoring emissions and the potential environmental benefit of operational improvements. We use a model to evaluate the user and agency costs as well as greenhouse gas benefit of design and operational improvements to transit systems. We examine how the operational characteristics of urban transit systems affect both costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The research identifies the Pareto frontier for designing an idealized transit network. Modes considered include bus, bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), and metro (heavy) rail, with cost and emissions parameters appropriate for the United States. Passenger demand follows a many-to-many travel pattern with uniformly distributed origins and destinations. The approaches described could be used to optimize the network design of existing bus service or help to select a mode and design attributes for a new transit system. The results show that BRT provides the lowest cost but not the lowest emissions for our large city scenarios. Bus and LRT systems have low costs and the lowest emissions for our small city scenarios. Relatively large reductions in emissions from the cost-optimal system can be achieved with only minor increases in user travel time.

Designing a New National Household Travel Survey : Innovations in Collecting and Analyzing Long-distance Travel Information

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-10-21

As part of its commitment to clean vehicle technologies, the City of Burbank tests a fuel cell bus in its mass transit system. BurbankBus, which provides transit services in and around the City of Burbank, California, has four fixedroute transit line...

San Diego Wheelchair Accessible Bus Study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-09-01

The study describes the implementation and early operation of a pilot project of fixed route, wheelchair accessible bus service on two routes of the San Diego Transit system. Five buses of the Transit Authority fleet were retrofitted with wheelchair ...

Land use impacts of bus rapid transit : phase II -- effects of BRT station proximity on property values along the Boston silver line Washington Street Corridor.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

The development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems is relatively recent in the U.S.; however, several systems are operating and many : more are being planned. A comprehensive understanding of the relationship between land uses and BRT systems is need...

Crashworthiness evaluation of mass transit buses.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-11-01

Mass transit bus systems are an integral part of the national transportation network, serving more than 20.6 billion passenger-miles per year with a relatively low fatality rate. Bus occupant injuries are evenly distributed among crashes on all sides...

Analysis, operation and maintenance of a fuel cell/battery series-hybrid bus for urban transit applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bubna, Piyush; Brunner, Doug; Gangloff, John J.; Advani, Suresh G.; Prasad, Ajay K.

The fuel cell hybrid bus (FCHB) program was initiated at the University of Delaware in 2005 to demonstrate the viability of fuel cell vehicles for transit applications and to conduct research and development to facilitate the path towards their eventual commercialization. Unlike other fuel cell bus programs, the University of Delaware's FCHB design features a battery-heavy hybrid which offers multiple advantages in terms of cost, performance and durability. The current fuel cell hybrid bus is driven on a regular transit route at the University of Delaware. The paper describes the baseline specifications of the bus with a focus on the fuel cell and the balance of plant. The fuel cell/battery series-hybrid design is well suited for urban transit routes and provides key operational advantages such as hydrogen fuel economy, efficient use of the fuel cell for battery recharging, and regenerative braking. The bus is equipped with a variety of sensors including a custom-designed cell voltage monitoring system which provide a good understanding of bus performance under normal operation. Real-time data collection and analysis have yielded key insights for fuel cell bus design optimization. Results presented here illustrate the complex flow of energy within the various subsystems of the fuel cell hybrid bus. A description of maintenance events has been included to highlight the issues that arise during general operation. The paper also describes several modifications that will facilitate design improvements in future versions of the bus. Overall, the fuel cell hybrid bus demonstrates the viability of fuel cells for urban transit applications in real world conditions.

Evaluation of bus transit reliability in the District of Columbia.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-11-01

Several performance metrics can be used to assess the reliability of a transit system. These include on-time arrivals, travel-time : adherence, run-time adherence, and customer satisfaction, among others. On-time arrival at bus stops is one of the pe...

Level of service for pedestrian movement towards the performance of passenger information in public transport stations in Klang Valley

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramli, M. Z.; Hanipah, M. H.; Lee, L. G.; Loo, K. F.; Wong, J. K.; Zawawi, M. H.; Fuad, N. F. S.

2017-09-01

Rapid growth in car ownership in Malaysia plays a major role to traffic congestion. Hence, public transportation is crucial to cater the residents in high-density area especially in Klang Valley. Signage information in public transport station is one of an important passenger information system. Poor placement of sign information will decrease the efficiency of passenger flow and caused congestion in the station. Passenger information system is very useful for trip planning and decision making. Therefore, it is interesting to study the performance of passenger information system in focusing the movement behavior of pedestrian at non-peak period. Thus, the study on pedestrian movement during non-peak period on weekdays and weekends in mass transit stations and bus transit stations in Klang Valley was carried out by using video observation. The observation of the pedestrian movement was made in Mass Transit Station 1 in the middle of Kuala Lumpur and Mass Transit Station 2 in southern of Kuala Lumpur. The other site was focused at Bus Transit Station 1 in Putrajaya and Bus Transit Station 2 in Kajang. Findings shown that Mass Transit Station 1 having the best facility in terms of passenger information which the level of service obtained is LOS A, while the lowest level of service which is LOS E was obtained in Bus Transit Station 2.

Economic impacts of bus rapid transit in southeast Michigan.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-12-01

In recent years, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has generated great interest across the United States. There are more than 20 BRT : systems in existence, and more are in the planning stage (including in Detroit). Within the next few years, BRT will be plann...

A uniform transit safety records system for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-01-01

This study was conceived as the first phase of a three-phase program to develop a safety data base for intracity bus transit. It involved reviewing the state of the art of general transportation safety management, examining the current intracity bus ...

Front Range commuter bus study. Phase 2 : final report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-10-01

The goal of Front Range Commuter Bus service would be to provide a commuter bus service that would operate seamlessly with local transit systems and would be run through a partnership with each of the cities, CDOT, RTD and participating private provi...

An experimental study on real time bus arrival time prediction with GPS data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

Bus headway in a rural area is usually much larger than that in an urban area. Providing real-time bus : arrival information could make the public transit system more user-friendly and thus enhance its : competitiveness among various transportation m...

An experimental study on real time bus arrival time prediction with GPS data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-01-01

Bus headway in a rural area usually is much larger than that in an urban area. Providing real-time bus arrival information could make the public transit system more user-friendly and thus enhance its competitiveness among various transportation modes...

Bus Fare Collection System Assessment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-01-01

An assessment was conducted to examine the impact that rising fare levels are having on bus transit fare collection systems. Problems have been reported with regard to the handling of dollar bills and lost revenue. This report addresses these problem...

Supervision strategies for improved reliability of bus routes. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1991-09-01

The synthesis will be of interest to transit agency managers and supervisors, as well as to operating and planning personnel who are concerned with the reliability and scheduling of buses. Information is provided on service monitoring, service supervision and control, and supervision strategies. Reliability of transit service is critical to bus transit ridership. The extent of service supervision has an important bearing on reliability. The report describes the various procedures that are used by transit agencies to monitor and maintain bus service reliability. Most transit systems conduct checks of the number of riders at maximum load points and monitor schedulemore » adherence at these locations. Other supervisory actions include service restoration techniques, and strategies such as schedule control, headway control, load control, extraboard management, and personnel selection and training. More sophisticated technologies, such as automatic passenger counting (APC) systems and automatic vehicle location and control (AVLC), have been employed by some transit agencies and are described in the synthesis.« less

49 CFR 611.301 - Small Starts eligibility.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... extension to a fixed guideway, or a corridor-based bus rapid transit system, a project must: (1) Be a Small... extension to a fixed guideway, or a corridor-based bus rapid system, a project must: (1) Be a Small Starts...

49 CFR 611.301 - Small Starts eligibility.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... extension to a fixed guideway, or a corridor-based bus rapid transit system, a project must: (1) Be a Small... extension to a fixed guideway, or a corridor-based bus rapid system, a project must: (1) Be a Small Starts...

A study of headway maintenance for bus routes : causes and effects of "bus bunching" in extensive and congested service areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

A healthy and efficient public transit system is indispensable to reduce congestion, emissions, energy consumption, and car : dependency in urban areas. The objective of this research is to 1) develop methods to evaluate and visualize bus service rel...

Digital Map Requirements For Automatic Vehicle Location

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-12-01

New Jersey Transit (NJT) is currently investigating acquisition of an automated vehicle locator (AVL) system. The purpose of the AVL system is to monitor the location of buses. Knowing the location of a bus enables the agency to manage the bus fleet ...

USDOT Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Initiative Transit Data Gaps for Rail Transit Systems Initial Planning Workshop Notes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-06-23

This document presents the notes taken at the USDOT Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Transit Data Gaps for Rail Transit Systems Initial Planning Workshop. Different scenarios for handling increased demand on rail and bus transit systems are discu...

A preliminary survey analysis of school shuttle bus system towards smart mobility solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yue, Wong Seng; Hoy, Cheong Wan; Chye, Koh Keng

2017-10-01

Mobility and accessibility are crucial indicators of urban development. Public transport in the urban areas came into existence to fulfil transportation needs as well as mobility and accessibility demands. Ridership can be affected by the quality and quantity of transit service. However, technical improvements are needed for such as real-time bus information, controlling run time and headway delay. Thus, this paper is aimed to carry out a preliminary survey to determine the problems of school shuttle bus that faced by the students in a selected educational institution, their perceptions of using shuttle bus tracking and information mobile application and impacts of real-time information of public transits on bus ridership and towards smart mobility solutions. Efficient public transportation system needs further investigation about the role of mobile application for the bus tracking system in supporting smart mobility actions and real-time information. The proposed application also provides a smart solution for the management of public infrastructures and urban facilities in Malaysia in future. Eventually, this study opens an opportunity to improve Malaysian quality of life on the public value that created for the city as a whole.

Effect of B20 and Low Aromatic Diesel on Transit Bus NOx Emissions Over Driving Cycles with a Range of Kinetic Intensity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lammert, M. P.; McCormick, R. L.; Sindler, P.

2012-10-01

Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions for transit buses for up to five different fuels and three standard transit duty cycles were compared to establish whether there is a real-world biodiesel NOx increase for transit bus duty cycles and engine calibrations. Six buses representing the majority of the current national transit fleet and including hybrid and selective catalyst reduction systems were tested on a heavy-duty chassis dynamometer with certification diesel, certification B20 blend, low aromatic (California Air Resources Board) diesel, low aromatic B20 blend, and B100 fuels over the Manhattan, Orange County and UDDS test cycles. Engine emissions certification level hadmore » the dominant effect on NOx; kinetic intensity was the secondary driving factor. The biodiesel effect on NOx emissions was not statistically significant for most buses and duty cycles for blends with certification diesel, except for a 2008 model year bus. CARB fuel had many more instances of a statistically significant effect of reducing NOx. SCR systems proved effective at reducing NOx to near the detection limit on all duty cycles and fuels, including B100. While offering a fuel economy benefit, a hybrid system significantly increased NOx emissions over a same year bus with a conventional drivetrain and the same engine.« less

Transit bus life cycle cost and year 2007 emissions estimation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-06-01

The report presents a study of transit bus life cycle cost (LCC) analysis, and projected transit bus emissions and fuel economy for 2007 : model year buses. It covers four bus types: diesel buses using ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD), diesel buses usi...

Evaluation guidelines for bus rapid transit demonstration projects

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-02-01

The Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Bus Rapid Transit Demonstration Program is supporting demonstrations of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in selected cities across the United States. The US BRT Demonstration Program aims to adapt the principles of h...

Flywheel/Diesel Hybrid Power Drive: Urban Bus Vehicle Simulation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-05-01

This report describes the results of a Transportation Systems Center investigation conducted under Urban Mass Transportation Administration sponsorship, of the practicality of a flywheel/diesel hybrid power drive for urban transit bus propulsion. The...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

This report describes operations at Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) in Hartford for one prototype fuel cell bus and three new diesel buses operating from the same location. The prototype fuel cell bus was manufactured by Van Hool and ISE Corp. and features an electric hybrid drive system with a UTC Power PureMotion 120 Fuel Cell Power System and ZEBRA batteries for energy storage. The fuel cell bus started operation in April 2007, and evaluation results through October 2009 are provided in this report.

Bus industry market study. Report -- Task 3.2: Fuel cell/battery powered bus system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zalbowitz, M.

1992-06-02

In support of the commercialization of fuel cells for transportation, Georgetown University, as a part of the DOE/DOT Fuel Cell Transit Bus Program, conducted a market study to determine the inventory of passenger buses in service as of December, 1991, the number of buses delivered in 1991 and an estimate of the number of buses to be delivered in 1992. Short term and long term market projections of deliveries were also made. Data was collected according to type of bus and the field was divided into the following categories which are defined in the report: transit buses, school buses, commercialmore » non-transit buses, and intercity buses. The findings of this study presented with various tables of data collected from identified sources as well as narrative analysis based upon interviews conducted during the survey.« less

Savannah River bus project

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Summers, W.A.

1998-08-01

The H2Fuel Bus is the world`s first hybrid hydrogen electric transit bus. It was developed through a public/private partnership involving several leading technology and industrial organizations in the Southeast, with primary funding and program management provided by the Department of Energy. The primary goals of the project are to gain valuable information on the technical readiness and economic viability of hydrogen buses and to enhance the public awareness and acceptance of emerging hydrogen technologies. The bus has been operated by the transit agency in Augusta, Georgia since April, 1997. It employs a hybrid IC engine/battery/electric drive system, with onboard hydrogenmore » fuel storage based on the use of metal hydrides. Initial operating results have demonstrated an overall energy efficiency (miles per Btu) of twice that of a similar diesel-fueled bus and an operating range twice that of an all-battery powered electric bus. Tailpipe emissions are negligible, with NOx less than 0.2 ppm. Permitting, liability and insurance issues were addressed on the basis of extensive risk assessment and safety analyses, with the inherent safety characteristic of metal hydride storage playing a major role in minimizing these concerns. Future plans for the bus include continued transit operation and use as a national testbed, with potential modifications to demonstrate other hydrogen technologies, including fuel cells.« less

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2016

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew; Jeffers, Matthew

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of results from evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Funding for this effort is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration. The 2016 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year for each demonstration, from August 2015 through Julymore » 2016. The results for these buses account for more than 550,000 miles traveled and 59,500 hours of fuel cell power system operation. The primary results presented in the report are from three demonstrations of two different fuel-cell-dominant bus designs: Zero Emission Bay Area Demonstration Group led by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in California; American Fuel Cell Bus Project at SunLine Transit Agency in California; and American Fuel Cell Bus Project at the University of California at Irvine.« less

Optimum bus system and water transportation study : staff report to the Board of Directors of Marin County Transit District

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1969-08-01

Describes an optimum bus system replacing existing Greyhound service and designed primarily for the purpose of meeting commuter travel demands in the San Francisco-Marin corridor as well as intra-county travel, and mid-day and weekend trips between M...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2015

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew; Gikakis, Christina

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. Various stakeholders, including FCEB developers, transit agencies, and system integrators, have expressed the value of this annual status report, which provides a summary of results from evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The annual status report tracks the progress of the FCEB industry toward meeting technical targets, documents the lessons learned, and discusses the path forward for commercial viability of fuel cell technology for transit buses. Themore » 2015 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year for each demonstration, from August 2014 through July 2015. The results for these buses account for more than 1,045,000 miles traveled and 83,000 hours of fuel cell power system operation. The primary results presented in the report are from two demonstrations of fuel-cell-dominant bus designs: the Zero Emission Bay Area Demonstration Group led by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in California and the American Fuel Cell Bus Project at SunLine Transit Agency in California.« less

Rochester New York Integrated Transit Demonstration : Volume 3. Appendices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

The Rochester Integrated Transit Demonstration (RITD) was designed to assess the roles of demand-responsive transit services in a regionwide transit system that includes an extensive fixed-route bus network. The demonstration extended transit service...

Rochester New York Integrated Transit Demonstration : Volume 2. Evaluation Report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

The Rochester Integrated Transit Demonstration (RITD) was designed to assess the roles of demand-responsive transit services in a regionwide transit system that includes an extensive fixed-route bus network. The demonstration extended transit service...

Rochester New York Integrated Transit Demonstration : Volume 1. Executive Summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

The Rochester Integrated Transit Demonstration (RITD) was designed to assess the roles of demand-responsive transit services in a regionwide transit system that includes an extensive fixed-route bus network. The demonstration extended transit service...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit...

49 CFR 655.4 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...) Carrying a firearm for security purposes. Vehicle means a bus, electric bus, van, automobile, rail car... involved is a bus, electric bus, van, or automobile, one or more vehicles (including non-FTA funded... the mass transit vehicle involved is a rail car, trolley car, trolley bus, or vessel, the mass transit...

Heavy Duty Diesel Truck and Bus Hybrid Powertrain Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-01

electric 22 ft. bus that offers greater range than battery-electric buses can provide. Designed to seat 22 passengers plus standees, this Ebus model...system that has both parallel and series operating modes. The relatively low volume of many truck and bus designs has inhibited the development of...that battery packs need to be designed for 50,000 lifetime energy storage cycles in a hybrid transit bus vs. just 3,600 cycles in the typical

Complexity analysis on public transport networks of 97 large- and medium-sized cities in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Zhanwei; Zhang, Zhuo; Wang, Hongfei; Ma, Li

2018-04-01

The traffic situation in Chinese urban areas is continuing to deteriorate. To make a better planning and designing of the public transport system, it is necessary to make profound research on the structure of urban public transport networks (PTNs). We investigate 97 large- and medium-sized cities’ PTNs in China, construct three types of network models — bus stop network, bus transit network and bus line network, then analyze the structural characteristics of them. It is revealed that bus stop network is small-world and scale-free, bus transit network and bus line network are both small-world. Betweenness centrality of each city’s PTN shows similar distribution pattern, although these networks’ size is various. When classifying cities according to the characteristics of PTNs or economic development level, the results are similar. It means that the development of cities’ economy and transport network has a strong correlation, PTN expands in a certain model with the development of economy.

Transit vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) applications : near term research and development. Transit bus-pedestrian/cyclist crossing safety application : operational concept.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-11-01

This document serves as an Operational Concept for the Transit Bus-Pedestrian/Cyclist Crossing Safety application. The purpose of this document is to provide an operational description of how the Transit Bus-Pedestrian/Cyclist Crossing Safety W...

GO Bus impact analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-08-01

NJ TRANSIT launched two relatively new enhanced bus services: GO 25 serving the : Springfield Avenue corridor in 2008 and GO 28 serving the Bloomfield Avenue corridor in 2009. : As an enhanced but not full Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, GO Bus feat...

Proceedings of Bus Summit 2000 : ensuring a healthy U.S. bus industry

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-10-01

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Bus Industry Summit was held October 18-19, 2000, in Washington, DC. The Summit offered an opportunity for representatives from the transit industry, including transit providers, vehicle manufacturers, consult...

Demonstrating a Total Transit Solution for Fuel Cell Electric Buses in Boston

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-05-01

The Federal Transit Administrations (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) focuses on developing commercially viable fuel cell bus technologies. Nuvera is leading the Massachusetts Fuel Cell Bus project to demonstrate a complete transit solu...

Evaluation of Electronic Registering Fareboxes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-01-01

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of electronic registering fareboxes in use at four transit systems: Dallas Transit, Phoenix Transit, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and the Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority of...

How to guide - transit operations decision support systems (TODSS).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-01

Transit Operations Decision Support Systems (TODSS) are decision support systems designed to support dispatchers in real-time bus operations management in response to incidents, special events, and other changing conditions in order to restore servic...

Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) Fuel Cell Transit Bus Preliminary Evaluation Results

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-10-16

This report describes operations at Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) in Hartford for one prototype fuel cell bus and three new diesel buses operating from the same location. The report discusses the planned fuel cell bus demonstration and equipment us...

Investigating the determining factors for transit travel demand by bus mode in US metropolitan statistical areas.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-05-01

Proper understanding of the nature of the transit travel demand is at the heart of transportation policy making and the success of : transit systems. Unfortunately, most of the existing studies have focused on a single or few transit systems or metro...

Transit vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) applications : near term research and development transit bus stop pedestrian safety application : operational concept.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-01

This document serves as an Operational Concept for the Transit Bus Stop Pedestrian Safety application. The purpose of this document is to communicate user needs and desired capabilities for and expectations of the Transit Bus Stop Pedestrian Safety a...

Trends in bus transit operations, 1960-1974

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-01-01

This report analyzes the historical patterns of bus transit operations from 1960 to 1974 using data from 50 bus operations. Because of limitations on the available data, the analyzed data do not represent the universe of bus operations, nor is it a r...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation. Second Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew

2015-09-01

This report presents results of the American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) Project, a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses operating in the Coachella Valley area of California. The prototype AFCB was developed as part of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA's) National Fuel Cell Bus Program. Through the non-profit consortia CALSTART, a team led by SunLine Transit Agency and BAE Systems developed a new fuel cell electric bus for demonstration. SunLine added two more AFCBs to its fleet in 2014 and another in 2015. FTA and the AFCB project team are collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and DOE'smore » National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate the buses in revenue service. This report summarizes the performance results for the buses through June 2015.« less

A Feeder-Bus Dispatch Planning Model for Emergency Evacuation in Urban Rail Transit Corridors

PubMed Central

Wang, Yun; Yan, Xuedong; Zhou, Yu; Zhang, Wenyi

2016-01-01

The mobility of modern metropolises strongly relies on urban rail transit (URT) systems, and such a heavy dependence causes that even minor service interruptions would make the URT systems unsustainable. This study aims at optimally dispatching the ground feeder-bus to coordinate with the urban rails’ operation for eliminating the effect of unexpected service interruptions in URT corridors. A feeder-bus dispatch planning model was proposed for the collaborative optimization of URT and feeder-bus cooperation under emergency situations and minimizing the total evacuation cost of the feeder-buses. To solve the model, a concept of dummy feeder-bus system is proposed to transform the non-linear model into traditional linear programming (ILP) model, i.e., traditional transportation problem. The case study of Line #2 of Nanjing URT in China was adopted to illustrate the model application and sensitivity analyses of the key variables. The modeling results show that as the evacuation time window increases, the total evacuation cost as well as the number of dispatched feeder-buses decrease, and the dispatched feeder-buses need operate for more times along the feeder-bus line. The number of dispatched feeder-buses does not show an obvious change with the increase of parking spot capacity and time window, indicating that simply increasing the parking spot capacity would cause huge waste for the emergent bus utilization. When the unbalanced evacuation demand exists between stations, the more feeder-buses are needed. The method of this study will contribute to improving transportation emergency management and resource allocation for URT systems. PMID:27676179

Evaluating the attractiveness of a new light rail extension: Testing simple change and displacement change hypotheses

PubMed Central

Brown, Barbara B.; Tribby, Calvin P.; Tharp, Doug; Flick, Kristi; Miller, Harvey J.; Smith, Ken R.; Jensen, Wyatt

2015-01-01

Many communities in the United States have been adding new light rail to bus-predominant public transit systems. However, there is disagreement as to whether opening light rail lines attracts new ridership or merely draws ridership from existing transit users. We study a new light rail line in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, which is part of a complete street redevelopment. We utilize a pre-test post-test control group quasi-experimental design to test two different measures of ridership change. The first measure is calculated from stops along the light rail route; the second assumes that nearby bus stops might be displaced by the rail and calculates ridership change with those stops included as baseline. Both the simple measure (transit use changes on the complete street light rail corridor) and the “displacement” measure (transit use changes in the one-quarter mile catchment areas around new light rail stops) showed significant (p < .01) and substantial (677%) increases in transit passengers compared to pre-light rail bus users. In particular, the displacement analysis discredits a common challenge that when a new light rail line opens, most passengers are simply former bus riders whose routes were canceled in favor of light rail. The study suggests that light rail services can attract additional ridership to public transit systems. In addition, although pre-post control-group designs require time and effort, this project underscores the benefits of such quasi-experimental designs in terms of the strength of the inferences that can be drawn about the impacts of new transit infrastructure and services. PMID:26543329

Evaluating the attractiveness of a new light rail extension: Testing simple change and displacement change hypotheses.

PubMed

Werner, Carol M; Brown, Barbara B; Tribby, Calvin P; Tharp, Doug; Flick, Kristi; Miller, Harvey J; Smith, Ken R; Jensen, Wyatt

2016-01-01

Many communities in the United States have been adding new light rail to bus-predominant public transit systems. However, there is disagreement as to whether opening light rail lines attracts new ridership or merely draws ridership from existing transit users. We study a new light rail line in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, which is part of a complete street redevelopment. We utilize a pre-test post-test control group quasi-experimental design to test two different measures of ridership change. The first measure is calculated from stops along the light rail route; the second assumes that nearby bus stops might be displaced by the rail and calculates ridership change with those stops included as baseline. Both the simple measure (transit use changes on the complete street light rail corridor) and the "displacement" measure (transit use changes in the one-quarter mile catchment areas around new light rail stops) showed significant ( p < .01) and substantial (677%) increases in transit passengers compared to pre-light rail bus users. In particular, the displacement analysis discredits a common challenge that when a new light rail line opens, most passengers are simply former bus riders whose routes were canceled in favor of light rail. The study suggests that light rail services can attract additional ridership to public transit systems. In addition, although pre-post control-group designs require time and effort, this project underscores the benefits of such quasi-experimental designs in terms of the strength of the inferences that can be drawn about the impacts of new transit infrastructure and services.

Integration of bus stop counts data with census data for improving bus service.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-04-01

This research project produced an open source transit market data visualization and analysis tool suite, : The Bus Transit Market Analyst (BTMA), which contains user-friendly GIS mapping and data : analytics tools, and state-of-the-art transit demand...

Peer-to-peer information exchange on bus rapid transit (BRT) and bus priority best practices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-05-01

The purpose of this effort was to foster a dialogue among peers at transportation and planning agencies about their experiences with : promoting public transit and, in particular, the challenges they face related to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects, ...

A qualitative analysis of bus simulator training on transit incidents : a case study in Florida.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

The purpose of this research was to track and observe three Florida public transit agencies as they incorporated and integrated computer-based transit bus simulators into their existing bus operator training programs. In addition to the three Florida...

Heterogeneity of passenger exposure to air pollutants in public transport microenvironments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Fenhuan; Kaul, Daya; Wong, Ka Chun; Westerdahl, Dane; Sun, Li; Ho, Kin-fai; Tian, Linwei; Brimblecombe, Peter; Ning, Zhi

2015-05-01

Epidemiologic studies have linked human exposure to pollutants with adverse health effects. Passenger exposure in public transport systems contributes an important fraction of daily burden of air pollutants. While there is extensive literature reporting the concentrations of pollutants in public transport systems in different cities, there are few studies systematically addressing the heterogeneity of passenger exposure in different transit microenvironments, in cabins of different transit vehicles and in areas with different characteristics. The present study investigated PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters smaller than 2.5 μm), black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles (UFP) and carbon monoxide (CO) pollutant concentrations in various public road transport systems in highly urbanized city of Hong Kong. Using a trolley case housing numerous portable air monitors, we conducted a total of 119 trips during the campaign. Transit microenvironments, classified as 1). busy and secondary roadside bus stops; 2). open and enclosed termini; 3). above- and under-ground Motor Rail Transport (MTR) platforms, were investigated and compared to identify the factors that may affect passenger exposures. The pollutants inside bus and MTR cabins were also investigated together with a comparison of time integrated exposure between the transit modes. Busy roadside and enclosed termini demonstrated the highest average particle concentrations while the lowest was found on the MTR platforms. Traffic-related pollutants BC, UFP and CO showed larger variations than PM2.5 across different microenvironments and areas confirming their heterogeneity in urban environments. In-cabin pollutant concentrations showed distinct patterns with BC and UFP high in diesel bus cabins and CO high in LPG bus cabins, suggesting possible self-pollution issues and/or penetration of on-road pollutants inside cabins during bus transit. The total passenger exposure along selected routes, showed bus trips had the potential for higher integrated passenger exposure compared to MTR trips. The present study may provide useful information to better characterize the distribution of passenger exposure pattern in health assessment studies and the results also highlight the need to formulate exposure reduction based air policies in large cities.

Using Credit Cards To Pay Bus Fares in Phoenix

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-01-01

In 1991 the City of Phoenix Public Transit System, first in the nation to install magnetic card readers on the electronic fareboxes in its buses, implemented a program known as Bus Card Plus, which billed employers for trips made by employees using e...

Preliminary concept for statewide intercity bus and rail transit system : priority corridor ranking and analysis.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

This product summarizes the preliminary concept and priority corridors for development of a potential : statewide intercity bus and rail network. The concept is based upon the results of Tasks 1 through 5 of Texas : Department of Transportation Proje...

Final evaluation plan : Utah Transit Authority Connection Protection system

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-08-27

Utah Transit Authority (UTA) implemented a Connection Protection system (CP) to improve the reliability of transfers from the higher frequency light rail trains, TRAX, to the lower frequency bus services. The CP system examines the status of TRAX tra...

Evaluation of Utah Transit Authority's Connection Protection system

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-05-12

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) implemented a Connection Protection (CP) system to improve the reliability of transfers from the higher frequency light rail TRAX trains to the lower frequency bus services. The CP system examines the status of TRAX t...

Baseline Testing of the Hybrid Electric Transit Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Jeffrey C.; Eichenberg, Dennis J.; Thompson, William K.

1999-01-01

A government, industry and academic cooperative has developed a Hybrid Electric Transit Bus (HETB). Goals of the program include doubling the fuel economy of city transit buses currently in service, and reducing emissions to one-tenth of EPA standards. Unique aspects of the vehicle's power system include the use of ultra-capacitors for the energy storage system and the planned use of a natural gas fueled turbogenerator, to be developed from a small jet engine. At over 17000 kg gross weight, this is the largest vehicle to use ultra-capacitor energy storage. A description of the HETB, the results of performance testing, and future vehicle development plans are the subject of this report.

Bus-based park-and-ride system: a stochastic model on multimodal network with congestion pricing schemes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhiyuan; Meng, Qiang

2014-05-01

This paper focuses on modelling the network flow equilibrium problem on a multimodal transport network with bus-based park-and-ride (P&R) system and congestion pricing charges. The multimodal network has three travel modes: auto mode, transit mode and P&R mode. A continuously distributed value-of-time is assumed to convert toll charges and transit fares to time unit, and the users' route choice behaviour is assumed to follow the probit-based stochastic user equilibrium principle with elastic demand. These two assumptions have caused randomness to the users' generalised travel times on the multimodal network. A comprehensive network framework is first defined for the flow equilibrium problem with consideration of interactions between auto flows and transit (bus) flows. Then, a fixed-point model with unique solution is proposed for the equilibrium flows, which can be solved by a convergent cost averaging method. Finally, the proposed methodology is tested by a network example.

Implementation of Ada protocols on Mil-STD-1553 B data bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruhman, Smil; Rosemberg, Flavia

1986-01-01

Standardization activity of data communication in avionic systems started in 1968 for the purpose of total system integration and the elimination of heavy wire bundles carrying signals between various subassemblies. The growing complexity of avionic systems is straining the capabilities of MIL-STD-1553 B (first issued in 1973), but a much greater challenge to it is posed by Ada, the standard language adopted for real-time, computer embedded-systems. Hardware implementation of Ada communication protocols in a contention/token bus or token ring network is proposed. However, during the transition period when the current command/response multiplex data bus is still flourishing and the development environment for distributed multi-computer Ada systems is as yet lacking, a temporary accomodation of the standard language with the standard bus could be very useful and even highly desirable. By concentrating all status informtion and decisions at the bus controller, it was found to be possible to construct an elegant and efficient harware impelementation of the Ada protocols at the bus interface. This solution is discussed.

Environmental, health, and safety issues of fuel cells in transportation. Volume 1: Phosphoric acid fuel-cell buses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ring, S

1994-12-01

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chartered the Phosphoric Acid Fuel-Cell (PAFC) Bus Program to demonstrate the feasibility of fuel cells in heavy-duty transportation systems. As part of this program, PAFC- powered buses are being built to meet transit industry design and performance standards. Test-bed bus-1 (TBB-1) was designed in 1993 and integrated in March 1994. TBB-2 and TBB-3 are under construction and should be integrated in early 1995. In 1987 Phase I of the program began with the development and testing of two conceptual system designs- liquid- and air-cooled systems. The liquid-cooled PAFC system was chosen to continue, throughmore » a competitive award, into Phase H, beginning in 1991. Three hybrid buses, which combine fuel-cell and battery technologies, were designed during Phase III. After completing Phase II, DOE plans a comprehensive performance testing program (Phase HI) to verify that the buses meet stringent transit industry requirements. The Phase III study will evaluate the PAFC bus and compare it to a conventional diesel bus. This NREL study assesses the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues that may affect the commercialization of the PAFC bus. Because safety is a critical factor for consumer acceptance of new transportation-based technologies the study focuses on these issues. The study examines health and safety together because they are integrally related. In addition, this report briefly discusses two environmental issues that are of concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first issue involves a surge battery used by the PAFC bus that contains hazardous constituents. The second issue concerns the regulated air emissions produced during operation of the PAFC bus.« less

TITLE: Environmental, health, and safety issues offuel cells in transportation. Volume 1: Phosphoricacid fuel-cell buses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ring, Shan

1994-12-01

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) chartered the Phosphoric Acid Fuel-Cell (PAFC) Bus Program to demonstrate the feasibility of fuel cells in heavy-duty transportation systems. As part of this program, PAFC- powered buses are being built to meet transit industry design and performance standards. Test-bed bus-1 (TBB-1) was designed in 1993 and integrated in March 1994. TBB-2 and TBB-3 are under construction and should be integrated in early 1995. In 1987 Phase 1 of the program began with the development and testing of two conceptual system designs- liquid- and air-cooled systems. The liquid-cooled PAFC system was chosen to continue, through a competitive award, into Phase H, beginning in 1991. Three hybrid buses, which combine fuel-cell and battery technologies, were designed during Phase 3. After completing Phase 2, DOE plans a comprehensive performance testing program (Phase H1) to verify that the buses meet stringent transit industry requirements. The Phase 3 study will evaluate the PAFC bus and compare it to a conventional diesel bus. This NREL study assesses the environmental, health, and safety (EH&S) issues that may affect the commercialization of the PAFC bus. Because safety is a critical factor for consumer acceptance of new transportation-based technologies the study focuses on these issues. The study examines health and safety together because they are integrally related. In addition, this report briefly discusses two environmental issues that are of concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The first issue involves a surge battery used by the PAFC bus that contains hazardous constituents. The second issue concerns the regulated air emissions produced during operation of the PAFC bus.

Analyzing the Relationship Between Bus Pollution Policies and Morbidity Using a Quasi-Experiment

PubMed Central

Ngo, Nicole S.

2015-01-01

Abstract Transit buses are used by millions of commuters every day, but they emit toxic diesel fumes. In 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented emission standards for transit buses, which have been continually updated. Yet there is no quantitative evidence of the health benefits from these bus pollution policies due to data constraints and confounding variables. In this study, a quasi-experiment is used to exploit the geographic and temporal variation in emission standards by using bus vintage as a proxy for bus emissions. This is accomplished using a unique, rich panel data set, which includes daily information on bus vintage and route for the New York City Transit bus fleet between 2006 and 2009. This information is merged with daily data on emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory illnesses, which include patients’ residences at the census block level and exact admission date. Economic benefits resulting from these bus pollution policies are then estimated. Results show that stricter transit bus emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for particulate matter are associated with reduced ED visits for respiratory diseases for patients living within a few hundred feet of a bus route. These findings demonstrate that bus pollution policies have made critical improvements to public health. PMID:26376392

Analyzing the Relationship Between Bus Pollution Policies and Morbidity Using a Quasi-Experiment.

PubMed

Ngo, Nicole S

2015-09-01

Transit buses are used by millions of commuters every day, but they emit toxic diesel fumes. In 1988, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented emission standards for transit buses, which have been continually updated. Yet there is no quantitative evidence of the health benefits from these bus pollution policies due to data constraints and confounding variables. In this study, a quasi-experiment is used to exploit the geographic and temporal variation in emission standards by using bus vintage as a proxy for bus emissions. This is accomplished using a unique, rich panel data set, which includes daily information on bus vintage and route for the New York City Transit bus fleet between 2006 and 2009. This information is merged with daily data on emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory illnesses, which include patients' residences at the census block level and exact admission date. Economic benefits resulting from these bus pollution policies are then estimated. Results show that stricter transit bus emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for particulate matter are associated with reduced ED visits for respiratory diseases for patients living within a few hundred feet of a bus route. These findings demonstrate that bus pollution policies have made critical improvements to public health.

National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report and Appendices, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

2009-01-01

This is an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses operating at AC Transit in revenue service since March 20, 2006 compared to similar diesel buses operating from the same depot. This evaluation report includes results from November 2007 through October 2008. Evaluation results include implementation experience, fueling station operation, fuel cell bus operations at Golden Gate Transit, and evaluation results at AC Transit (bus usage, availability, fuel economy, maintenance costs, and roadcalls).

Development of an Automated Security Incident Reporting System (SIRS) for Bus Transit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-12-01

The security incident reporting system (sirs) is a microcomputer-based software program demonstrated at the metropolitan transit commission (mtc) in Minneapolis, mn. Sirs is designed to provide convenient storage, update and retrieval of security inc...

Evaluation of transit bus turn warning systems for pedestrians and cyclists.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-05-01

As part of a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) conducted a demonstration test of three commercially-available pedestrian turn warning systems fo...

LYMMO BRT : 15 years later.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

LYMMO bus rapid transit service began in August 1997 in Orlando, Florida, : as one of the first bus-based premium downtown circulators in the U.S. Its : construction was funded, in part, by the Federal Transit Administrations (FTAs) : Bus Rapid...

Bus Rapid Transit Demonstration Program

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-12-31

This report was prepared by the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation. It describes the FTA's Bus Rapid Transit Demonstration Program, designed to provide funding and support to transit agencies engag...

Applications for improved inventory management for public transit systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-01-01

This report documents and presents the results of a Testing and Demonstration (T&D) Project on applications for improved inventory management for public transit systems. This project is a follow-up to an earlier study on inventory management for bus ...

King County Metro Battery Electric Bus Demonstration—Preliminary Project Results

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-05-01

The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds a variety of research projects that support the commercialization of zero-emission bus technology. Recent programs include the National Fuel Cell Bus program, the Transit Investments for Greenhouse ...

Bus transportation in Connecticut : data for planning, agenda for action

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1974-03-01

Presents the conclusions and recommendations of the Connecticut Public Expenditure Council regarding the present status of bus transit service throughout Connecticut; operational and funding issues; status of bus transit elsewhere in the U. S. and se...

AVL systems for bus transit : a synthesis of transit practice

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-01-01

A vast storehouse of information exists on many subjects of concern to the transit industry. This information has resulted from research and from the successful application of solutions to problems by individuals or organizations. There is a continui...

Noise Reduction Retrofit for a "New Look" Flexible Transit Bus Service Bulletin

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-09-01

This document presents instructions on how to apply a noise treatment to a contemporary city transit bus without extensive structural alteration. Baseline bus configuration, noise ratings, and performance benchmarks are presented for a Flexible 111DC...

Pilot survey of subway and bus stop noise levels.

PubMed

Gershon, Robyn R M; Neitzel, Richard; Barrera, Marissa A; Akram, Muhammad

2006-09-01

Excessive noise exposure is a serious global urban health problem, adversely affecting millions of people. One often cited source of urban noise is mass transit, particularly subway systems. As a first step in determining risk within this context, we recently conducted an environmental survey of noise levels of the New York City transit system. Over 90 noise measurements were made using a sound level meter. Average and maximum noise levels were measured on subway platforms, and maximum levels were measured inside subway cars and at several bus stops for comparison purposes. The average noise level measured on the subway platforms was 86 +/- 4 dBA (decibel-A weighting). Maximum levels of 106, 112, and 89 dBA were measured on subway platforms, inside subway cars, and at bus stops, respectively. These results indicate that noise levels in subway and bus stop environments have the potential to exceed recommended exposure guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), given sufficient exposure duration. Risk reduction strategies following the standard hierarchy of control measures should be applied, where feasible, to reduce subway noise exposure.

Transit Bus Safety Oversight

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-11-17

After the National Transportation Safety Board conducted several accident investigations involving transit buses (Normandy, Missouri; Cosmopolis, Washington; New York, New York; and Nashville, Tennesee) and held a public hearing on transit bus safety...

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus drives around KSC Visitor Complex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

The Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus passes a mock-up orbiter named Explorer on a trek through the KSC Visitor Complex. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. The ZE bus is being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex for two days to introduce the public to the concept.

Oregon regional intelligent transportation systems (ITS) integration program. Final phase III report, transit tracker information displays

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-11-14

Transit Tracker uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to track how far a bus is along its scheduled route. This document presents the evaluation strategies and objectives, the data collection methodologies, and the results of the evaluation...

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus draws attention at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

KSC workers, with Center Director Roy Bridges (at right next to bus), head for the open door of the Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus and a ride around the center. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available to employees for viewing and a ride, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27.

Customized sampling plans : a guide to alternative sampling techniques for National Transit Database reporting

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-05-01

For estimating the system total unlinked passenger trips and passenger miles of a fixed-route bus system for the National Transit Database (NTD), the FTA approved sampling plans may either over-sample or do not yield FTAs required confidence and p...

Analysis of Florida transit bus accidents

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-06-01

Through its National Center for Transit Research, and under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Center for Urban Transportation Research was tasked with reviewing a sample of transit bus crash occurrence data from selected Flo...

Analysis of Florida transit bus crashes

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-06-01

Through its National Center for Transit Research, and under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation, the Center for Urban Transportation Research was tasked with reviewing a sample of transit bus crash occurrence data from selected Flo...

Highway Accident Summary Report: Bus Collision With Pedestrians, Normandy, Missouri, June 11, 1997

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-02-19

On June 11, 1997, a transit bus collided with seven pedestrians at a "park and ride" transit facility in Normandy, Missouri. The bus was being operated by a driver trainee who had just completed a routine stop at the station. After allowing the passe...

The Westport Connecticut Integrated Transit System : service and methods demonstration program

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-07-01

Report evaluates the implementation, operations and impacts of the Westport Transit District's demonstration grant to examine the feasibility of combining shared ride taxi service and other paratransit services with conventional bus services. Report ...

Transit as transformation : the Euclid Corridor in Cleveland

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-06-30

Public and private investments catalyzed a striking transformation along Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, generated in part by the construction of a new bus rapid transit (BRT) system known as the HealthLine. Euclid Avenues strategic location stretches...

Development and Evaluation of Smart Bus System

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-12-13

Due to stochastic traffic conditions and fluctuated demand, transit passengers often suffer from unreliable services. Especially for buses, keeping on-time schedules is challenging as they share the right of way with non-transit traffic. With the adv...

KSC-99pp1251

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-25

KSC workers, with Center Director Roy Bridges (at right next to bus), head for the open door of the Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus and a ride around the center. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product "exhaust" from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available to employees for viewing and a ride, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus draws attention at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

KSC employees, along with Center Director Roy Bridges (second from left), view the hydrogen-oxygen driven engine powering a Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available for viewing by employees, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27.

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus draws attention at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

On view in front of the Headquarters Building, the Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus attracts an interested group of employees, including Center Director Roy Bridges (second from left in foreground). Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available for viewing by employees, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27.

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus draws attention at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

In front of the Headquarters Building at KSC, Center Director Roy Bridges (left) looks at the hydrogen-oxygen driven engine powering a Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by- product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available for viewing by employees, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27.

Accessing Faith-Based Organizations Using Public Transportation.

PubMed

Lewinson, Terri; Maley, Olivia; Esnard, Ann-Margaret

2017-01-01

Nondriving aging adults are at risk of experiencing mobility barriers that inhibit access to important community resources for managing health and wellbeing. This multimethod study explores bus transportation experiences of older adults who live in extended stay hotels and use faith-based organizations to access resources. Interviews from 17 nondriving older adults were analyzed for perspectives about using faith-based organizations and residents' experiences navigating to faith-based organizations through available bus transportation in their communities. Residents described both favorable and unfavorable experiences when reaching out for help from faith-based organizations. Although they report reliance on faith-based organizations for a variety of resources, residents were challenged by an ineffective bus system that interfered with resource accessibility. Suggestions for improving bus transit systems and providing alternative, aging-friendly transportation options are discussed.

A new bus lane on urban expressway with no-bay bus stop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Zhao; Jia, Limin

2016-01-01

The sharp increase in residents and vehicles causes heavy traffic pressure in many cities. To ease traffic congestion, it has been the common sense that we should develop public transit system. The priority of the bus appears particularly necessary with the rapid development of the public transport system. The bus lane is an important embodiment of the bus priority. Focusing on the problem of the unreasonable dedicated bus lane (DBL) under the lower ratio of buses, this paper proposed a new bus lane with limited physical length. And this bus lane can reduce the lane-changing conflict caused by the buses and cars running on roads without bus lanes. Based on the cellular automata (CA) traffic flow model and the lane-changing behavior of the vehicle including the optional lane-changing and the mandatory lane-changing, a three-lane traffic model with an isolated no-bay bus stop is proposed. The ordinary three-lane traffic without a bus lane and the cases of traffic with a DBL or the proposed bus lane are simulated, and the comparisons in the form of the fundamental diagrams are made among them. It is shown that the no-bay bus stop can act as a bottleneck on the traffic flow because of the mandatory lane-changing behavior. Under a certain ratio of the bus number to the total vehicles number, (1) the traffic with the proposed bus lane has less lane-changing conflict and can provide higher traffic capacity than the ordinary traffic without a bus lane, (2) compared with the DBL, the proposed bus lane is advantageous in easing congestion on the ordinary lanes when the traffic flow is high and can avoid unreasonable allocation of the road resources.

Building the vision, a series of AZTech ITS model deployment success stories for the Phoenix metropolitan area : number ten : high-tech transit, using state-of-the art technology to keep bus riders informed

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-01-01

Traditionally, the biggest problem experienced by transit riders is a lack of information. They may not have access to a bus schedule. Or, even if they do have a copy of the Bus Book, they have no way of : knowing if their particular bus is on schedu...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pickerell, D.H.; Abkowitz, M.; Tozzi, J.

The 9 papers in the report deal with the following areas: Federal operating assistance for urban mass transit; a decade of experience; transit route characteristics and headway-based reliability control; day-of-week and part-of-month variation in bus ridership; job satisfaction and transit operator recognition programs; results of a survey of muni operators; bus marketing costs: the experience of 18 section 15 reporters from 1981 to 1983; prospects for differential transit pricing in the United States; an initial analysis of total factor productivity for public-transit coordination of transportation resources: the Georgia experience; absenteeism, accidents, and attrition: part-time versus full-time bus drivers.

Comparison of on-road emissions for hybrid and regular transit buses.

PubMed

Hallmark, Shauna L; Wang, Bo; Sperry, Robert

2013-10-01

Hybrid technology offers an attractive option for transit buses, since it has the potential to significantly reduce operating costs for transit agencies. The main impetus behind use of hybrid transit vehicles is fuel savings and reduced emissions. Laboratory tests have indicated that hybrid transit buses can have significantly lower emissions compared with conventional transit buses. However the number of studies is limited and laboratory tests may not represent actual driving conditions, since in-use vehicle operation differs from laboratory test cycles. This paper describes an on-road evaluation of in-use emission differences between hybrid-electric and conventional transit buses for the Ames, Iowa transit authority, CyRide. Emissions were collected on-road using a portable emissions monitoring system (PEMS) for three hybrid and two control buses. Emissions were collected for at least one operating bus day. Each bus was evaluated over the same route pattern, which utilizes the same driver. The number of passengers embarking or disembarking at each stop was collected by an on-board data collector so that passenger load could be included. Vehicle emissions are correlated to engine load demand, which is a function of factors such as vehicle load, speed, and acceleration. PEMS data are provided second by second and vehicle-specific power (VSP) was calculated for each row of data. Instantaneous data were stratified into the defined VSP bins and then average modal emission rates and standard errors were calculated for each bus for each pollutant. Pollutants were then compared by bus type. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon emissions were higher for the regular buses across most VSP bins than for the hybrid buses. Nitrogen oxide emissions were unexpectedly higher for the hybrid buses than for the control buses.

Texas Hydrogen Highway Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus and Fueling Infrastructure Technology Showcase - Final Scientific/Technical Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hitchcock, David

The Texas Hydrogen Highway project has showcased a hydrogen fuel cell transit bus and hydrogen fueling infrastructure that was designed and built through previous support from various public and private sector entities. The aim of this project has been to increase awareness among transit agencies and other public entities on these transportation technologies, and to place such technologies into commercial applications, such as a public transit agency. The initial project concept developed in 2004 was to show that a skid-mounted, fully-integrated, factory-built and tested hydrogen fueling station could be used to simplify the design, and lower the cost of fuelingmore » infrastructure for fuel cell vehicles. The approach was to design, engineer, build, and test the integrated fueling station at the factory then install it at a site that offered educational and technical resources and provide an opportunity to showcase both the fueling station and advanced hydrogen vehicles. The two primary technology components include: Hydrogen Fueling Station: The hydrogen fueling infrastructure was designed and built by Gas Technology Institute primarily through a funding grant from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. It includes hydrogen production, clean-up, compression, storage, and dispensing. The station consists of a steam methane reformer, gas clean-up system, gas compressor and 48 kilograms of hydrogen storage capacity for dispensing at 5000 psig. The station is skid-mounted for easy installation and can be relocated if needed. It includes a dispenser that is designed to provide temperaturecompensated fills using a control algorithm. The total station daily capacity is approximately 50 kilograms. Fuel Cell Bus: The transit passenger bus built by Ebus, a company located in Downey, CA, was commissioned and acquired by GTI prior to this project. It is a fuel cell plug-in hybrid electric vehicle which is ADA compliant, has air conditioning sufficient for Texas operations, and regenerative braking for battery charging. It uses a 19.3 kW Ballard PEM fuel cell, will store 12.6 kg of hydrogen at 350 Bar, and includes a 60 kWh battery storage system. The objectives of the project included the following: (a) To advance commercialization of hydrogen-powered transit buses and supporting infrastructure; (b) To provide public outreach and education by showcasing the operation of a 22-foot fuel cell hybrid shuttle bus and Texas first hydrogen fueling infrastructure; and (c) To showcase operation of zero-emissions vehicle for potential transit applications. As mentioned above, the project successfully demonstrated an early vehicle technology, the Ebus plug-in hybrid fuel cell bus, and that success has led to the acquisition of a more advanced vehicle that can take advantage of the same fueling infrastructure. Needed hydrogen station improvements have been identified that will enhance the capabilities of the fueling infrastructure to serve the new bus and to meet the transit agency needs. Over the course of this project, public officials, local government staff, and transit operators were engaged in outreach and education activities that acquainted them with the real world operation of a fuel cell bus and fueling infrastructure. Transit staff members in the Dallas/Ft. Worth region were invited to a workshop in Arlington, Texas at the North Central Texas Council of Governments to participate in a workshop on hydrogen and fuel cells, and to see the fuel cell bus in operation. The bus was trucked to the meeting for this purpose so that participants could see and ride the bus. Austin area transit staff members visited the fueling site in Austin to be briefed on the bus and to participate in a fueling demonstration. This led to further meetings to determine how a fuel cell bus and fueling station could be deployed at Capital Metro Transit. Target urban regions that expressed additional interest during the project in response to the outreach meetings and showcase events include San Antonio and Austin, Texas. In summary, the project objectives were achieved in the following ways: Through presentations and papers provided to a variety of audiences in multiple venues, the project team fulfilled its goal of providing education and outreach on hydrogen technology to statewide audiences. The project team generated interest that exists well beyond the completion of the project, and indeed, helped to generate financial support for a subsequent hydrogen vehicle project in Austin. The University of Texas, Center for ElectroMechanics operated the fuel cell-electric Ebus vehicle for over 13,000 miles in Austin, Texas in a variety of routes and loading configurations. The project took advantage of prior efforts that created a hydrogen fueling station and fuel cell electric-hybrid bus and continued to verify their technical foundation, while informing and educating potential future users of how these technologies work.« less

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Transit Bus Evaluations : Joint Evaluation Plan for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Transit Administration

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-05-01

This document describes the hydrogen transit bus evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Transit Administration (...

Pilot Survey of Subway and Bus Stop Noise Levels

PubMed Central

Neitzel, Richard; Barrera, Marissa A.; Akram, Muhammad

2006-01-01

Excessive noise exposure is a serious global urban health problem, adversely affecting millions of people. One often cited source of urban noise is mass transit, particularly subway systems. As a first step in determining risk within this context, we recently conducted an environmental survey of noise levels of the New York City transit system. Over 90 noise measurements were made using a sound level meter. Average and maximum noise levels were measured on subway platforms, and maximum levels were measured inside subway cars and at several bus stops for comparison purposes. The average noise level measured on the subway platforms was 86 ± 4 dBA (decibel-A weighting). Maximum levels of 106, 112, and 89 dBA were measured on subway platforms, inside subway cars, and at bus stops, respectively. These results indicate that noise levels in subway and bus stop environments have the potential to exceed recommended exposure guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), given sufficient exposure duration. Risk reduction strategies following the standard hierarchy of control measures should be applied, where feasible, to reduce subway noise exposure. PMID:16802179

Hybrid Electric Transit Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viterna, Larry A.

1997-01-01

A government, industry, and university cooperative is developing an advanced hybrid electric city transit bus. Goals of this effort include doubling the fuel economy compared to current buses and reducing emissions to one-tenth of current EPA standards. Unique aspects of the vehicle's power system include the use of ultra-capacitors as an energy storage system, and a planned natural gas fueled turbogenerator developed from a small jet engine. Power from both the generator and energy storage system is provided to a variable speed electric motor attached to the rear axle. At over 15000 kg gross weight, this is the largest vehicle of its kind ever built using ultra-capacitor energy storage. This paper describes the overall power system architecture, the evolution of the control strategy, and its performance over industry standard drive cycles.

KSC-99pp1248

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-25

In front of the Headquarters Building at KSC, Center Director Roy Bridges (left) looks at the hydrogen-oxygen driven engine powering a Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product "exhaust" from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available for viewing by employees, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27

KSC-99pp1249

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-25

KSC employees, along with Center Director Roy Bridges (second from left), view the hydrogen-oxygen driven engine powering a Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product "exhaust" from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available for viewing by employees, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27

KSC-99pp1253

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-25

The Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus passes a mock-up orbiter named Explorer on a trek through the KSC Visitor Complex. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product "exhaust" from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. The ZE bus is being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex for two days to introduce the public to the concept

Bus Rapid Transit system’s influence on urban development: An inquiry to Boston and Seoul BRT systems’ technical characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prayogi, Lutfi

2018-03-01

This article explores the relation between bus rapid transit (BRT) system and urban development. This article was written through a multi-staged comprehensive literature review. It includes a general overview of widely acknowledged BRT technical characteristics. It explains the approach taken in understanding the relation between BRT system provision and urban development around the system. Findings regarding the influence of Boston Silver Line 4 and 5 and Seoul BRT systems on urban development around the systems are quoted and used as case studies. Investigation on the technical characteristics of Boston SL4/5 and Seoul BRT systems are provided. This article shows that the two BRT systems that influence urban development around the systems have technical characteristics that enable the BRT systems to have high performance. However, while the quoted BRT systems can influence urban development, they have significantly different performance.

BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Project : Evaluation Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-02-02

British Columbia Transit (BC Transit) has been leading a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) in Whistler, Canada, since early 2010. This 20-bus demonstration was introduced during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and is the worlds larges...

Transit bus stop pedestrian warning application : concept of operations document.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-02-04

This document describes the Concept of Operations (ConOps) for the Transit Bus Stop Pedestrian Warning (TSPW) application. The ConOps describes the current state of operations with respect to the integration of connected vehicle technology in transit...

Foothill Transit Battery Electric Bus Demonstration Results : Second Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-06-01

This report summarizes results of a battery electric bus (BEB) evaluation at Foothill Transit, located in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. Foothill Transit began a demonstration of three Proterra BEBs in Oct...

Hydrogen-oxygen driven Zero Emissions bus drives around KSC Visitor Complex

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

The Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus tours the KSC Visitor Complex for a test ride. In the background are a mock-up orbiter named Explorer (left) and a stack of solid rocket boosters and external tank (right), typically used on Shuttle launches. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product 'exhaust' from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. The ZE bus is being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex for two days to introduce the public to the concept.

75 FR 74134 - State of Good Repair Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-30

... public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit organizations... public transportation bus fleet, infrastructure, and equipment in a state of good repair. Grantees... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration State of Good Repair Bus and Bus...

Bus lane with intermittent priority (BLIMP) concept simulation analysis final report : November 2009.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-11-01

The Lane Transit District, in cooperation with the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (NBRTI) at the University of South Florida, completed a preliminary implementation study to determine the potential impacts of a new and innovative transit priori...

76 FR 68819 - State of Good Repair Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-07

... that are public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit... Table 1 will provide funds to help maintain the nation's public transportation bus fleet, infrastructure... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration State of Good Repair Bus and Bus...

Clean Air Program : Design Guidelines for Bus Transit Systems Using Alcohol Fuel (Methanol and Ethanol) as an Alternative Fuel

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-08-01

Although there are over one thousand transit buses in revenue service in the U.S. that are powered by alternative fuels, there are no comprehensive guidelines for the safe design and operation of alternative fuel facilities and vehicles for transit s...

Fuel Cell Transit Buses : ThunderPower Bus Evaluation at SunLine Transit Agency

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-11-01

This report provides an overview of the ThunderPower fuel cell bus demonstration at SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. Under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluat...

SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation: Fourth Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

SunLine Transit Agency provides public transit services to the Coachella Valley area of California. SunLine has demonstrated hydrogen and fuel cell bus technologies for more than 10 years. In May 2010, SunLine began demonstrating the advanced technol...

Methanol use training manual

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1990-01-01

The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) Alternative Fuels initiative (AFI) and the Environmental Protection Ageny (EPA) 1991 regulations on transit bus exhaust emissions has resulted in a number of alternative fueled transit bus demonstra...

Clean air program : design guidelines for bus transit systems using hydrogen as an alternative fuel

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-04-01

Alternative fuels such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and alcohol fuels (methanol, and ethanol) are already being used in commercial vehicles and transit buses in revenue service. Hydrogen...

SunLine Transit Agency Advanced Technology Fuel Cell Bus Evaluation : Third Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-05-01

SunLine Transit Agency provides public transit services to the Coachella Valley area of California. SunLine has demonstrated hydrogen and fuel cell bus technologies for more than 10 years. This report describes operations at SunLine for a prototype f...

Clean air program : use of hydrogen to power the advanced technology transit bus (ATTB) : an assessment

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-11-01

The Advanced Technology Transit Bus (ATTB), developed under primary funding from : the U.S. DOT/Federal Transit Administration (FTA), currently uses a power plant : based on a natural gas burning IC engine-generator set. FTA is interested in : demons...

Evaluation of transit signal priority strategies for bus rapid transit project on 3500 South Street in Salt Lake County, UT.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-07-01

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is becoming one of the most popular transit services in the United States. BRT is a viable option for many cities and can offer commuters travel times comparable to those experienced in private cars. With about 100 miles of BR...

KSC-99pp1250

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-25

On view in front of the Headquarters Building, the Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus attracts an interested group of employees, including Center Director Roy Bridges (second from left in foreground). Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product "exhaust" from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. Available for viewing by employees, the ZE bus is also being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex Oct. 26-27

Durability of geosynthetics for highway applications : interim report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-06-01

BRT will utilize Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technology, modern land use planning and transportation policies to support new concepts for rapid transit systems based on bus-like vehicles. The success of some of these pioneering systems, s...

Paratransit and Transit Integration Areawide Demand Responsive Transportation System - Program Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-04-01

The Urban Mass Transportation Administration carries out research and developmet on Areawide Demand Responsive Transportation (AWDRT) systems as part of the Bus and Paratransit Technoloy activities. AWDRT systems are basically the interation of flexi...

Bus rapid transit vehicle characteristics.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2001-06-01

This report focuses on vehicle issues related to BRT systems. The characteristics of BRT systems described in this report are : developed based on existing or planned BRT systems. Information on the vendors offerings is based on information from t...

Transit Bus Fuel Economy and Performance Simulation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-01-01

This report presents the results of bus simulation studies to determine the effects of various design and operating parameters on bus fuel economy and performance. The bus components are first described in terms of how they are modeled. Then a variat...

75 FR 52054 - Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-24

... engaged in public transportation, or private non-profit organizations. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary... program announcement of project selections. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project : First Analysis Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from the American Fuel Cell Bus Project, a fuel cell electric bus demonstration funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by CALSTAR...

American fuel cell bus project : first analysis report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-06-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from the American Fuel Cell Bus Project, a fuel cell electric bus demonstration : funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by CALST...

Liquefied natural gas fuel use : basic training manual

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-05-01

The Urban Mass Transportation Administration's Alternative Fuel Initiative and the Environmental Protection Agency's 1991 regulations on transit bus exhaust emissions has resulted in a number of alternative fueled transit bus research and demonstrati...

Compressed natural gas fuel use training manual

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1992-09-01

The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) Alternative Fuel Initiative and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1991 regulations on transit bus exhaust emissions has resulted in a number of alternative fueled transit bus demonstrations....

Effects of transit bus interior configuration on performance of wheeled mobility users during simulated boarding and disembarking.

PubMed

D'Souza, Clive; Paquet, Victor; Lenker, James A; Steinfeld, Edward

2017-07-01

The emergence of low-floor bus designs and related regulatory standards in the U.S. have resulted in substantial improvements in public transit accessibility. However, passengers using wheeled mobility devices still experience safety concerns and inefficiencies in boarding, disembarking, and interior circulation on low-floor buses. This study investigates effects of low-floor bus interior configuration and passenger crowding on boarding and disembarking efficiency and safety. Users of manual wheelchairs (n = 18), powered wheelchairs (n = 21) and electric scooters (n = 9) simulated boarding and disembarking in three interior layout configurations at low and high passenger crowding conditions on a full-scale laboratory mock-up of a low-floor bus. Dependent measures comprised task times and critical incidents during access ramp use, fare payment, and movement to and from the doorway and wheeled mobility securement area. Individual times for unassisted boarding ranged from 15.2 to 245.3 s and for disembarking ranged from 9.1 to 164.6 s across layout and passenger crowding conditions. Nonparametric analysis of variance showed significant differences and interactions across vehicle design conditions, passenger load and mobility device type on user performance. The configuration having electronic on-board fare payment, rear-bus entrance doorways and adjacent device securement areas demonstrated greatest efficiency and safety. High passenger load adversely impacted efficiency and frequency of critical incidents during on-board circulation across all three layouts. Findings have broader implications for improving transit system efficiency and quality of service across the spectrum of transit users. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Life-cycle assessment of diesel, natural gas and hydrogen fuel cell bus transportation systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ally, Jamie; Pryor, Trevor

The Sustainable Transport Energy Programme (STEP) is an initiative of the Government of Western Australia, to explore hydrogen fuel cell technology as an alternative to the existing diesel and natural gas public transit infrastructure in Perth. This project includes three buses manufactured by DaimlerChrysler with Ballard fuel cell power sources operating in regular service alongside the existing natural gas and diesel bus fleets. The life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the fuel cell bus trial in Perth determines the overall environmental footprint and energy demand by studying all phases of the complete transportation system, including the hydrogen infrastructure, bus manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life disposal. The LCAs of the existing diesel and natural gas transportation systems are developed in parallel. The findings show that the trial is competitive with the diesel and natural gas bus systems in terms of global warming potential and eutrophication. Emissions that contribute to acidification and photochemical ozone are greater for the fuel cell buses. Scenario analysis quantifies the improvements that can be expected in future generations of fuel cell vehicles and shows that a reduction of greater than 50% is achievable in the greenhouse gas, photochemical ozone creation and primary energy demand impact categories.

Oregon regional intelligent transportation systems (ITS) integration program. Final phase II report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-07-12

The purpose of the Transit Tracker evaluation is to collect and analyze data related to a change in bus riders behaviors and perceptions of service and security as a result of the Transit Tracker information displays. Four measures of effectivenes...

49 CFR 611.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... public transportation and other high occupancy vehicles, or uses a fixed catenary system and a right of... rail, commuter rail, automated guideway transit, people movers, ferry boat service, and fixed-guideway facilities for buses (such as bus rapid transit) and other high occupancy vehicles. A new fixed guideway...

49 CFR 611.105 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... public transportation and other high occupancy vehicles, or uses a fixed catenary system and a right of... rail, commuter rail, automated guideway transit, people movers, ferry boat service, and fixed-guideway facilities for buses (such as bus rapid transit) and other high occupancy vehicles. A new fixed guideway...

Development of a Production Ready Automated Wire Delivery System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1997-01-01

The current development effort is a Phase 3 research study entitled "A Production Ready Automated Wire Delivery System", contract number NAS8-39933, awarded to Nichols Research Corporation (NRC). The goals of this research study were to production harden the existing Automated Wire Delivery (AWDS) motion and sensor hardware and test the modified AWDS in a range of welding applications. In addition, the prototype AWDS controller would be moved to the VME bus platform by designing, fabricating and testing a single board VME bus AWDS controller. This effort was to provide an AWDS that could transition from the laboratory environment to production operations. The project was performed in two development steps. Step 1 modified and tested an improved MWG. Step 2 developed and tested the AWDS single board VME bus controller. Step 3 installed the Wire Pilot in a Weld Controller with the imbedded VME bus controller.

Analyzing the effects of transit network change on agency performance and riders in a decentralized, small-to-mid-sized US metropolitan area : a case study of Tallahassee, Florida.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

On July 11, 2011, StarMetro, the local public transit agency in Tallahassee, Florida, restructured its entire bus network from a : downtown-focused radial system to a decentralized, grid-like system that local officials and agency leaders believed wo...

Remote infrared signage evaluation for transit stations and intersections.

PubMed

Crandall, W; Brabyn, J; Bentzen, B L; Myers, L

1999-10-01

Opportunities for education and employment depend upon effective and independent travel. For mainstream society, this is accomplished to a large extent by printed signs. People who are print disabled, visually impaired, or totally blind are at a disadvantage because they do not have access to signage. Remote infrared signage, such as the Talking Signs (TS) system, provides a solution to this need by labeling the environment for distant viewing. The system uses a transmitting "sign" and a hand-held receiver to tell people about their surroundings. In a seamless infrared signage environment, a visually impaired traveler could: walk safely across an intersection to an ATM or fare machine, from fare machine to bus stop, from bus stop to bus; from bus to building, from building to elevator, from elevator to office, from office to restroom, and so forth. This paper focuses on two problems that are among the most challenging and dangerous faced by blind travelers: negotiating complex transit stations and controlled intersections. We report on human factors studies of TS in these critical tasks, examining such issues as how much training is needed to use the system, its impact on performance and safety, benefits for different population subgroups and user opinions of its value. Results indicate that blind people can quickly and easily learn to use remote infrared signage effectively, and that its use improves travel safety, efficiency, and independence.

Bus rapid transit : a handbook for partners.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-02-01

This document describes the policy and role of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to support the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT ) projects and technology and, in that context, to strengthen partnerships, expedite project de...

Hybrid Propulsion Technologies for Urban Bus Transit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-11-01

Information on hybrid propulsion technologies is presented to increase the transit community's awareness and understanding of bus propulsion designs that offer extended use capability for trolley-emergency, short-range, and back-up propulsion for tro...

FTA fuel cell bus program : research accomplishments through 2011.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

Prepared by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation (TRI), this report summarizes the accomplishments of fuel-cell-transit-bus-related research and demonstrations projects supported by FTA through 20...

Integration of multi-modal public transportation systems.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

Transit ridership may be sensitive to fares, travel times, waiting times, and access times, among other factors. Thus, : elastic demands are considered in formulations for maximizing the system welfare for conventional and flexible bus : services. Tw...

75 FR 20034 - Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants: Corrections

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-16

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility... ``Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Grants,'' extends the application deadline, and allows... comply with the terms and conditions of the Special Warranty for the Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility...

National fuel cell bus program : proterra fuel cell hybrid bus report, Columbia demonstration.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-10-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from a fuel cell bus demonstration funded by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. A team led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment an...

Clean Air Program : Design Guidelines for Bus Transit Systems Using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as an Alternative Fuel

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-03-01

The use of alternative fuels to power transit buses is steadily increasing. Several fuels, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Methanol/Ethanol, are already being used. At present, t...

Clean air program : design guidelines for bus transit systems using compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-06-01

This report documents design guidelines for the safe use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The report is designed to provide guidance, information on safe industry practices, applicable national codes and standards, and reference data that transit age...

Design Guidelines for Bus Transit Systems Using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an Alternative Fuel.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-09-01

The use of alternative fuels to power transit buses is steadily increasing. Several fuels, including Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Methanol/Ethanol, are already being used in buses. At present, there do not exist co...

Clean air program : design guidelines for bus transit systems using electric and hybrid electric propulsion as an alternative fuel

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-03-01

The use of alternative fuels to power transit buses is steadily increasing. Several fuels, including : Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and : Methanol/Ethanol, are already being used. At presen...

A research framework for studying transit bus driver distraction.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-01

The increase in transit bus ridership nationally during the past ten years, along with the : proliferation of personal electronic control and communication gadgets is causing more : distractions for the drivers. Earlier research studies have found dr...

Transit bus applications of lithium ion batteries : progress and prospects

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-12-31

This report provides an overview of diverse transit bus applications of advanced Lithium Ion Batteries (LIBs). The report highlights and illustrates several FTA programs that fostered the successful development, demonstration, and deployment of fuel-...

Understanding & modeling bus transit driver availability.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-07-01

Bus transit agencies are required to hire extraboard (i.e. back-up) operators to account for unexpected absences. Incorrect sizing of extra driver workforce is problematic for a number of reasons. Overestimating the appropriate number of extraboard o...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

This report provides preliminary results from a National Renewable Energy Laboratory evaluation of a protoptye fuel cell transit bus operating at Connecticut Transit in Hartford. Included are descriptions of the planned fuel cell bus demonstration and equipment; early results and agency experience are also provided.

A procedural method for express bus-fringe parking transit planning.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-01-01

The report illustrates a procedural method for planning express bus-fringe parking transit services - a method built upon the findings from previous research, including disaggregate travel choice models and planning guidelines. The methodology addres...

Safety models incorporating graph theory based transit indicators.

PubMed

Quintero, Liliana; Sayed, Tarek; Wahba, Mohamed M

2013-01-01

There is a considerable need for tools to enable the evaluation of the safety of transit networks at the planning stage. One interesting approach for the planning of public transportation systems is the study of networks. Network techniques involve the analysis of systems by viewing them as a graph composed of a set of vertices (nodes) and edges (links). Once the transport system is visualized as a graph, various network properties can be evaluated based on the relationships between the network elements. Several indicators can be calculated including connectivity, coverage, directness and complexity, among others. The main objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between network-based transit indicators and safety. The study develops macro-level collision prediction models that explicitly incorporate transit physical and operational elements and transit network indicators as explanatory variables. Several macro-level (zonal) collision prediction models were developed using a generalized linear regression technique, assuming a negative binomial error structure. The models were grouped into four main themes: transit infrastructure, transit network topology, transit route design, and transit performance and operations. The safety models showed that collisions were significantly associated with transit network properties such as: connectivity, coverage, overlapping degree and the Local Index of Transit Availability. As well, the models showed a significant relationship between collisions and some transit physical and operational attributes such as the number of routes, frequency of routes, bus density, length of bus and 3+ priority lanes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KSC-99pp1252

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-10-25

The Zero Emissions (ZE) transit bus tours the KSC Visitor Complex for a test ride. In the background are a mock-up orbiter named Explorer (left) and a stack of solid rocket boosters and external tank (right), typically used on Shuttle launches. Provided by dbb fuel cell engines inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the ZE bus was brought to KSC as part of the Center's Alternative Fuel Initiatives Program. The bus uses a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell in which hydrogen and oxygen, from atmospheric air, react to produce electricity that powers an electric motor drive system. The by-product "exhaust" from the fuel cell is water vapor, thus zero harmful emissions. A typical diesel-powered bus emits more than a ton of harmful pollutants from its exhaust every year. The ZE bus is being used on tour routes at the KSC Visitor Complex for two days to introduce the public to the concept

Modeling and Simulation of Bus Dispatching Policy for Timed Transfers on Signalized Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Hsun-Jung; Lin, Guey-Shii

2007-12-01

The major work of this study is to formulate the system cost functions and to integrate the bus dispatching policy with signal control. The integrated model mainly includes the flow dispersion model for links, signal control model for nodes, and dispatching control model for transfer terminals. All such models are inter-related for transfer operations in one-center transit network. The integrated model that combines dispatching policies with flexible signal control modes can be applied to assess the effectiveness of transfer operations. It is found that, if bus arrival information is reliable, an early dispatching decision made at the mean bus arrival times is preferable. The costs for coordinated operations with slack times are relatively low at the optimal common headway when applying adaptive route control. Based on such findings, a threshold function of bus headway for justifying an adaptive signal route control under various time values of auto drivers is developed.

Integrating light rail transit into traditional bus systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-07-01

This document identifies those dynamics that facilitate a citys addition of light rail as a successful component of its urban system, with success deemed to be opening on schedule with minimal start-up issues. The study examines several new system...

Land developer participation in providing for bus transit facilities and operations

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-03-01

This report provides an overview of the various non-regulatory and regulatory approaches for engaging private sector land developer participation in contributing toward the provision of public bus transit capital facilities and the cost of operations...

Transit bus stop pedestrian warning application : acceptance test plan : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-10-14

This document is the Acceptance Test Plan for the Transit Bus Stop Pedestrian Warning (TSPW) application. This report describes the test and demonstration plan to verify that the application meets its functional and performance requirements.

Transit Bus Manufacturers' Profiles

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-03-01

This report is an analytic paper addressing the trend toward entry into the U.S. transit bus market by new foreign manufacturers. The purpose of this study is to provide an explanation, and outline the implications of why so many companies are intere...

Evaluation of the Salt Lake City Computerized Rider Information System

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-11-01

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) Computerized Rider Information System (CRIS) project involved the installation of an automated telephone service to quickly provide bus stop-specific schedule and service information to residents throughout the Author...

Integrated Fare Card System Synthesis Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-12-31

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has developed a contactless fare card system to automate the collection of fares along its rail and bus route services. At the same time, there are indications that other regional transit authorities as ...

Listing of New Bus Technology Applications

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-12-01

The New Bus Equipment Introduction program is designed to demonstrate innovative features on transit buses and encourage the adoption of innovative features that enhance productivity. New bus demonstrations and purchases have been catalogued for the ...

A statistical analysis of the relationship between land values and freestanding bus facilities.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-02-01

Public transit professionals continue to seek methods that offer greater service opportunities, while : not materially increasing the costs of service provision. One strategy is to construct bus transit : centers which operate much like the airline h...

Evaluation of camera-based systems to reduce transit bus side collisions : phase II.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-12-01

The sideview camera system has been shown to eliminate blind zones by providing a view to the driver in real time. In : order to provide the best integration of these systems, an integrated camera-mirror system (hybrid system) was : developed and tes...

Installation of Existing Lift Systems for the Handicapped on Light Rail Vehicles

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-05-01

This report documents the results of a three-phase program to install an existing transit bus wheelchair lift system on a Boeing Light Rail Vehicle (LRV). Program activities included a review of lift requirements, evaluation of existing lift systems,...

29 CFR 1982.101 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... include school buses, charter, or intercity bus transportation or intercity passenger rail transportation... transportation systems that connect metropolitan areas, without regard to whether those systems use new technologies not associated with traditional railroads, but does not include rapid transit operations in an...

Drive Cycle Analysis, Measurement of Emissions and Fuel Consumption of a PHEV School Bus: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barnitt, R.; Gonder, J.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collected and analyzed real-world school bus drive cycle data and selected similar standard drive cycles for testing on a chassis dynamometer. NREL tested a first-generation plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) school bus equipped with a 6.4L engine and an Enova PHEV drive system comprising a 25-kW/80 kW (continuous/peak) motor and a 370-volt lithium ion battery pack. A Bluebird 7.2L conventional school bus was also tested. Both vehicles were tested over three different drive cycles to capture a range of driving activity. PHEV fuel savings in charge-depleting (CD) mode ranged from slightly more than 30%more » to a little over 50%. However, the larger fuel savings lasted over a shorter driving distance, as the fully charged PHEV school bus would initially operate in CD mode for some distance, then in a transitional mode, and finally in a charge-sustaining (CS) mode for continued driving. The test results indicate that a PHEV school bus can achieve significant fuel savings during CD operation relative to a conventional bus. In CS mode, the tested bus showed small fuel savings and somewhat higher nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than the baseline comparison bus.« less

Quantifying the importance of image and perception to bus rapid transit : March 2009.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

This study was designed to quantify the importance of image and perception to Bus Rapid Transit, by identifying the different underlying : tangible and intangible factors that drive any perceived differences between BRT and other forms of rapid trans...

76 FR 47296 - Transit Asset Management (TAM) Pilot Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-04

... makes funds available for public transportation providers, State Departments of Transportation (DOT... transportation asset management at the nation's rail and bus public transportation agencies. FOR FURTHER... asset management at the rail and bus public transportation agencies. Transit Asset Management Selections...

State of bus safety in the U.S. : summary of federal and state regulations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-06-01

This report provides a comprehensive overview of transit bus safety regulations and standards developed by all 50 states, as well as : information on how state departments of transportation (DOT) regulate the maintenance or operation of transit/parat...

75 FR 5847 - Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative and Urban Circulator Program Grants

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-04

... Livability Initiative and Urban Circulator Program Grants AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT. ACTION: Notice to Extend Application Deadline for the Bus and Bus Facilities and Urban Circulator..., Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, August 10, 2005. The Urban...

Transition from lab to flight demo for model-based FLIR ATR and SAR-FLIR fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Childs, Martin B.; Carlson, Karen M.; Pujara, Neeraj

2000-08-01

Model-based automatic target recognition (ATR) using forward- looking infrared (FLIR) imagery, and using FLIR imagery combined with cues from a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system, has been successfully demonstrated in the laboratory. For the laboratory demonstration, FLIR images, platform location, sensor data, and SAR cues were read in from files stored on computer disk. This ATR system, however, was intended to ultimately be flown in a fighter aircraft. We discuss the transition from laboratory demonstration to flight demonstration for this system. The obvious changes required were in the interfaces: the flight system must get live FLIR imagery from a sensor; it must get platform location, sensor data, and controls from the avionics computer in the aircraft via 1553 bus; and it must get SAR cues from the on-board SAR system, also via 1553 bus. Other changes included the transition to rugged hardware that would withstand the fighter aircraft environment, and the need for the system to be compact and self-contained. Unexpected as well as expected challenges were encountered. We discuss some of these challenges, how they were met, and the performance of the flight-demonstration system.

Mapping Between Bus Rapid Transit Shelter and High School Location in Semarang

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewi, D. I. K.; Rakhmatulloh, A. R.; Anggraini, P.

2018-02-01

The main users of public bus transport are those who have the goal to work and attend school. But the last few years there has been a decline in the use of public transport for high school students. Partly of the reason are the high use of motorcycle by student and lack of bus stop service range to high school location. This research has aim to increase the use of public transport for school students by mapping Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) shelter and school locations. The research method used are descriptive quantitative with GIs analysis tools and using spatial analysis approach

Lagrangian Hotspots of In-Use NOX Emissions from Transit Buses.

PubMed

Kotz, Andrew J; Kittelson, David B; Northrop, William F

2016-06-07

In-use, spatiotemporal NOX emissions were measured from a conventional powertrain transit bus and a series electric hybrid bus over gradients of route kinetic intensity and ambient temperature. This paper introduces a new method for identifying NOX emissions hotspots along a bus route using high fidelity Lagrangian vehicle data to explore spatial interactions that may influence emissions production. Our study shows that the studied transit buses emit higher than regulated emissions because on-route operation does not accurately represent the range of engine operation tested according to regulatory standards. Using the Lagrangian hotspot detection, we demonstrate that NOX hotspots occurred at bus stops, during cold starts, on inclines, and for accelerations. On the selected routes, bus stops resulted in 3.3 times the route averaged emissions factor in grams/km without significant dependence on bus type or climate. The buses also emitted 2.3 times the route averaged NOX emissions factor at the beginning of each route due to cold selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment temperature. The Lagrangian hotspot detection technique demonstrated here could be employed in future connected vehicles empowered by advances in computational power, data storage capability, and improved sensor technology to optimize emissions as a function of spatial location.

76 FR 68813 - FY 2011 Discretionary Livability Funding Opportunity; Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-07

... subrecipients that are public agencies, private companies engaged in public transportation, or private non... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration FY 2011 Discretionary Livability... Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects funded under two...

City of Fresno peer exchange on bus rapid transit : a TPCB peer exchange

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-11

This report highlights key recommendations and best practices identified at the peer exchange on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), held on May 21 and May 22, 2013, in Fresno, California. This event was sponsored by the Transportation Planning Capacity Buildin...

Analysis of bus collision and non-collision incidents using transit ITS and other archived operations data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-11-01

This report analyzes factors contributing to bus operations safety incidents at TriMet, the transit provider for the Portland Oregon metropolitan : region. The analysis focuses on 4,631 collision and non-collision incidents that occurred between 2006...

Small City Transit : Bremerton, Washington : Privately Operated Subscription Bus Service to an Industrial Site

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-03-01

Bremerton, Washington, is an illustration of a privately operated, profitmaking subscription bus service. This case study is one of thirteen examples of a transit service in a small community. The background of the community is discussed along with a...

San Antonio's 1983 Bus Passenger Survey

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-10-01

Many transit operators routinely collect ridership data in order to provide a : basis for the planning of bus services. Often a survey is conducted of bus : riders to determine their riding habits, their views about the quality of : current service, ...

Chattanooga SmartBus Project : phase III evaluation report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-12-01

This report presents the results of Phase III of the national evaluation of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authoritys (CARTA) SmartBus Project. The SmartBus Project is a comprehensive transit ITS program for the city of Chattanooga, ...

Exploiting New Data Sources to Quantify Arterial Congestion and Performance Measures.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-01-01

Transit travel time, operating speed and reliability all influence service attractiveness, operating cost and system efficiency. These metrics have a long-term impact on system effectiveness through a change in ridership. As part of its bus dispatch ...

Cedar Avenue driver assist system evaluation report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-01

This paper summarizes an evaluation of the Driver Assist System (DAS) used by the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MTVA) for bus shoulder operations. The DAS is a GPS-based technology suite that provides lane-position feedback to the driver via a ...

National Fuel Cell Bus Program: Accelerated Testing Evaluation Report #2, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) and Appendices

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, L.; Chandler, K.

2010-06-01

This is an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses operating at AC Transit in revenue service since March 20, 2006, comparing similar diesel buses operating from the same depot. It covers November 2007 through February 2010. Results include implementation experience, fueling station operation, evaluation results at AC Transit (bus usage, availability, fuel economy, maintenance costs, and road calls), and a summary of achievements and challenges encountered during the demonstration.

Damage Detection Sensitivity of a Vehicle-based Bridge Health Monitoring System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyamoto, Ayaho; Yabe, Akito; Lúcio, Válter J. G.

2017-05-01

As one solution to the problem for condition assessment of existing short and medium span (10-30m) reinforced/prestressed concrete bridges, a new monitoring method using a public bus as part of a public transit system (called “Bus monitoring system”) was proposed, along with safety indices, namely, “characteristic deflection”, which is relatively free from the influence of dynamic disturbances due to such factors as the roughness of the road surface, and a structural anomaly parameter. In this study, to evaluate the practicality of the newly developed bus monitoring system, it has been field-tested over a period of about four years by using an in-service fixed-route bus operating on a bus route in the city of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. In here, although there are some useful monitoring methods for short and medium span bridges based on the qualitative or quantitative information, the sensitivity of damage detection was newly discussed for safety assessment based on long term health monitoring data. The verification results thus obtained are also described in this paper, and also evaluates the sensitivity of the “characteristic deflection”, which is a bridge (health) condition indicator used by the bus monitoring system, in damage detection. Sensitivity of “characteristic deflection” is verified by introducing artificial damage into a bridge that has ended its service life and is awaiting removal. Furthermore, the sensitivity of “characteristic deflection” is verified by 3D FEM analysis.

Developing a Natural Gas-Powered Bus Rapid Transit Service. A Case Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mitchell, George

2015-11-01

The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) and its VelociRFTA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program are unique in many ways. For example, VelociRFTA was the first rural BRT system in the United States and the operational environment of the VelociRFTA BRT is one of the most severe in the country, with extreme winter temperatures and altitudes close to 8,000 feet. RFTA viewed high altitude operation as the most challenging characteristic when it began considering the use of natural gas. RFTA is the second-largest public transit system in Colorado behind Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD), and it is one of the largestmore » rural public transit systems in the country. In 2013, RFTA accepted delivery of 22 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that went into service after completion of maintenance and refueling facilities earlier that year. This paper examines the lessons learned from RFTA's experience of investigating--and ultimately choosing--CNG for their new BRT program and focuses on the unique environment of RFTA's BRT application; the decision process to include CNG fueling in the project; unforeseen difficulties encountered in the operation of CNG buses; public perception; cost comparison to competing fuels; and considerations for indoor fueling facilities and project funding.« less

Developing a Natural Gas-Powered Bus Rapid Transit Service: A Case Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mitchell, G.

2015-11-03

The Roaring Fork Transit Authority (RFTA) and its VelociRFTA Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) program are unique in many ways. For example, VelociRFTA was the first rural BRT system in the United States and the operational environment of the VelociRFTA BRT is one of the most severe in the country, with extreme winter temperatures and altitudes close to 8,000 feet. RFTA viewed high altitude operation as the most challenging characteristic when it began considering the use of natural gas. RFTA is the second-largest public transit system in Colorado behind Denver's Regional Transportation District (RTD), and it is one of the largestmore » rural public transit systems in the country. In 2013, RFTA accepted delivery of 22 new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses that went into service after completion of maintenance and refueling facilities earlier that year. This paper examines the lessons learned from RFTA's experience of investigating--and ultimately choosing--CNG for their new BRT program and focuses on the unique environment of RFTA's BRT application; the decision process to include CNG fueling in the project; unforeseen difficulties encountered in the operation of CNG buses; public perception; cost comparison to competing fuels; and considerations for indoor fueling facilities and project funding.« less

Getting People to Parks,

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-04-01

2 The area is served by the most extensive transit systems in the world , including subways , surface rail and bus systems, and many miles of...private car. The median trip time of visitors to Jacob Riis Park (Brooklyn) using the subway was three times as long as the time taken by motorists...alternatives are discussed below. Subway Urban mass transit systems are geared to the job of moving large numbers of people to work in the morning and

Entry and Competition in the U.S. Transit Bus Manufacturing Industry

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-03-01

This report is an analytic paper addressing the trend toward entry into the U.S. transit bus market by new foreign manufacturers. The purpose of this study is to provide an explanation, and outline the implications of why so many companies are intere...

77 FR 48592 - Bus and Bus Facilities Discretionary Program Funds

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-14

... to award the funds for capital investments aimed at replacing or rehabilitating transit... (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of capital projects for the State of... Facilities Program funds. As outlined in the NOFA, the Section 5309 funds would be awarded for capital...

Bus rapid transit developments in China : perspectives from research, meetings, and site visits in April 2006.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-07-01

This report briefly summarizes the information related to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) developments in China collected through : independent research and a visit to China from April 17-26, 2006 as part of FTA Public Transportation Trade Mission. The purpo...

Impacts of bus rapid transit (BRT) on surrounding residential property values : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-01

As bus rapid transit (BRT) grows in popularity in the United States, a better understanding of the modes impacts on land uses and property values is needed. Economic theory suggests, and literature has shown, that people are willing to pay higher ...

Policy evaluation for a bus-based transit system: the case study of Busan, Korea

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lew, K.S.

This study considers a quite specific set of dimensions of transit evaluation as a comprehensive management-strategy approach for addressing the ongoing problems of urban public transit systems and apply them in a case study. With increasing difficulties in providing effective public transportation, attention in this study was placed on providing for the movement of people in an efficient and equitable manner. This study was therefore concerned with just identifying and evaluating policy options that are feasible within the socio-economic and political context of the Busan metropolitan area and, in particular, how the criteria of efficiency and equity can best bemore » achieved by implementing transit policy alternatives. In the absence of long-run major public investment in urban transportation, the criteria of both efficiency and equity can only be furthered through managerial strategies applied within a systematic evaluative framework. By emphasizing the planning, operational, and managerial considerations of fixed-route bus transit in Busan, it has been acknowledged that efficient and equitable public transportation can be provided through a variety of social, economic, political, and institutional arrangements that are possible to apply from a policy viewpoint in the immediate future.« less

Air Conditioning Modifications for the GMC RTSII Series 01 Coach (Model TH 8201)

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-10-01

As part of its bus and paratransit technology research and development efforts, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration is conducting the Bus Subsystems Technology Project to help the transit bus industry solve serious equipment problems. The pr...

Developing and Demonstrating the Next-Generation Fuel Cell Electric Bus Made in America

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-02-01

The Federal Transit Administrations (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) focuses on developing commercially viable fuel cell bus technologies. CALSTART is one of three non-profit consortia chosen to manage projects competitively selected u...

Connecticut nutmeg fuel cell bus project : first analysis report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

This report summarizes the experience and early results from a fuel cell bus demonstration funded by the Federal Transit Administra-tion (FTA) under the National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP). A team led by the Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium a...

Potential development of an intercity passenger transit system in Texas : final project report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-05-01

This report describes the findings of a research study of the potential for development of an intercity rail and : express bus system in the state of Texas. Rather than focus on regional commuter or light rail systems : radiating from urban areas, th...

Automated Passenger Counting Systems : Synopsis of Working Group Meeting : Transportation Systems Center, March 23-25, 1982

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-05-01

The mechanics of automated passenger counting on transit buses and the accuracy of these systems are discussed. Count data needs to be time coded and distance/location information is necessary for effectively correlating data to specific bus stops or...

2006 evaluation of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) bus rapid transit project : December 1, 2006

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-12-01

The surface transportation system plays a crucial role in responding to natural disasters, terrorist acts, and other catastrophic events. The Disaster Response and Evacuation (DRE) User Service uses intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to enhance...

77 FR 6178 - FY 2012 Discretionary Funding Opportunities: Bus and Bus Facilities Programs (State of Good...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-07

... and green building initiatives for transit facilities and equipment. 3. For transit asset management... efficiency or reduces energy consumption/green house gas emissions. Proposers are encouraged to provide... to: 1. Improve energy efficiency or reduce energy consumption/green house gas emissions. Proposers...

Connecticut Nutmeg Fuel Cell Bus Project : Demonstrating Advanced-Design Hybrid Fuel Cell Buses in Connecticut

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-07-01

The Federal Transit Administrations (FTA) National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) focuses on developing commercially viable fuel cell bus technologies. The Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium (NAVC) is one of three non-profit consortia chosen to ...

Battery capacity and recharging needs for electric buses in city transit service

DOE PAGES

Gao, Zhiming; Lin, Zhenhong; LaClair, Tim J.; ...

2017-01-27

Our paper evaluates the energy consumption and battery performance of city transit electric buses operating on real day-to-day routes and standardized bus drive cycles, based on a developed framework tool that links bus electrification feasibility with real-world vehicle performance, city transit bus service reliability, battery sizing and charging infrastructure. The impacts of battery capacity combined with regular and ultrafast charging over different routes have been analyzed in terms of the ability to maintain city transit bus service reliability like conventional buses. These results show that ultrafast charging via frequent short-time boost charging events, for example at a designated bus stopmore » after completing each circuit of an assigned route, can play a significant role in reducing the battery size and can eliminate the need for longer duration charging events that would cause schedule delays. Furthermore, the analysis presented shows that significant benefits can be realized by employing multiple battery configurations and flexible battery swapping practices in electric buses. These flexible design and use options will allow electric buses to service routes of varying city driving patterns and can therefore enable meaningful reductions to the cost of the vehicle and battery while ensuring service that is as reliable as conventional buses.« less

Battery capacity and recharging needs for electric buses in city transit service

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Zhiming; Lin, Zhenhong; LaClair, Tim J.

Our paper evaluates the energy consumption and battery performance of city transit electric buses operating on real day-to-day routes and standardized bus drive cycles, based on a developed framework tool that links bus electrification feasibility with real-world vehicle performance, city transit bus service reliability, battery sizing and charging infrastructure. The impacts of battery capacity combined with regular and ultrafast charging over different routes have been analyzed in terms of the ability to maintain city transit bus service reliability like conventional buses. These results show that ultrafast charging via frequent short-time boost charging events, for example at a designated bus stopmore » after completing each circuit of an assigned route, can play a significant role in reducing the battery size and can eliminate the need for longer duration charging events that would cause schedule delays. Furthermore, the analysis presented shows that significant benefits can be realized by employing multiple battery configurations and flexible battery swapping practices in electric buses. These flexible design and use options will allow electric buses to service routes of varying city driving patterns and can therefore enable meaningful reductions to the cost of the vehicle and battery while ensuring service that is as reliable as conventional buses.« less

Applicability of Bogota's TransMilenio BRT system to the United States : final report, May 2006.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-05-01

Serving the city of Bogot, Colombia, TransMilenio is one of the worlds premier Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. Commencing service in : December 2000, the system was carrying over one million passengers per day by early 2006 on a 40 mile network...

Foothill Transit Electric Bus Testing | Transportation Research | NREL

Science.gov Websites

, this study aims to improve understanding of the overall usage and effectiveness of fast-charge electric well. The electric buses under study were Proterra EcoRide BE35 transit buses with eight 368V lithium Systems Technology Simulator, or FASTSim, to study the impact of route selection and other vehicle

Hybrid Electric Transit Bus Testing | Transportation Research | NREL

Science.gov Websites

this study are featured in the Long Beach Transit: Two-Year Evaluation of Gasoline-Electric Hybrid manufactured by Orion Industries with BAE propulsion systems. The results of this study are featured in the In power units. The results of this study are featured in the Ebus Hybrid Electric Buses and Trolleys case

Optimization models for prioritizing bus stop facility investments for riders with disabilities : March 2010.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-03-01

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 prescribes the minimum requirements for bus stop accessibility by riders with disabilities. Due to limited budgets, transit agencies can only select a limited number of bus stop locations for ADA impr...

Development of bus-stop time models in dense urban areas : a case study in Washington DC.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-08-01

Bus transit reliability depends on several factors including the route of travel, traffic conditions, time of day, and conditions at : the bus stops along the route. The number of passengers alighting or boarding, fare payment method, dwell time (DT)...

Emission Standards, Public Transit, and Infant Health.

PubMed

Ngo, Nicole S

Transit buses are an integral part of urban life. They reduce externalities generated from private vehicles and increase geographic mobility. However, unlike most private vehicles in the United States, they use diesel fuel and emit higher amounts of toxic pollutants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set emission standards for transit buses starting in 1988 that have been continually updated, but their public health and economic impacts are unclear due to scarce emissions data. I construct a novel panel dataset for the New York City (NYC) Transit bus fleet between 1990 and 2009 and examine the impact of bus pollution on infant health by using bus vintage as a proxy for emissions. I exploit the variation in vintage as older buses are retired and replaced with newer, lower-emitting buses forced to adhere to stricter emission standards. I then assign maternal exposure to bus vintage at the census block level. Findings suggest that maternal exposure to the oldest, unregulated buses is associated with modest reductions in birth weight and gestational age relative to newer buses that abide by emissions policies. I then conduct a back-of-the-envelope cost-benefit calculation and find net economic benefits of $53.3 million resulting from improved emission standards for the 2009 birth cohort in NYC. Since the treatment in this study clearly maps to federal emissions policies, these results are the first to provide credible evidence that transit bus emission standards had a positive effect on infant health.

Smart Passport : Ventura County Transportation Commission's demonstration project

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-09-01

In January 1996 the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) began the implementation of an advanced bus pass (fare card media), or Smartcard, called the "Passport," on all Ventura County transit systems which incorporated a number of emerging...

Dispersion of CNG Following a High-Pressure Release

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-05-01

This report discusses the results of tests to determine the dispersive behavior of compressed natural gas (CNG) when released in enclosed areas such as transit bus facility, and presents the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center's (VNTSC) conc...

Advanced Ceramic-Metallic Composites for Lightweight Vehicle Braking Systems

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-09-11

According to the Federal Transit Administration Strategic Research Plan [1]: Researching technologies to reduce vehicle weight can also lead to important reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. The power required to accelerate a bus and over...

Mess in mass transit: though demand is up, the service is down

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1979-07-16

Mass transit systems (bus and rail), in poor mechanical and physical condition, are facing an economic crisis. Most industries that had been constructing new rail or bus equipment have now quit production completely or nearly so. San Diego is buying trolleys for its 16-mile line to the Mexican border, on which construction will begin in late 1979, from a West German supplier. The background of how the US got into this situation is reviewed. American's love affair with the automobile put the transit systems in financial trouble with poor ridership, and now the companies are afraid to reconstruct, thinking perhapsmore » Americans will revert to the automobile if gasoline again becomes plentiful. As the US attempts to remedy the transit situation, there should be a burden sharing between local and Federal governments. Local transit authorities should carry the operating costs, but even if they are heavily traveled, fares meet only 48% of operating costs. Therefore, communities will have to find ways to raise money in order to keep the systems running. The Carter Administration did not seize on mass transit as a means of conserving gasoline, but President Carter did say that part of the windfall tax on oil companies would be set aside for mass transport. But some progress is noted: Baltimore is digging its first subway; Buffalo began construction of a 6.5-mile subway and elevated-transit system; and Atlanta put into operation the first 6.7-mile segment of MARTA. Improvisions in many cities are noted, such as, leasing commercial buses and pressing school buses into operation. (MCW)« less

Minimizing the health and climate impacts of emissions from heavy-duty public transportation bus fleets through operational optimization.

PubMed

Gouge, Brian; Dowlatabadi, Hadi; Ries, Francis J

2013-04-16

In contrast to capital control strategies (i.e., investments in new technology), the potential of operational control strategies (e.g., vehicle scheduling optimization) to reduce the health and climate impacts of the emissions from public transportation bus fleets has not been widely considered. This case study demonstrates that heterogeneity in the emission levels of different bus technologies and the exposure potential of bus routes can be exploited though optimization (e.g., how vehicles are assigned to routes) to minimize these impacts as well as operating costs. The magnitude of the benefits of the optimization depend on the specific transit system and region. Health impacts were found to be particularly sensitive to different vehicle assignments and ranged from worst to best case assignment by more than a factor of 2, suggesting there is significant potential to reduce health impacts. Trade-offs between climate, health, and cost objectives were also found. Transit agencies that do not consider these objectives in an integrated framework and, for example, optimize for costs and/or climate impacts alone, risk inadvertently increasing health impacts by as much as 49%. Cost-benefit analysis was used to evaluate trade-offs between objectives, but large uncertainties make identifying an optimal solution challenging.

77 FR 71865 - Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Grant Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-04

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Grant... selection of projects to be funded under Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 appropriations for the Over-the-Road Bus...-road buses to help finance the incremental capital and training costs of complying with DOT's over-the...

77 FR 5295 - Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility Program Announcement of Project Selections

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-02

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration Over-the-Road Bus Accessibility...-Road Bus (OTRB) Accessibility Program, authorized by Section 3038 of the Transportation Equity Act for... of over-the-road buses to help finance the incremental capital and training costs of complying with...

Providing Increased Transit Capacity During Peak Periods : Examination of Two Techniques

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1975-02-01

It is shown that reduction of bus route lengths increases the number of round trips per bus possible in a given time period. For bus routes accessed mainly by auto, it is shown that significant savings in energy due to reduced auto miles travelled ar...

Recommendations for yield-to-bus traffic control devices and bus pullout bays design characteristics.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-04-01

Traffic control devices such as roadside signs and pavement markings are used to promote highway safety and efficiency for all road users. A bus pullout bay is a special geometric roadway feature that allows transit buses to stop outside the travel l...

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results. Fourth Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew

This report presents results of a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in Oakland, California. Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) leads the Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) demonstration, which includes 12 advanced-design fuel cell buses and two hydrogen fueling stations. The FCEBs in service at AC Transit are 40-foot, low-floor buses built by Van Hool with a hybrid electric propulsion system that includes a US Hybrid fuel cell power system and EnerDel lithium-based energy storage system. The buses began revenue service in May 2010.

Wheelchair securement and occupant restraint system (WTORS) practices in public transit buses.

PubMed

Frost, Karen L; Bertocci, Gina; Salipur, Zdravko

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to characterize wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint system (WTORS) usage in public transit buses based on observations of wheelchair and scooter (wheeled mobility device: WhMD) passenger trips. A retrospective review of on-board video surveillance recordings of WhMD trips on fixed-route, large accessible transit vehicles (LATVs) was performed. Two hundred ninety-five video recordings were collected for review and analysis during the period June 2007-February 2009. Results showed that 73.6% of WhMDs were unsecured during transit. Complete use of all four tiedowns was observed more frequently for manual wheelchairs (14.9%) and power wheelchairs (5.5%), compared to scooters (0.0%), and this difference was significant (p=0.013). Nonuse or misuse (lap belt use only) of the occupant restraint system occurred during 47.5% of WhMD trips. The most frequently observed (52.5%) use of the lap belt consisted of bus operators routing the lap belt around the WhMD seatback in an attempt to secure the WhMD. These findings support the need for development and implementation of WTORS with improved usability and/or WTORS that can be operated independently by WhMD passengers and improved WTORS training for bus operators.

Occupation exposed to road-traffic emissions and respiratory health among Congolese transit workers, particularly bus conductors, in Kinshasa: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Mbelambela, Etongola Papy; Hirota, Ryoji; Eitoku, Masamitsu; Muchanga, Sifa Marie Joelle; Kiyosawa, Hidenori; Yasumitsu-Lovell, Kahoko; Lawanga, Ontshick Leader; Suganuma, Narufumi

2017-03-20

Road-traffic emissions (RTE) induce adverse health effects, notably respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases, as a result of pollutants deposited into the respiratory tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between occupation groups of Congolese transit workers exposed to RTE, particularly bus conductors and respiratory health, in Kinshasa. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 2015 April 20 th to May 14 th , whose participants were bus conductors (n = 110), bus drivers (n = 107), taxi-motorcyclists (n = 102) and high school teachers (control group; n = 106). Subjects had completed the American Thoracic Society respiratory symptom questionnaire. Lung function test was performed by spirometry. Air pollutants levels of PM 2.5 , NO 2 and SO 2 were measured between 7:30 and 8:30 and 16:30-17:30 using a portable gas monitor. Multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between occupation exposed to RTE and impaired pulmonary function, after adjustment by plausible confounders. The prevalence of mixed syndrome was 21.9% for bus conductors, 10.9% for bus drivers, 15.4% for taxi-motorcyclists and 7.1% for high school teachers with (p < 0.05). The risk of developing a mixed syndrome was seven times higher among bus conductors [OR = 7.64; 95% CI: 1.83-31.67; p < 0.05] than other groups. Additionally, the prevalence of respiratory syndromes increased with the duration of exposure. Occupation exposed to RTE is associated with impaired pulmonary function and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among transit workers, especially bus conductors. Furthermore, this association increases with the duration of exposure suggesting the necessity to regulate these categories of occupations and to apply preventives measures.

Real-time bus arrival information systems return-on-investment study.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-08-01

This reference document was prepared for the Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The objectives of the study include developing a methodology for determining the return on investment of real-t...

Self Service Fare Collection on Buses in Portland, OR

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-09-01

In 1980, the Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) awarded grants to the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TRI-MET) to implement self-service fare collection (SSFC) on its bus system. TRI-MET, the transit authority serving Po...

Data analysis for bus planning and monitoring

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2000-01-01

This synthesis report will be of interest to transit agency managers, their schedule and operations planning staffs and others that are responsible for information about systems operations and ridership. It will also be of interest to others who inte...

Denali National Park: bus shuttle system analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-01

This is the first in a series of briefs exploring best practices in the various ways to provide transit service in national parks. While Denali operates in a unique environment, the Visitor Transportation Service experience offers many lessons relate...

Characteristics of urban transportation systems. A handbook for transportation planners

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1975-05-01

The objective of the handbook, specifically for use by transportation planners in the evaluation of alternative systems, is to provide a single simplified reference source which characterizes the most important performance characteristics of the following contemporary urban transportation systems: (1) rail (commuter, rapid, and light); (2) local bus and bus rapid transit; (3) automobile-highway system (automobiles and other vehicles); (4) pedestrian assistance systems; and (5) activity center systems--people mover systems that have been installed at airports, zoos, amusement parks, etc. The handbook assesses the supply or performance aspect of urban transportation dealing with passenger demand implicitly. Seven supply parameters studiedmore » are: speed, capacity (service volume), operating cost (vehicle), energy consumption (vehicle or source), pollution, capital cost, and accident frequency.« less

Unregulated emissions from compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses configured with and without oxidation catalyst.

PubMed

Okamoto, Robert A; Kado, Norman Y; Kuzmicky, Paul A; Ayala, Alberto; Kobayashi, Reiko

2006-01-01

The unregulated emissions from two in-use heavy-duty transit buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) and equipped with oxidation catalyst (OxiCat) control were evaluated. We tested emissions from a transit bus powered by a 2001 Cummins Westport C Gas Plus 8.3-L engine (CWest), which meets the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) 2002 optional NOx standard (2.0 g/bhp-hr). In California, this engine is certified only with an OxiCat, so our study did not include emissions testing without it. We also tested a 2000 New Flyer 40-passenger low-floor bus powered by a Detroit Diesel series 50G engine (DDCs50G) that is currently certified in California without an OxiCat. The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) offers a "low-emission" package for this bus that includes an OxiCat for transit bus applications, thus, this configuration was also tested in this study. Previously, we reported that formaldehyde and other volatile organic emissions detected in the exhaust of the DDCs50G bus equipped with an OxiCat were significantly reduced relative to the same DDCs50G bus without OxiCat. In this paper, we examine othertoxic unregulated emissions of significance. The specific mutagenic activity of emission sample extracts was examined using the microsuspension assay. The total mutagenic activity of emissions (activity per mile) from the OxiCat-equipped DDC bus was generally lower than that from the DDC bus without the OxiCat. The CWest bus emission samples had mutagenic activity that was comparable to that of the OxiCat-equipped DDC bus. In general, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions were lower forthe OxiCat-equipped buses, with greater reductions observed for the volatile and semivolatile PAH emissions. Elemental carbon (EC) was detected in the exhaust from the all three bus configurations, and we found that the total carbon (TC) composition of particulate matter (PM) emissions was primarily organic carbon (OC). The amount of carbon emissions far exceeded the PM-associated inorganic element emissions, which were detected in all exhaust samples, at comparatively small emission rates. In summary, based on these results and those referenced from our group, the use of OxiCat for the new CWest engine and as a retrofit option for the DDCs50G engine generally results in the reduction of tailpipe toxic emissions. However, the conclusions of this study do not take into account OxiCat durability, deterioration, lubricant consumption, or vehicle maintenance, and these parameters merit further study.

Physics on the Bus—How About Physics on Your Bus?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romer, Robert H.

2004-12-01

Riders on the buses of UMass Transit (here in the "Five-College" area) and of the University of Georgia transit system have something other than the usual "Please don't eat on the bus" placards to read—simple physics questions in the overhead advertising racks, with appealing cats and dogs posing questions, giving partial answers (some flat-out wrong, some partially correct), ending up with "What do you think? … Visit our website." One sample is given below; others can be viewed at http://www.amherst.edu/˜physicsqanda. (More often than not, the dog gets it wrong; I'm a cat person.) This project was begun in collaboration with John King and was inspired by one of the many ideas described in his 2000 Oersted Medal address.

Variability of particle number emissions from diesel and hybrid diesel-electric buses in real driving conditions.

PubMed

Sonntag, Darrell B; Gao, H Oliver; Holmén, Britt A

2008-08-01

A linear mixed model was developed to quantify the variability of particle number emissions from transit buses tested in real-world driving conditions. Two conventional diesel buses and two hybrid diesel-electric buses were tested throughout 2004 under different aftertreatments, fuels, drivers, and bus routes. The mixed model controlled the confounding influence of factors inherent to on-board testing. Statistical tests showed that particle number emissions varied significantly according to the after treatment, bus route, driver, bus type, and daily temperature, with only minor variability attributable to differences between fuel types. The daily setup and operation of the sampling equipment (electrical low pressure impactor) and mini-dilution system contributed to 30-84% of the total random variability of particle measurements among tests with diesel oxidation catalysts. By controlling for the sampling day variability, the model better defined the differences in particle emissions among bus routes. In contrast, the low particle number emissions measured with diesel particle filters (decreased by over 99%) did not vary according to operating conditions or bus type but did vary substantially with ambient temperature.

Teaching Kids with Learning Disabilities to Take Public Transit

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schoenfeld, Jane

2009-01-01

Taking public transit can make anyone nervous, especially in a large or medium-sized city where there are many different bus lines going many different places. The author's daughter, Anna, has multiple learning disabilities and may never learn to drive, but she wants to be as independent as possible so the author taught her to ride the bus. This…

Effect of Torsional Fastener Resistance on the Lateral Response of a Rail-Tie Structure

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-09-01

This report describes the results of a Transportation Systems Center investigation conducted under Urban Mass Transportation Administration sponsorship, of the practicality of a flywheel/diesel hybrid power drive for urban transit bus propulsion. The...

Headway Deviation Effects on Bus Passenger Loads : Analysis of Tri-Met's Archived AVL-APC Data

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-01-01

In this paper we empirically analyze the relationship between transit service headway deviations and passenger loads, using archived data from Tri-Met's automatic vehicle location and automatic passenger counter systems. The analysis employs twostage...

German 'Smart Bus' Systems, Potential For Application In Portland, Oregon, Volume 1, Technical Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1993-01-01

THE TRI-COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT OF OREGON (TRI-MET) PROVIDES TRANSIT, PARATRANSIT AND RIDESHARING SERVICES WITHIN MULTNOMAH, CLACKAMAS AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES IN THE PORTLAND METROPOLITAN AREA. FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES, TRI-MET HA...

Impact of compressed natural gas fueled buses on street pavements

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-07-01

Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) and the Energy Policy Act of : 1992 (EPACT), together with other state regulations have encouraged or mandated : transit systems to use alternative fuels to power bus fleets. Among such fuels, : compres...

The Peñalosa Principle of Transportation Democracy: Lessons from Bogotá on the Morality of Urban Mobility.

PubMed

Epting, Shane

2017-08-01

The mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Peñalosa strives to deliver transit services that promote social equity through bicycle lanes, improved sidewalks, and a world-famous Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, "TransMilenio." Through examining the principles that guide his planning, we can flesh out a starting point for socially just transit systems. While such measures can alleviate several harms that transit systems cause, they rest on an incomplete foundation due to their top-down nature. To amend this situation, the author argues for a restorative justice approach to transportation democracy, using examples from Peñalosa's mayoral tenure. In turn, lessons from Bogotá's transportation history reveal how to develop transit systems that strongly favor justice.

Managing Student Behavior on the School Bus: A Key to Bus Safety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

American Federation of Teachers (NJ), 2007

2007-01-01

School buses are the safest form of mass transit in America. Every day, school buses travel through congested city traffic and on isolated country roads in all types of weather, safely transporting millions of children to and from school and school-related activities. Federal and state standards for school bus construction and maintenance and…

Fuel Cell Electric Bus Evaluations | Hydrogen and Fuel Cells | NREL

Science.gov Websites

. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2017, L. Eudy and M. Post (November 2017) Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA ) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results: Sixth Report, L. Eudy, M. Post, and M. Jeffers (September 2017 2017) American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation: Third Report, L. Eudy, M. Post, and M. Jeffers (May

Bus Testing Program

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1993-01-01

The Bus Testing Program of the Federal Transit Administration was established in response to the requirements of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act (STURAA) of 1987. Under the program, testing is required on all new mode...

77 FR 74452 - Bus Testing: Calculation of Average Passenger Weight and Test Vehicle Weight

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-14

... require FTA to work with bus manufacturers and transit agencies to establish a new pass/ fail standard for... buses from the current value of 150 pounds to a new value of 175 pounds. This increase was proposed to... new pass/fail standards that require a more comprehensive review of its overall bus testing program...

Investigation of large transit vehicle accidents and establishing appropriate protection for wheelchair riders.

PubMed

Shaw, Greg

2008-01-01

Securing wheelchairs and restraining wheelchair riders on buses is difficult for many wheelchair riders and transit providers. This study examined injury-producing events aboard large transit buses in general in an attempt to better understand the potential risks and required protection for wheelchair users. The study found that few injuries and fatalities occur on large transit buses. Examination of the relatively few injury-producing events advanced the understanding of these events in terms of acceleration/deceleration magnitude and direction. Low acceleration/deceleration, or low-g, events such as those involving abrupt braking or turning occur frequently and are associated with approximately half of onboard passenger injuries. Unfortunately, the actual frequency of high-g events was not determined. Most of the injurious events involved the bus rapidly decelerating because of frontal impacts with another vehicle or roadside object. Further study is needed to determine the magnitude and frequency of high-g events. This information is necessary to determine the level of protection commensurate with real-world risk necessary for wheelchair riders in the transit bus environment and may ultimately facilitate the development of easier-to-use safety systems that secure and restrain wheelchairs and their riders.

IMPACTS OF BUS STOP IMPROVEMENTS

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-03-23

Improving bus stops by providing shelters, seating, signage, and sidewalks is relatively inexpensive and popular among riders and local officials. Making such improvements, however, is not often a priority for U.S. transit providers because of compet...

Transit signal priority with connected vehicle technology.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-01-01

A new TSP logic was proposed, taking advantage of the resources provided by Connected Vehicle (CV) : technology, including two-way communication between the bus and the traffic signal controller, accurate bus : location detection and prediction, and ...

Efficiency in bus stop location and design.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-01-01

The research reported here identified those elements associated with the location and design of bus stops that affect the efficiency of transit and traffic operations, and developed guidelines to assist transportation engineers and planners in techni...

Serramonte Transit Center Study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-06-01

The purposes of the study are to determine, from this particular case -- the : Serramonte Center Plan -- guidelines for achieving the successful design and : operation of a bus station and bus access arrangement on a shopping center site, : including...

Safety of lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide battery packs in transit bus applications : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-10-01

The future of mass transportation is clearly moving toward the increased efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction of hybrid and electric vehicles. With the introduction of high-power/high-energy storage devices such as lithium ion battery systems serv...

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Transit Bus Experience Survey: April 2009--April 2010

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adams, R.; Horne, D. B.

2010-09-01

This survey was commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to collect and analyze experiential data and information from a cross-section of U.S. transit agencies with varying degrees of compressed natural gas (CNG) bus and station experience. This information will be used to assist DOE and NREL in determining areas of success and areas where further technical or other assistance might be required, and to assist them in focusing on areas judged by the CNG transit community as priority items.

Investigation of bus transit schedule behavior modeling using advanced techniques

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kalaputapu, R.; Demetsky, M.J.

This research focused on investigating the application of artificial neural networks (ANN) and the Box-Jenkins technique for developing and testing schedule behavior models using data obtained for a test route from Tidewater Regional Transit`s AVL system. The three ANN architectures investigated were: Feedforward Network, Elman Network and Jordan Network. In addition, five different model structures were investigated. The time-series methodology was adopted for developing the schedule behavior models. Finally, the role of a schedule behavior model within the framework of an intelligent transit management system is defined and the potential utility of the schedule behavior model is discussed using anmore » example application.« less

Applications manual for logit modes of express bus-fringe parking choices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1976-01-01

Manual computations and computerized applications of logit models are described. The models demonstrated reflect travel behavior concerning express bus-fringe parking transit. The specific travel issues addressed include the basic automobile vs. expr...

Accessible Fixed Route Bus Service Experience

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-05-01

The research report discusses the operator and user experience with lifting devices on regular bus transit services that facilitate the entry and exit of wheelchair users and semi-ambulatory passengers. The study draws data mainly from experiences at...

Chattanooga SmartBus Project : phase 2 evaluation report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-06-10

This report presents the results of Phase II of the national evaluation of the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authoritys (CARTAs) SmartBus Project. The Smartbus Project is a comprehensive transit ITS program for the city of Chattanoog...

75 FR 10860 - Preparation of an Alternatives Analysis and Environmental Impact Statement for High Capacity...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-09

... System Management (TSM), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), and Commuter Rail. The AA/EIS will be prepared in.... Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative: A TSM Alternative, which reflects the best that can be done... regulations. The AA/EIS process provides opportunities for the public to comment on the scope of the EIS...

Assessing paratransit eligibility under the Americans With Disabilities Act in the rehabilitation setting.

PubMed

Griffin, Jeanne; Priddy, David A

2005-06-01

To assess the usefulness of a rehabilitation-based assessment program designed to determine the eligibility, according to Americans With Disabilities Act criteria, of applicants for paratransit bus services. Retrospective summary statistics on 500 consecutive paratransit evaluations. Outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation center. Applicants for a community paratransit bus service. Not applicable. Clinical assessment of each applicants functional physical and cognitive ability to ride a fixed-route or paratransit bus system. Of the 500 applicants for specialized paratransit services, 38 (8%) were found to be ineligible, based on rehabilitation professionals evaluations of their physical and cognitive abilities. Mass transit organizations must adjust to the rapidly growing demand for paratransit services. Rehabilitation-based assessment programs, because of the expertise they provide in assessing functional abilities, are uniquely qualified to provide objective determinations of paratransit eligibility.

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2017

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Post, Matthew B

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of results from evaluations performed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. This annual status report combines results from all FCEB demonstrations, tracks the progress of the FCEB industry toward meeting technical targets, documents the lessons learned, and discusses the path forward for commercial viability of fuel cell technology for transit buses. These data and analyses help provide needed information to guide future early-stage researchmore » and development. The 2017 summary results primarily focus on the most recent year for each demonstration, from August 2016 through July 2017. The primary results presented in the report are from five demonstrations of two different fuel-cell-dominant bus designs: Zero Emission Bay Area Demonstration Group led by Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) in California; American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) Project at SunLine Transit Agency in California; AFCB Project at the University of California at Irvine; AFCB Project at Orange County Transportation Authority; and AFCB Project at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.« less

Sensors and signal processing for high accuracy passenger counting : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-05

It is imperative for a transit system to track statistics about their ridership in order to plan bus routes. There exists a wide variety of methods for obtaining these statistics that range from relying on the driver to count people to utilizing came...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eudy, L.

This report describes operations at Connecticut Transit (CTTRANSIT) in Hartford for one prototype fuel cell bus and three new diesel buses operating from the same location. The evaluation period in this report (January 2008 through February 2009) has been chosen to coincide with a UTC Power propulsion system changeout that occurred on January 15, 2008.

Using agent based modeling to assess the effect of increased Bus Rapid Transit system infrastructure on walking for transportation.

PubMed

Lemoine, Pablo D; Cordovez, Juan Manuel; Zambrano, Juan Manuel; Sarmiento, Olga L; Meisel, Jose D; Valdivia, Juan Alejandro; Zarama, Roberto

2016-07-01

The effect of transport infrastructure on walking is of interest to researchers because it provides an opportunity, from the public policy point of view, to increase physical activity (PA). We use an agent based model (ABM) to examine the effect of transport infrastructure on walking. Particular relevance is given to assess the effect of the growth of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Bogotá on walking. In the ABM agents are assigned a home, work location, and socioeconomic status (SES) based on which they are assigned income for transportation. Individuals must decide between the available modes of transport (i.e., car, taxi, bus, BRT, and walking) as the means of reaching their destination, based on resources and needed travel time. We calibrated the model based on Bogota's 2011 mobility survey. The ABM results are consistent with previous empirical findings, increasing BRT access does indeed increase the number of minutes that individuals walk for transportation, although this effect also depends on the availability of other transport modes. The model indicates a saturation process: as more BRT lanes are added, the increment in minutes walking becomes smaller, and eventually the walking time decreases. Our findings on the potential contribution of the expansion of the BRT system to walking for transportation suggest that ABMs may prove helpful in designing policies to continue promoting walking. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

NASA's Involvement in Technology Development and Transfer: The Ohio Hybrid Bus Project

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viterna, Larry A.

1997-01-01

A government and industry cooperative is using advanced power technology in a city transit bus that will offer double the fuel economy, and reduce emissions to one tenth of government standards. The heart of the vehicle's power system is a natural gas fueled generator unit. Power from both the generator and an advanced energy storage system is provided to a variable speed electric motor attached to the rear drive axle. A unique aspect of the vehicle's design is its use of "super" capacitors for recovery of energy during braking. This is the largest vehicle ever built using this advanced energy recovery technology. This paper describes the project goals and approach, results of its system performance modeling, and the status of the development team's effort.

Montana intercity bus service study.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-12-01

Intercity bus service funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTAs) Section 5311(f) program is a part : of the larger 5311 program known as Formula Grants for Other than Urbanized Areas. The S.5311(f), requires : that 15% of the total 531...

Benefit-cost analysis framework for evaluating inter-city transit investment.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-10-01

This report describes the development and application of a benefit/cost analysis (BCA) model to support the evaluation of investment decisions for intercity bus services. The model recognizes two principle types of intercity bus benefits: benefits th...

Southwest Direct Express Bus Demonstration in Orlando, FL

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1988-04-01

In August 1983, the Orange-Seminole-Osceola Transit Authority (OSOTA) initiated six express bus routes in the southwest corridor of Orlando (known collectively as the Southwest Direct) as an UMTA-funded demonstration project. While one objective of t...

Development of a large bus/small bus decision support tool

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-02-01

Transit managers continue to strive for greater operating efficiency while maintaining an appropriate balance between cost effectiveness and customer service. Over the past decade, the use of heavy-duty buses smaller than the traditional forty-foot v...

Bus service evaluation procedures : a review

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-03-01

The report presents the results of a literature review and survey of 71 transit properties in the U. S. and Canada regarding bus service evaluation procedures currently in use. The focus of the study was to identify service performance indicators and...

Fixed Route Accessible Bus Service in Connecticut : A Case Study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-07-01

U.S. Department of Transportation regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, require transit agencies to provide wheelchair accessibility on fixed-route bus service. The study is part of the series which included studies ...

Bus operator safety : critical issues examination and model practices.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-01-01

In this study, researchers at the National Center for Transit Research performed a multi-topic comprehensive : examination of bus operator-related critical safety and personal security issues. The goals of this research : effort were to: : 1. Identif...

Coordination of IVI and transit signal priority on transit evacuations.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-02-01

During an emergency evacuation, execution time is always critical to the evacuees who are : transit dependent. Transit Signal Priority (TSP) can speed up the transit services by prioritizing : the approaching bus at a signalized intersection. With th...

Moving the bus safely back into traffic : Phase II.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-01

The difficulty experienced by transit buses in moving back into traffic safely from bus pullout bays has : become a serious problem due to potential hazards between buses merging from the pullout bays and : the surrounding traffic. Previous studies h...

Moving the bus safely back into traffic : phase II.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-09-01

The difficulty experienced by transit buses in moving back into traffic safely from bus pullout bays has : become a serious problem due to potential hazards between buses merging from the pullout bays and : the surrounding traffic. Previous studies h...

American Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation : Second Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-09-01

This report presents results of the American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) Project, a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in the Coachella Valley area of California. The prototype AFCB was developed as part of the Federal Transit Admini...

49 CFR 605.16 - Notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Notice. 605.16 Section 605.16 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.16 Notice. (a) Each applicant who engages or...

49 CFR 605.15 - Content of agreement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Content of agreement. 605.15 Section 605.15 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.15 Content of agreement. (a...

Intercity bus service study 2014.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-02-01

Rural transit programs are funded with 5311 funds, named for their description in Section 5311 of United States : Code (49 USC S5311). In Alabama, 15% of 5311 funds are set aside to be spent on improving intercity bus : service through the 5311(f) pr...

Late Neogene foraminifera from the northern Namibian continental shelf and the transition to the Benguela Upwelling System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergh, Eugene W.; Compton, John S.; Frenzel, Peter

2018-05-01

Middle Miocene to Plio-Pleistocene foraminifera provide insights into the palaeoenvironment on the northern Namibian continental shelf located at the far northern end of the present-day Benguela Upwelling System (BUS). Biostratigraphy and Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy (SIS) of the recovered basal olive-green mud unit indicate an age of 16 to 14 Ma. A sharp, erosional contact separates the basal mud from the overlying Plio-Pleistocene gravelly pelletal phosphorite sands. Grain size data, P/B ratios and benthic diversity indices indicate a change between the middle Miocene and overlying Plio-Pleistocene palaeoenvironments linked to the timing and conditions associated with the initiation of the BUS. The different lithological units and microfossil assemblages in the olive-green mud unit and the overlying pelletal phosphorite units support the late Miocene initiation of the BUS and the northwards migration of the Angola-Benguela Front. Planktic foraminifera indicate a shift from warmer surface water conditions to cooler conditions during the initiation of the BUS. Benthic palaeobathymetric ranges and P/B ratios are consistent with outer shelf water depths suggesting a deeper palaeoenvironment during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) than today. Benthic foraminifera in the middle Miocene are dominated by large (>1 mm) taxa and adapted to oligotrophic environments before the initiation of the BUS. The benthic assemblage composition indicates that bottom water conditions changed to eutrophic conditions during the Plio-Pleistocene under intensified upwelling conditions.

The impact of a Bus Rapid Transit system on commuters' exposure to Benzene, CO, PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Mexico City

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wöhrnschimmel, Henry; Zuk, Miriam; Martínez-Villa, Gerardo; Cerón, Julia; Cárdenas, Beatriz; Rojas-Bracho, Leonora; Fernández-Bremauntz, Adrián

Carbon monoxide (CO), benzene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and suspended particles PM 2.5 and PM 10 were measured inside public transportation vehicles, before and after a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system was implemented in Mexico City in June 2005. The objective was to evaluate the BRT system's impact on commuters' exposure to these air pollutants. The BRT system replaced conventional transport modes along 20 km of Insurgentes Avenue, and features confined corridors and new articulated diesel buses. We assessed the impact of the transportation mode on commuters' exposure using least squares regression models. We also analyzed the chemical composition of VOCs to evaluate the possible origin of these species. The implementation of the BRT system resulted in reductions in commuters' exposure to CO, benzene and PM 2.5 ranging between 20% and 70%. No significant reductions in PM 10 exposure were observed. Lower commuting times further reduced total commuters' exposure. Major sources affecting VOCs inside all transport modes are likely to be related to traffic and to emissions from the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas. The results suggest that BRT systems could in general be an effective means of reducing human exposure to traffic related air pollutants and associated health impacts.

Strategic Transit Automation Research Plan

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-01-01

Transit bus automation could deliver many potential benefits, but transit agencies need additional research and policy guidance to make informed deployment decisions. Although funding and policy constraints may play a role, there is also a reasonable...

A summary of design, policies and operational characteristics for shared bicycle/bus lanes.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

This report contains the results of an investigation of the design and operation of shared bicycle/bus lanes in municipalities in the United States and other countries. These lanes are designated for use by public transit buses, bicycles, and usually...

FUEL CELL BUS DEMONSTRATION IN MEXICO CITY

EPA Science Inventory

The report discusses the performance of a cull-size, zero-emission, Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel-cell-powered transit bus in the atmospheric environment of Mexico City. To address the air quality problems caused by vehicle emissions in Mexico City, a seminar on clean vehic...

49 CFR 605.17 - Certification in lieu of notice.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Certification in lieu of notice. 605.17 Section 605.17 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.17 Certification...

76 FR 8811 - FTA Fiscal Year 2011 Apportionments, Allocations and Program Information: Corrections

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-15

... Apportionments) and Table 10 (Prior Year Unobligated Section 5309 Bus and Bus Related Equipment and Facilities... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration FTA Fiscal Year 2011 Apportionments... titled ``FTA Fiscal Year 2011 Apportionments, Allocations and Program Information.'' FOR FURTHER...

Transit scheduling: Basic and advanced manuals. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pine, R.; Niemeyer, J.; Chisholm, R.

1998-12-01

This manual will be of interest to new transit schedulers, experienced schedulers, transit planners, operating staff, and others who need to be conversant with the scheduling process. The materials clearly describe all steps in the bus and light rail scheduling process, under TCRP Project A-11, Transit Scheduling: A Manual with Materials, research was undertaken by Transportation Management and Design of Solana Beach, California, to prepare a transit scheduling manual that incorporates modern training techniques for bus and light rail transit scheduling. The manual consists of two sections: a basic treatment and an advanced section. The basic-level section is in anmore » instructional format designed primarily for novice schedulers and other transit staff. The advance section covers more complex scheduling requirements. Each section may be used sequentially or independently and is designed to integrate with agency apprenticeship and on-the-job training.« less

Best practices in transit service planning : final report, March 2009.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-03-01

The provision of cost efficient and effective bus transit service is the basic premise upon which transit service is developed and the goal that all public transportations agencies strive to achieve. To attain this goal, public transit agencies must ...

Ramp-related incidents involving wheeled mobility device users during transit bus boarding/alighting.

PubMed

Frost, Karen L; Bertocci, Gina; Smalley, Craig

2015-05-01

To estimate the prevalence of wheeled mobility device (WhMD) ramp-related incidents while boarding/alighting a public transit bus and to determine whether the frequency of incidents is less when the ramp slope meets the proposed Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) maximum allowable limit of ≤9.5°. Observational study. Community public transportation. WhMD users (N=414) accessing a public transit bus equipped with an instrumented ramp. Not applicable. Prevalence of boarding/alighting incidents involving WhMD users and associated ramp slopes; factors affecting incidents. A total of 4.6% (n=35) of WhMD users experienced an incident while boarding/alighting a transit bus. Significantly more incidents occurred during boarding (6.3%, n=26) than during alighting (2.2%, n=9) (P<.01), and when the ramp was deployed to street level (mean slope=11.4°) compared with sidewalk level (mean slope=4.2°) (P=.01). The odds ratio for experiencing an incident when the ramp slope exceeded the proposed ADA maximum allowable ramp slope was 5.4 (95% confidence interval, 2.4-12.2; P<.01). The odds ratio for assistance being rendered to board/alight when the ramp slope exceeded the proposed ADA maximum allowable ramp slope was 5.1 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-9.0; P<.01). The findings of this study support the proposed ADA maximum allowable ramp slope of 9.5°. Ramp slopes >9.5° and ramps deployed to street level are associated with a higher frequency of incidents and provision of assistance. Transit agencies should increase awareness among bus operators of the effect kneeling and deployment location (street/sidewalk) have on the ramp slope. In addition, ramp components and the built environment may contribute to incidents. When prescribing WhMDs, skills training must include ascending/descending ramps at slopes encountered during boarding/alighting to ensure safe and independent access to public transit buses. Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Call-A-Bus Demonstration Project - Specialized Transportation for the Elderly and Handicapped in Syracuse, New York

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1977-06-01

This report describes, analyzes and evaluates the conduct and results of the Syracuse Call-A-Bus demonstration, in which special transit services were provided for the elderly and handicapped populations of Onondaga County, New York. These services i...

49 CFR 256.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... and others, and other public activities supported in whole or in part under Federal law. (g) Council...: Intercity bus, commuter rail, intra-city rail transit and bus transportation, airport limousine service and... Railroad Revitalization and Regulatory Reform Act of 1976, as amended, Public Law 94-210, 90 Stat. 125, 49...

76 FR 78732 - FY 2011 Discretionary Funding Opportunity; Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities Veterans...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-19

... VTCLI supports the Obama Administration's priority of supporting America's veterans and military... Living Initiative Competitive Grant Program Funds: Announcement of Project Selections. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects...

Environmental Impact Analysis Process. Environmental Assessment for Replacement Medical Clinic 61st Medical Squadron, Los Angeles Air Force Base

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-12-01

mass transit (buses, commuter trains and light rail ) serves Los Angeles County. Immediate public transit access to Los Angeles AFB is by bus only. 3.8...mostly paved. As a result, surface drainage enters the storm sewer system. Stormwater run-off from Area B of Los Angeles AFB, and specifically from...leaves the installation in the form of stormwater run-off. Little infiltration of rainfall is expected. 3.4 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES As a result of the

Prevalence of and factors associated with distraction among public transit bus drivers

PubMed Central

Griffin, Russell; Huisingh, Carrie; McGwin, Gerald

2015-01-01

Objective Recent research has suggested that driver distraction is a major cause of driving performance impairment and motor vehicle collisions. Research on the topic has focused on passenger vehicles, with studies suggesting that drivers may be distracted nearly 33% of the time spent driving. To date, no study has examined the prevalence of distraction specifically among public transit bus drivers. Methods Over a three-month period, trained investigators observed and recorded distraction behaviors of bus drivers. Distraction prevalence was compared by route characteristics (e.g., geographic area, travel speed) using chi-square test. A general estimating equation logistic regression was used to estimate p-values for distraction prevalence by driver demographics. Results Overall, there was a 39% prevalence of distraction. The most prevalent distractions were due to interactions with another passenger. Distractions were more prevalent among drivers <30 years of age or ≥50 years of age, on city streets or highways (relative to residential streets), and when there were more than 20 passengers. Distractions were the least prevalent in suburban areas, with the highest prevalence observed in city centers and rural areas. Conclusions Driver distraction is a common problem for public transit bus drivers, mainly due to other passengers. Drivers should be educated on the hazards of distracted driving and on ways to avoid distraction. PMID:24433192

Microbial air quality in mass transport buses and work-related illness among bus drivers of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.

PubMed

Luksamijarulkul, Pipat; Sundhiyodhin, Viboonsri; Luksamijarulkul, Soavalug; Kaewboonchoo, Orawan

2004-06-01

The air quality in mass transport buses, especially air-conditioned buses may affect bus drivers who work full time. Bus numbers 16, 63, 67 and 166 of the Seventh Bus Zone of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority were randomly selected to investigate for microbial air quality. Nine air-conditioned buses and 2-4 open-air buses for each number of the bus (36 air-conditioned buses and 12 open-air buses) were included. Five points of in-bus air samples in each studied bus were collected by using the Millipore A ir Tester Totally, 180 and 60 air samples collected from air-conditioned buses and open-air buses were cultured for bacterial and fungal counts. The bus drivers who drove the studied buses were interviewed towards histories of work-related illness while working. The results revealed that the mean +/- SD of bacterial counts in the studied open-air buses ranged from 358.50 +/- 146.66 CFU/m3 to 506 +/- 137.62 CFU/m3; bus number 16 had the highest level. As well as the mean +/- SD of fungal counts which ranged from 93.33 +/- 44.83 CFU/m3 to 302 +/- 294.65 CFU/m3; bus number 166 had the highest level. Whereas, the mean +/- SD of bacterial counts in the studied air-conditioned buses ranged from 115.24 +/- 136.01 CFU/m3 to 244.69 +/- 234.85 CFU/m3; bus numbers 16 and 67 had the highest level. As well as the mean +/- SD of fungal counts which rangedfrom 18.84 +/- 39.42 CFU/m3 to 96.13 +/- 234.76 CFU/m3; bus number 166 had the highest level. When 180 and 60 studied air samples were analyzed in detail, it was found that 33.33% of the air samples from open-air buses and 6.11% of air samples from air-conditioned buses had a high level of bacterial counts (> 500 CFU/m3) while 6.67% of air samples from open-air buses and 2.78% of air samples from air-conditioned buses had a high level of fungal counts (> 500 CFU/m3). Data from the history of work-related illnesses among the studied bus drivers showed that 91.67% of open-air bus drivers and 57.28% of air-conditioned bus drivers had symptoms of work-related illnesses, p = 0.0185.

49 CFR 605.15 - Content of agreement.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Content of agreement. 605.15 Section 605.15 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SCHOOL BUS OPERATIONS School Bus Agreements § 605.15 Content of agreement. (a) Every grantee who is not authorized by the...

77 FR 43646 - FY 2012 Discretionary Funding Opportunity; Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities and Section 5312...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-25

... overall efficiency. The VTCLI supports the Obama Administration's priority of supporting America's.... SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the... transportation resources to veterans, service members and military families and improve the accessibility of...

49 CFR 665.13 - Test report and manufacturer certification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Test report and manufacturer certification. 665.13 Section 665.13 Transportation Other Regulations Relating to Transportation (Continued) FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUS TESTING Bus Testing Procedures § 665.13 Test report and manufacturer certification. (a) Upon...

Minneapolis-St. Paul Transit Service Reliability Demonstration

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-04-01

This report summarizes the results of UMTA's first transit service reliability demonstration. The demonstration was implemented by the Metropolitan Transit Commission on a high-frequency branched bus route--Route 5 in Minneapolis. the aim of the demo...

Understanding transit ridership demand for a multi-destination, multimodal transit network in an American metropolitan area : lessons for increasing choice ridership while maintaining transit dependent ridership.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-01-01

This study examines the factors underlying transit demand in the multi-destination, integrated bus and rail transit network for Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta provides an opportunity to explore the consequences of a multi-destination transit network for b...

COMPARISON OF PARALLEL AND SERIES HYBRID POWERTRAINS FOR TRANSIT BUS APPLICATION

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Zhiming; Daw, C Stuart; Smith, David E

2016-01-01

The fuel economy and emissions of both conventional and hybrid buses equipped with emissions aftertreatment were evaluated via computational simulation for six representative city bus drive cycles. Both series and parallel configurations for the hybrid case were studied. The simulation results indicate that series hybrid buses have the greatest overall advantage in fuel economy. The series and parallel hybrid buses were predicted to produce similar CO and HC tailpipe emissions but were also predicted to have reduced NOx tailpipe emissions compared to the conventional bus in higher speed cycles. For the New York bus cycle (NYBC), which has the lowestmore » average speed among the cycles evaluated, the series bus tailpipe emissions were somewhat higher than they were for the conventional bus, while the parallel hybrid bus had significantly lower tailpipe emissions. All three bus powertrains were found to require periodic active DPF regeneration to maintain PM control. Plug-in operation of series hybrid buses appears to offer significant fuel economy benefits and is easily employed due to the relatively large battery capacity that is typical of the series hybrid configuration.« less

Propulsion system for a motor vehicle using a bidirectional energy converter

DOEpatents

Tamor, Michael Alan; Gale, Allan Roy

1999-01-01

A motor vehicle propulsion system includes an electrical energy source and a traction motor coupled to receive electrical energy from the electrical energy source. The system also has a first bus provided electrical energy by the electrical energy source and a second bus of relatively lower voltage than the first bus. In addition, the system includes an electrically-driven source of reaction gas for the electrical energy source, the source of reaction gas coupled to receive electrical energy from the first bus. Also, the system has an electrical storage device coupled to the second bus for storing electrical energy at the lower voltage. The system also includes a bidirectional energy converter coupled to convert electrical energy from the first bus to the second bus and from the second bus to the first bus.

Duluth Variable Work Hours/Transit Fare Prepayment Demonstration

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1984-04-01

This report describes the evaluation results of the Duluth Variable Work Hours/Transit Fare Prepayment Demonstration. The demonstration project was intended to reduce severe peaks in demand on the bus routes of the Duluth Transit Authority (DTA). It ...

Reducing transit bus emissions: Alternative fuels or traffic operations?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, Ahsan; Hatzopoulou, Marianne

2014-06-01

In this study, we simulated the operations and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of transit buses along a busy corridor and quantified the effects of two different fuels (conventional diesel and compressed natural gas) as well as a set of driving conditions on emissions. Results indicate that compressed natural gas (CNG) reduces GHG emissions by 8-12% compared to conventional diesel, this reduction could increase to 16% with high levels of traffic congestion. However, the benefits of switching from conventional diesel to CNG are less apparent when the road network is uncongested. We also investigated the effects of bus operations on emissions by applying several strategies such as transit signal priority (TSP), queue jumper lanes, and relocation of bus stops. Results show that in congested conditions, TSP alone can reduce GHG emissions by 14% and when combined with improved technology; a reduction of 23% is achieved. The reduction benefits are even more apparent when other transit operational improvements are combined with TSP. Finally a sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the effect of operational improvements on emissions under varying levels of network congestion. We observe that under “extreme congestion”, the benefits of TSP decrease.

Foothill Transit Agency Battery Electric Bus Progress Report, Data Period Focus: Jan. 2017 through Dec. 2017

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie

This report summarizes results of a battery electric bus (BEB) evaluation at Foothill Transit, located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles. Foothill Transit is collaborating with the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to evaluate the buses in revenue service. The focus of this evaluation is to compare the performance and the operating costs of the BEBs to that of conventional technology buses and to track progress over time. Previous reports documented results from April 2014 through December 2016. This report extends the data analysis through December 2017.more » NREL plans to publish progress reports on the Foothill Transit fleet every six months through 2020.« less

76 FR 28947 - Bus Testing: Calculation of Average Passenger Weight and Test Vehicle Weight, and Public Meeting...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-19

...-0015] RIN 2132-AB01 Bus Testing: Calculation of Average Passenger Weight and Test Vehicle Weight, and... of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the calculation of average passenger weights and test vehicle... passenger weights and actual transit vehicle loads. Specifically, FTA proposed to change the average...

Risk factors for unintentional occupational injury among urban transit bus drivers: a cohort longitudinal study.

PubMed

Wei, Chia; Gerberich, Susan G; Ryan, Andrew D; Alexander, Bruce H; Church, Timothy R; Manser, Michael

2017-12-01

Although many studies have focused on bus operators' occupational diseases, work-related injury and associated risk factor data are limited. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate unintentional injury and exposures that may affect injury risk among metropolitan bus operators. Demographic, work-related, and injury data obtained from a metropolitan transit company for a 5-year period, enabled estimates of rates per 100 full time equivalents (FTEs) and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HRs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using Generalized Estimating Equations and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively. The 2095 bus operators, included in this study, had an unintentional injury rate (95% CI) of 17.8 (16.1-19.7) per 100 FTEs. Multivariable analysis identified increased risks for operators who were female, compared to male (HR = 2.4; 2.0-2.8); worked less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 4.6; 3.8-5.5); and drove less than 7 versus 7 to less than 12 hours per day (HR = 3.2; 2.7-3.8). Suggestive increased risks were identified for operators working split versus straight shifts (HR = 1.2; 1.0-1.4) and for driving limited versus regular bus routes (HR = 1.36; 1.0-1.8). Results serve as a basis for further studies and inform the development of targeted intervention strategies to reduce bus operators' occupational injuries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Demonstration and evaluation of gas turbine transit buses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1983-01-01

The Gas Turbine Transit Bus Demonstration Program was designed to demonstrate and evaluate the operation of gas turbine engines in transit coaches in revenue service compared with diesel powered coaches. The main objective of the program was to accelerate development and commercialization of automotive gas turbines. The benefits from the installation of this engine in a transit coach were expected to be reduced weight, cleaner exhaust emissions, lower noise levels, reduced engine vibration and maintenance requirements, improved reliability and vehicle performance, greater engine braking capability, and superior cold weather starting. Four RTS-II advanced design transit coaches were converted to gas turbine power using engines and transmissions. Development, acceptance, performance and systems tests were performed on the coaches prior to the revenue service demonstration.

Data visualization as a tool for improved decision making within transit agencies

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-02-01

TriMet, the regional transit provider in the Portland, OR, area has been a leader in bus transit performance monitoring using data collected via automatic vehicle location and automatic passenger counter technologies. This information is collected an...

Autonomous dial-a-ride transit : benefit-cost evaluation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1998-08-01

Among public transit and for-hire modes, fixed-route bus and rail are most effective in maintaining high ridership in high density areas such as urban centers. The cost effectiveness of fixed-route transit, however, depends on close proximity to the ...

Understanding transit accidents using the National Transit Database and the role of Transit Intelligent Vehicle Initiative Technology in reducing accidents

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-06-01

This report documents the results of bus accident data analysis using the 2002 National Transit Database (NTD) and discusses the potential of using advanced technology being studied and developed under the U.S. Department of Transportations (U.S. ...

The wheels on the bus go "buy buy buy": school bus advertising laws.

PubMed

Pomeranz, Jennifer L

2012-09-01

School buses, a practical necessity for millions of children, are at the center of new efforts to raise revenue. School bus advertising laws bring public health and commercialization concerns to the school setting. In doing so, they potentially expose school districts to First Amendment lawsuits. I examined various school bus advertising bills and laws. I reviewed First Amendment "forum analysis" as applied in the transit and school settings to clarify how this legal test may affect school districts subject to such laws. I have made recommendations for school districts to enact appropriate policies to ensure that such advertising does not undermine public health and to enable the districts to maintain control over their property.

Interprocessor bus switching system for simultaneous communication in plural bus parallel processing system

DOEpatents

Atac, R.; Fischler, M.S.; Husby, D.E.

1991-01-15

A bus switching apparatus and method for multiple processor computer systems comprises a plurality of bus switches interconnected by branch buses. Each processor or other module of the system is connected to a spigot of a bus switch. Each bus switch also serves as part of a backplane of a modular crate hardware package. A processor initiates communication with another processor by identifying that other processor. The bus switch to which the initiating processor is connected identifies and secures, if possible, a path to that other processor, either directly or via one or more other bus switches which operate similarly. If a particular desired path through a given bus switch is not available to be used, an alternate path is considered, identified and secured. 11 figures.

Interprocessor bus switching system for simultaneous communication in plural bus parallel processing system

DOEpatents

Atac, Robert; Fischler, Mark S.; Husby, Donald E.

1991-01-01

A bus switching apparatus and method for multiple processor computer systems comprises a plurality of bus switches interconnected by branch buses. Each processor or other module of the system is connected to a spigot of a bus switch. Each bus switch also serves as part of a backplane of a modular crate hardware package. A processor initiates communication with another processor by identifying that other processor. The bus switch to which the initiating processor is connected identifies and secures, if possible, a path to that other processor, either directly or via one or more other bus switches which operate similarly. If a particular desired path through a given bus switch is not available to be used, an alternate path is considered, identified and secured.

BC Transit Fuel Cell Bus Project Evaluation Results : Second Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-09-01

Beginning in 2009, British Columbia Transit (BC Transit) led a project to conduct a 5-year demonstration of 20 fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) in Whistler, Canada. The FCEB fleet was introduced during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and operated throug...

National Fuel Cell Bus Program : Accelerated Testing Report, AC Transit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-01-01

This is an evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell transit buses operating at AC Transit in revenue service since March 20, 2006 compared to similar diesel buses operating from the same depot. This evaluation report includes results from November 2007 throu...

Comparison of Parallel and Series Hybrid Power Trains for Transit Bus Applications

DOE PAGES

Gao, Zhiming; Daw, C. Stuart; Smith, David E.; ...

2016-08-01

The fuel economy and emissions of conventional and hybrid buses equipped with emissions after treatment were evaluated via computational simulation for six representative city bus drive cycles. Both series and parallel configurations for the hybrid case were studied. The simulation results indicated that series hybrid buses have the greatest overall advantage in fuel economy. The series and parallel hybrid buses were predicted to produce similar carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions but were also predicted to have reduced tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides compared with the conventional bus in higher speed cycles. For the New York bus cycle, which hasmore » the lowest average speed among the cycles evaluated, the series bus tailpipe emissions were somewhat higher than they were for the conventional bus; the parallel hybrid bus had significantly lower tailpipe emissions. All three bus power trains were found to require periodic active diesel particulate filter regeneration to maintain control of particulate matter. Finally, plug-in operation of series hybrid buses appears to offer significant fuel economy benefits and is easily employed because of the relatively large battery capacity that is typical of the series hybrid configuration.« less

Comparison of Parallel and Series Hybrid Power Trains for Transit Bus Applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Zhiming; Daw, C. Stuart; Smith, David E.

The fuel economy and emissions of conventional and hybrid buses equipped with emissions after treatment were evaluated via computational simulation for six representative city bus drive cycles. Both series and parallel configurations for the hybrid case were studied. The simulation results indicated that series hybrid buses have the greatest overall advantage in fuel economy. The series and parallel hybrid buses were predicted to produce similar carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon tailpipe emissions but were also predicted to have reduced tailpipe emissions of nitrogen oxides compared with the conventional bus in higher speed cycles. For the New York bus cycle, which hasmore » the lowest average speed among the cycles evaluated, the series bus tailpipe emissions were somewhat higher than they were for the conventional bus; the parallel hybrid bus had significantly lower tailpipe emissions. All three bus power trains were found to require periodic active diesel particulate filter regeneration to maintain control of particulate matter. Finally, plug-in operation of series hybrid buses appears to offer significant fuel economy benefits and is easily employed because of the relatively large battery capacity that is typical of the series hybrid configuration.« less

76 FR 1501 - Preparation of Environmental Impact Statement for Transit Improvements in the US 90A/Southwest...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-10

... limited traffic capacity on existing streets and highways resulting in increased travel time, delays, and... result, bus travel times are influenced by roadway congestion which is anticipated to increase. Peak period bus travel times can be as much as 30 percent longer than travel times during off-peak periods. In...

Characterization of transit ride quality.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-08-01

Strategies often proposed to combat the growing traffic congestion problems of urban environments target enhancements to increase the use of bus transit. Therefore, service providers are keen to identify and understand factors that could attract more...

Metro orange line BRT project evaluation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-10-01

In partnership with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute (NBRTI) conducted an evaluation of the Metro Orange Line BRT service, whic...

Best practices in bus dispatch.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-06-01

In 2007, the National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) sponsored a study to examine best practices in : extraboard operator management. In most transit agencies, extraboard manpower is managed by the : dispatch function, but extraboard management i...

Articulated Bus Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-07-01

Escalating transit deficits have led the transit industry to search for methods for improving productivity and reducing operating costs. In seeking these objectives, there has been renewed interest in the cost-saving potential of high-capacity articu...

Relationships of working conditions, health problems and vehicle accidents in bus rapid transit (BRT) drivers.

PubMed

Gómez-Ortiz, Viviola; Cendales, Boris; Useche, Sergio; Bocarejo, Juan P

2018-04-01

The aim of this study was to estimate accident risk rates and mental health of bus rapid transit (BRT) drivers based on psychosocial risk factors at work leading to increased stress and health problems. A cross-sectional research design utilized a self-report questionnaire completed by 524 BRT drivers. Some working conditions of BRT drivers (lack of social support from supervisors and perceived potential for risk) may partially explain Bogota's BRT drivers' involvement in road accidents. Drivers' mental health problems were associated with higher job strain, less support from co-workers, fewer rewards and greater signal conflict while driving. To prevent bus accidents, supervisory support may need to be increased. To prevent mental health problems, other interventions may be needed such as reducing demands, increasing job control, reducing amount of incoming information, simplifying current signals, making signals less contradictory, and revising rewards. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Economical launching and accelerating control strategy for a single-shaft parallel hybrid electric bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Chao; Song, Jian; Li, Liang; Li, Shengbo; Cao, Dongpu

2016-08-01

This paper presents an economical launching and accelerating mode, including four ordered phases: pure electrical driving, clutch engagement and engine start-up, engine active charging, and engine driving, which can be fit for the alternating conditions and improve the fuel economy of hybrid electric bus (HEB) during typical city-bus driving scenarios. By utilizing the fast response feature of electric motor (EM), an adaptive controller for EM is designed to realize the power demand during the pure electrical driving mode, the engine starting mode and the engine active charging mode. Concurrently, the smoothness issue induced by the sequential mode transitions is solved with a coordinated control logic for engine, EM and clutch. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed launching and accelerating mode and its control methods are effective in improving the fuel economy and ensure the drivability during the fast transition between the operation modes of HEB.

An Intelligent System Proposal for Improving the Safety and Accessibility of Public Transit by Highway

PubMed Central

García, Carmelo R.; Quesada-Arencibia, Alexis; Cristóbal, Teresa; Padrón, Gabino; Pérez, Ricardo; Alayón, Francisco

2015-01-01

The development of public transit systems that are accessible and safe for everyone, including people with special needs, is an objective that is justified from the civic and economic points of view. Unfortunately, public transit services are conceived for people who do not have reduced physical or cognitive abilities. In this paper, we present an intelligent public transit system by highway with the goal of facilitating access and improving the safety of public transit for persons with special needs. The system is deployed using components that are commonly available in transport infrastructure, e.g., sensors, mobile communications systems, and positioning systems. In addition, the system can operate in non-urban transport contexts, e.g., isolated rural areas, where the availability of basic infrastructure, such as electricity and communications infrastructures, is not always guaranteed. To construct the system, the principles and techniques of Ubiquitous Computing and Ambient Intelligence have been employed. To illustrate the utility of the system, two cases of services rendered by the system are described: the first case involves a surveillance system to guarantee accessibility at bus stops; the second case involves a route assistant for blind people. PMID:26295234

An effective approach of lesion segmentation within the breast ultrasound image based on the cellular automata principle.

PubMed

Liu, Yan; Cheng, H D; Huang, Jianhua; Zhang, Yingtao; Tang, Xianglong

2012-10-01

In this paper, a novel lesion segmentation within breast ultrasound (BUS) image based on the cellular automata principle is proposed. Its energy transition function is formulated based on global image information difference and local image information difference using different energy transfer strategies. First, an energy decrease strategy is used for modeling the spatial relation information of pixels. For modeling global image information difference, a seed information comparison function is developed using an energy preserve strategy. Then, a texture information comparison function is proposed for considering local image difference in different regions, which is helpful for handling blurry boundaries. Moreover, two neighborhood systems (von Neumann and Moore neighborhood systems) are integrated as the evolution environment, and a similarity-based criterion is used for suppressing noise and reducing computation complexity. The proposed method was applied to 205 clinical BUS images for studying its characteristic and functionality, and several overlapping area error metrics and statistical evaluation methods are utilized for evaluating its performance. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can handle BUS images with blurry boundaries and low contrast well and can segment breast lesions accurately and effectively.

Study on transfer optimization of urban rail transit and conventional public transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jie; Sun, Quan Xin; Mao, Bao Hua

2018-04-01

This paper mainly studies the time optimization of feeder connection between rail transit and conventional bus in a shopping center. In order to achieve the goal of connecting rail transportation effectively and optimizing the convergence between the two transportations, the things had to be done are optimizing the departure intervals, shorting the passenger transfer time and improving the service level of public transit. Based on the goal that has the minimum of total waiting time of passengers and the number of start of classes, establish the optimizing model of bus connecting of departure time. This model has some constrains such as transfer time, load factor, and the convergence of public transportation grid spacing. It solves the problems by using genetic algorithms.

Planning ahead for livable communities along the Powell–Division Bus Rapid Transit : neighborhood conditions and change.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-04

New transit investments can be a double-edged sword for disadvantaged communities (e.g., those included in environmental justice and Title VI protected classes). Transit investments improve communities mobility and access, and may improve health w...

SMART operational field test evaluation : public support for bus transit in tri-county area of southeastern Michigan : final report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-09-01

Despite ever-decreasing public transit rider-ship in the U.S., public transit continues to enjoy moderate to high amounts of public support, meaning that the public continues to support public expenditures on transit. Indeed, since the 1970s some tra...

Transportation Matters: A Health Impact Assessment in Rural New Mexico.

PubMed

Del Rio, Michelle; Hargrove, William L; Tomaka, Joe; Korc, Marcelo

2017-06-13

This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) informed the decision of expanding public transportation services to rural, low income communities of southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico on the U.S./Mexico border. The HIA focused on impacts of access to health care services, education, and economic development opportunities. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from surveys of community members, key informant interviews, a focus group with community health workers, and passenger surveys during an initial introduction of the transit system. Results from the survey showed that a high percentage of respondents would use the bus system to access the following: (1) 84% for health services; (2) 83% for formal and informal education opportunities; and (3) 81% for economic opportunities. Results from interviews and the focus group supported the benefits of access to services but many were concerned with the high costs of providing bus service in a rural area. We conclude that implementing the bus system would have major impacts on resident's health through improved access to: (1) health services, and fresh foods, especially for older adults; (2) education opportunities, such as community colleges, universities, and adult learning, especially for young adults; and (3) economic opportunities, especially jobs, job training, and consumer goods and services. We highlight the challenges associated with public transportation in rural areas where there are: (1) long distances to travel; (2) difficulties in scheduling to meet all needs; and (3) poor road and walking conditions for bus stops. The results are applicable to low income and fairly disconnected rural areas, where access to health, education, and economic opportunities are limited.

Transportation Matters: A Health Impact Assessment in Rural New Mexico

PubMed Central

Del Rio, Michelle; Hargrove, William L.; Tomaka, Joe; Korc, Marcelo

2017-01-01

This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) informed the decision of expanding public transportation services to rural, low income communities of southern Doña Ana County, New Mexico on the U.S./Mexico border. The HIA focused on impacts of access to health care services, education, and economic development opportunities. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from surveys of community members, key informant interviews, a focus group with community health workers, and passenger surveys during an initial introduction of the transit system. Results from the survey showed that a high percentage of respondents would use the bus system to access the following: (1) 84% for health services; (2) 83% for formal and informal education opportunities; and (3) 81% for economic opportunities. Results from interviews and the focus group supported the benefits of access to services but many were concerned with the high costs of providing bus service in a rural area. We conclude that implementing the bus system would have major impacts on resident’s health through improved access to: (1) health services, and fresh foods, especially for older adults; (2) education opportunities, such as community colleges, universities, and adult learning, especially for young adults; and (3) economic opportunities, especially jobs, job training, and consumer goods and services. We highlight the challenges associated with public transportation in rural areas where there are: (1) long distances to travel; (2) difficulties in scheduling to meet all needs; and (3) poor road and walking conditions for bus stops. The results are applicable to low income and fairly disconnected rural areas, where access to health, education, and economic opportunities are limited. PMID:28608826

BBIS: Beacon Bus Information System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasim, Shahreen; Hafit, Hanayanti; Pei Juin, Kong; Afizah Afif, Zehan; Hashim, Rathiah; Ruslai, Husni; Jahidin, Kamaruzzaman; Syafwan Arshad, Mohammad

2016-11-01

Lack of bus information for example bus timetable, status of the bus and messy advertisement on bulletin board at the bus stop will give negative impact to tourist. Therefore, a real-time update bus information bulletin board provides all information needed so that passengers can save their bus information searching time. Supported with Android or iOS, Beacon Bus Information System (BBIS) provides bus information between Batu Pahat and Kluang area. BBIS is a system that implements physical web technology and interaction on demand. It built on Backend-as-a-Service, a cloud solution and Firebase non relational database as data persistence backend and syncs between user client in the real-time. People walk through bus stop with smart device and do not require any application. Bluetooth Beacon is used to achieve smart device's best performance of data sharing. Intellij IDEA 15 is one of the tools that that used to develop the BBIS system. Multi-language included front end and backend supported Integration development environment (IDE) helped to speed up integration process.

Spatial distribution of diesel transit bus emissions and urban populations: implications of coincidence and scale on exposure.

PubMed

Gouge, Brian; Ries, Francis J; Dowlatabadi, Hadi

2010-09-15

Macroscale emissions modeling approaches have been widely applied in impact assessments of mobile source emissions. However, these approaches poorly characterize the spatial distribution of emissions and have been shown to underestimate emissions of some pollutants. To quantify the implications of these limitations on exposure assessments, CO, NO(X), and HC emissions from diesel transit buses were estimated at 50 m intervals along a bus rapid transit route using a microscale emissions modeling approach. The impacted population around the route was estimated using census, pedestrian count and transit ridership data. Emissions exhibited significant spatial variability. In intervals near major intersections and bus stops, emissions were 1.6-3.0 times higher than average. The coincidence of these emission hot spots and peaks in pedestrian populations resulted in a 20-40% increase in exposure compared to estimates that assumed homogeneous spatial distributions of emissions and/or populations along the route. An additional 19-30% increase in exposure resulted from the underestimate of CO and NO(X) emissions by macroscale modeling approaches. The results of this study indicate that macroscale modeling approaches underestimate exposure due to poor characterization of the influence of vehicle activity on the spatial distribution of emissions and total emissions.

The Wheels on the Bus Go “Buy Buy Buy”: School Bus Advertising Laws

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

School buses, a practical necessity for millions of children, are at the center of new efforts to raise revenue. School bus advertising laws bring public health and commercialization concerns to the school setting. In doing so, they potentially expose school districts to First Amendment lawsuits. I examined various school bus advertising bills and laws. I reviewed First Amendment “forum analysis” as applied in the transit and school settings to clarify how this legal test may affect school districts subject to such laws. I have made recommendations for school districts to enact appropriate policies to ensure that such advertising does not undermine public health and to enable the districts to maintain control over their property. PMID:22742065

National transit bus accident data collection and analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-02-01

Through its National Center for Transit Research, and under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and in cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Standing Committee on Public Tr...

National transit bus accident data collection & analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-02-01

Through its National Center for Transit Research, and under contract with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and in cooperation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Standing Committee on Public Tr...

Analysis of movable bus stop boarding and alighting areas : [summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-05-01

Floridas transit ridership comprises persons from : varying demographic backgrounds, including : those with disabilities. An important goal for the : Florida Deaprtment of Transportation (FDOT) : and Florida transit agencies is to ensure that all ...

Best practices in bus dispatch [summary].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-01-01

In 2007, the National Center for Transit Research : sponsored a study of best practices in extraboard : operator management, finding that in most transit : agencies, extraboard manpower is managed by : dispatchers as one of their many functions. This...

Sound transit climate risk reduction project.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-09-01

The Climate Risk Reduction Project assessed how climate change may affect Sound Transit commuter rail, light rail, and express bus : services. The project identified potential climate change impacts on agency operations, assets, and long-term plannin...

TMS communications software. Volume 2: Bus interface unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gregor, P. J.

1979-01-01

A data bus communication system to support the space shuttle's Trend Monitoring System (TMS) and to provide a basis for evaluation of the bus concept is described. Installation of the system included developing both hardware and software interfaces between the bus and the specific TMS computers and terminals. The software written for the microprocessor-based bus interface units is described. The software implements both the general bus communications protocol and also the specific interface protocols for the TMS computers and terminals.

Suburbs - The Transit Challenge of the Eighties : Metro/Bellevue Transit Service Incentive Agreement.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-08-01

Paper describes the transit/land use relationship, the Seattle Metro's plans for serving the suburbs over the next decade and the details of the Metro/Bellevue incentive agreement, under which Bellevue can earn up to 10,000 additional bus hours over ...

Evaluation of transit route development : a case study of Downeast Transportation Inc.'s Bucksport, Maine, bus route.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2004-08-01

The number of journal articles, books, and research related to rural transit has : increased somewhat in the past decade; however, there has been little transit research on : rural Maine. Maine citizens rely heavily on personal vehicles for transport...

Thermographic inspection and quality assurance of energy conservation procedures for electric buses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fennell, Henri C.

1998-03-01

Electric buses are one of the solutions for improving air quality in our cities. Many states are adopting 'no new diesel bus' policies, thus increasing the pressure to develop alternative vehicles. The fledgling electric vehicle technology suffers from acceptance problems by major transit authorities due primarily to limited travel range from each battery charge. Utilizing electric buses in the Northeast has the added problem of maintaining an adequate cabin temperature without the availability of heat from a diesel motor. Heating the passenger cabin with an electric heater which draws from the batteries' stored energy significantly reduces the already modest range of these vehicles; therefore, energy conservation measures play an important role in allowing electric vehicles to provide practical transit services. IR thermography, in conjunction with air leakage pressurization diagnostics, has proven to be an excellent tool for developing energy-efficient bus designs as well as a valuable in-service performance testing method. This paper is based on tests performed on several Advanced Vehicle Systems, Inc. electric buses during research performed under Northeast Alternative Vehicle Consortium and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency grants. The work demonstrates the thermographic methods used and the real- world increased performance of retrofitted and newly designed buses resulting from this initial Portland Transit retrofit project and in a follow-up project to develop a cold weather specification for a new generation of electric buses. Early diagnostic and new-technology follow-up thermographic performance testing was paralleled by energy modeling of early baseline and re-designed vehicles. Modeling and performance data are included. As a result of this research, thermography, air-leakage/pressurization testing, and fog analysis techniques are now being used regularly in research and development and quality assurance procedures by electric bus manufacturers.

Morphology of single inhalable particle inside public transit biodiesel fueled bus.

PubMed

Shandilya, Kaushik K; Kumar, Ashok

2010-01-01

In an urban-transit bus, fueled by biodiesel in Toledo, Ohio, single inhalable particle samples in October 2008 were collected and detected by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM/EDS). Particle size analysis found bimodal distribution at 0.2 and 0.5 microm. The particle morphology was characterized by 14 different shape clusters: square, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, agglomerate, sphere, triangle, oblong, strip, line or stick, and unknown, by quantitative order. The square particles were common in the samples. Round and triangle particles are more, and pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon, strip, line or sticks are less. Agglomerate particles were found in abundance. The surface of most particles was coarse with a fractal edge that can provide a suitable chemical reaction bed in the polluted atmospheric environment. The three sorts of surface patterns of squares were smooth, semi-smooth, and coarse. The three sorts of square surface patterns represented the morphological characteristics of single inhalable particles in the air inside the bus in Toledo. The size and shape distribution results were compared to those obtained for a bus using ultra low sulfur diesel.

Bus Stops and Pedestrian-Motor Vehicle Collisions in Lima, Peru: A Matched Case-Control Study

PubMed Central

Quistberg, D. Alex; Koepsell, Thomas D.; Johnston, Brian D.; Boyle, Linda Ng; Miranda, J. Jaime; Ebel, Beth E.

2015-01-01

Objective To evaluate the relationship between bus stop characteristics and pedestrian-motor vehicle collisions. Design Matched case-control study where the units of study were pedestrian crossing. Setting Random sample of 11 police commissaries in Lima, Peru. Data collection occurred from February, 2011 to September, 2011. Participants 97 intersection cases representing 1,134 collisions and 40 mid-block cases representing 469 collisions that occurred between October, 2010 and January, 2011 and their matched controls. Main Exposures Presence of a bus stop and specific bus stop characteristics. Main Outcome Occurrence of a pedestrian-motor vehicle collision. Results Intersections with bus stops were three times more likely to have a pedestrian-vehicle collision (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.53-7.03), relative to intersections without bus stops. Both formal and informal bus stops were associated with a higher odds of a collision at intersections (OR 6.23, 95% CI 1.76-22.0 and OR 2.98, 1.37-6.49). At mid-block sites, bus stops on a bus-dedicated transit lane were also associated with collision risk (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.02-5.42). All bus stops were located prior to the intersection, contrary to practices in most high income countries. Conclusions In urban Lima, the presence of a bus stop was associated with a three-fold increase in risk of a pedestrian collision. The highly competitive environment among bus companies may provide an economic incentive for risky practices such as dropping off passengers in the middle of traffic and jockeying for position with other buses. Bus stop placement should be considered to improve pedestrian safety. PMID:24357516

Electrical system architecture

DOEpatents

Algrain, Marcelo C [Peoria, IL; Johnson, Kris W [Washington, IL; Akasam, Sivaprasad [Peoria, IL; Hoff, Brian D [East Peoria, IL

2008-07-15

An electrical system for a vehicle includes a first power source generating a first voltage level, the first power source being in electrical communication with a first bus. A second power source generates a second voltage level greater than the first voltage level, the second power source being in electrical communication with a second bus. A starter generator may be configured to provide power to at least one of the first bus and the second bus, and at least one additional power source may be configured to provide power to at least one of the first bus and the second bus. The electrical system also includes at least one power consumer in electrical communication with the first bus and at least one power consumer in electrical communication with the second bus.

Transit Operator Guidelines for Transfer Policy Design

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1980-06-01

This report provides guidelines to aid transit operators in the design of policies to accomodate bus and/or rail transfers policy may range from a complete set of operator actions involving vehicle routing and scheduling, transfer charges, passenger ...

Alternative Fuel Transit Bus Evaluation Program Results

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1996-05-06

The objective of this program, which is supported by the U.S. Department of : Energy (DOE) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is to : provide an unbiased and comprehensive comparison of transit buses operating on : alternative f...

Foothill Transit Battery Electric Bus Demonstration Results: Second Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Jeffers, Matthew

This report summarizes results of a battery electric bus (BEB) evaluation at Foothill Transit, located in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. Foothill Transit is collaborating with the California Air Resources Board and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory to evaluate its fleet of Proterra BEBs in revenue service. The focus of this evaluation is to compare performance of the BEBs to that of conventional technology and to track progress over time toward meeting performance targets. This project has also provided an opportunity for DOE to conduct a detailed evaluationmore » of the BEBs and charging infrastructure. This is the second report summarizing the results of the BEB demonstration at Foothill Transit and it provides data on the buses from August 2015 through December 2016. Data are provided on a selection of compressed natural gas buses as a baseline comparison.« less

East Tennessee Hydrogen Initiative: Task II - Transition of Bus Transit to Hydrogen: A Case Study of a Medium Sized Transit Agency

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-12-01

The current climate crisis and recent world events, including a global economic crisis and growing concerns over the availability and cost of petroleum fuels, has sparked a global interest in developing alternative, sustainable, clean fuel technologi...

Advanced network planning for bus rapid transit : the "Quickway" model as a modal alternative to "Light Rail Lite"

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-02-01

Transit planning in the United States has tended toward viewing BRT as an analogue to light rail transit, with similar operating patterns. This model, referred to as Light Rail Lite, is compared to international best practices, which have often...

Best practices for using geographic data in transit : a location referencing guidebook : defining geographic locations of bus stops, routes and other map data for ITS, GIS and operational efficiencies

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2005-04-01

This Guidebook was developed at the request of the transit industry. It provides best practices for both transit managers and technical staff with respect to planning, implementing and using geographic data in transit. The Guidebook discusses issues ...

26 CFR 41.4483-2 - Exemption for certain transit-type buses.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 16 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 true Exemption for certain transit-type buses. 41... Certain Highway Motor Vehicles § 41.4483-2 Exemption for certain transit-type buses. (a) In general. Use in any taxable period, or part thereof, of any bus of the transit type by any person who is engaged...

Research Electrical Distribution Bus | Energy Systems Integration Facility

Science.gov Websites

| NREL Research Electrical Distribution Bus Research Electrical Distribution Bus The research electrical distribution bus (REDB) is the heart of the Energy Systems Integration Facility electrical system throughout the laboratories. Photo of a technician performing maintenance on the Research Electrical

Traveling by Bus Instead of Car on Urban Major Roads: Safety Benefits for Vehicle Occupants, Pedestrians, and Cyclists.

PubMed

Morency, Patrick; Strauss, Jillian; Pépin, Félix; Tessier, François; Grondines, Jocelyn

2018-04-01

Some studies have estimated fatality and injury rates for bus occupants, but data was aggregated at the country level and made no distinction between bus types. Also, injured pedestrians and cyclists, as a result of bus travel, were overlooked. We compared injury rates for car and city bus occupants on specific urban major roads, as well as the cyclist and pedestrian injuries associated with car and bus travel. We selected ten bus routes along major urban arterials (in Montreal, Canada). Passenger-kilometers traveled were estimated from vehicle counts at intersections (2002-2010) and from bus passenger counts (2008). Police accident reports (2001-2010) provided injury data for all modes. Injury rates associated with car and bus travel were calculated for vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists. Injury rate ratios were also computed. The safety benefits of bus travel, defined as the number of vehicle occupant, cyclist, and pedestrian injuries saved, were estimated for each route. Overall, for all ten routes, the ratio between car and bus occupant injury rates is 3.7 (95% CI [3.4, 4.0]). The rates of pedestrian and cyclist injuries per hundred million passenger-kilometers are also significantly greater for car travel than that for bus travel: 4.1 (95% CI [3.5, 4.9]) times greater for pedestrian injuries; 5.3 (95% CI [3.8, 7.6]) times greater for cyclist injuries. Similar results were observed for fatally and severely injured vehicle occupants, cyclists, and pedestrians. At the route level, the safety benefits of bus travel increase with the difference in injury rate associated with car and bus travel but also with the amount of passenger-kilometers by bus. Results show that city bus is a safer mode than car, for vehicle occupants but also for cyclists and pedestrians traveling along these bus routes. The safety benefits of bus travel greatly vary across urban routes; this spatial variation is most likely linked to environmental factors. Understanding the safety benefits of public transit for specific transport routes is likely to provide valuable information for mobilizing city and transportation planners.

Relative importance of school bus-related microenvironments to children's pollutant exposure.

PubMed

Behrentz, Eduardo; Sabin, Lisa D; Winer, Arthur M; Fitz, Dennis R; Pankratz, David V; Colome, Steven D; Fruin, Scott A

2005-10-01

Real-time concentrations of black carbon, particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate counts, as well as integrated and real-time fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass concentrations were measured inside school buses during long commutes on Los Angeles Unified School District bus routes, at bus stops along the routes, at the bus loading/unloading zone in front of the selected school, and at nearby urban "background" sites. Across all of the pollutants, mean concentrations during bus commutes were higher than in any other microenvironment. Mean exposures (mean concentration times time spent in a particular microenvironment) in bus commutes were between 50 and 200 times greater than those for the loading/unloading microenvironment, and 20-40 times higher than those for the bus stops, depending on the pollutant. Although the analyzed school bus commutes represented only 10% of a child's day, on average they contributed one-third of a child's 24-hr overall black carbon exposure during a school day. For species closely related to vehicle exhaust, the within- cabin exposures were generally dominated by the effect of surrounding traffic when windows were open and by the bus's own exhaust when windows were closed. Low-emitting buses generally exhibited high concentrations only when traveling behind a diesel vehicle, whereas high-emitting buses exhibited high concentrations both when following other diesel vehicles and when idling without another diesel vehicle in front of the bus. To reduce school bus commute exposures, we recommend minimizing commute times, avoiding caravanning with other school buses, using the cleanest buses for the longest bus routes, maintaining conventional diesel buses to eliminate visible emissions, and transitioning to cleaner fuels and advanced particulate control technologies as soon as possible.

Brake Lining for Transit Buses - Bonded vs. Bolted

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-06-01

This report points out an often cited complaint from urban transit agencies concerning the Advanced Design Bus: the relatively short brake lining life. Despite design improvements made by the equipment supply industry since the introduction of the AD...

Review and Evaluation of Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for Electric Transit Applications

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-08-01

This research report provides a status review of emerging and existing Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technologies applicable to electric bus (EB) and rail transit. The WPT technology options discussed, especially Inductive Power Transfer (IPT), enabl...

Analysis of local bus markets – volumes I - III: technical brief.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-07-04

Despite having an extensive network of public transit, traffic congestion and transportation-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are significant concerns in New Jersey. This research examines the congestion and GHG impacts of transit by exclusivel...

Fuel Cell Transit Bus Coordination and Evaluation Plan California Fuel Cell Transit Evaluation Team, DRAFT

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-10-29

The objective of the DOE/NREL evaluation program is to provide comprehensive, unbiased evaluation results of advanced technology vehicle development and operations, evaluation of hydrogen infrastructure development and operation, and descriptions of ...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets : Current Status 2014

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-03

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. Various stakeholders, including d...

Automatic Brake Slack Adjusters on Transit Buses

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1985-04-01

The purpose of this report is to provide transit bus agencies with current information on automatic brake slack adjusters. Rather than a comprehensive statistical survey, this report is intended to provide an overview of the states of automatic slack...

Biomechanical and ergonomic assessment of urban transit operators.

PubMed

Albert, Wayne J; Everson, Donald; Rae, Michelle; Callaghan, Jack P; Croll, Jim; Kuruganti, Usha

2014-01-01

The prevalence of neck and low back musculoskeletal injuries in transit operators has been shown to be high; with work absences exceeding double the National average. There is a lack of biomechanical data generated from field researches to inform on musculoskeletal risk associated with transportation and driving occupations. Instead there has been a reliance on simulated driving and questionnaire-based research. This study was designed to examine the musculoskeletal and biomechanical stresses experienced by urban bus drivers. The main objective was to obtain a baseline understanding of sitting posture, muscle activiation and subjective ratings of stress during regular driving tasks. Fifteen urban city bus drivers were recruited for this study. Bus drivers drove the same 65-minute bus route once, at the same time of day, in the same preselected bus. Wireless surface electromyography monitored muscular activity of the drivers' neck, upper trapezius, and erector spinae and video analysis and seat pressure mapping was used to monitor changes in driving posture. A health and lifestyle questionnaire was administered to record specific neck and back pain experienced by drivers as well as to provide lifestyle habits. Drivers were found to exhibit non-neutral postures for less than 30% of the time while conducting routine tasks of turning and stopping for passenger loading and unloading. The neck posture was the greatest concern in terms of non-neutral posture and this was supported by the higher muscle activation to the neck musculature. There was significant posture adjustment made during the one-hour driving period with the adjustments increasing with driving time. Activities associated with bus driving appear to require the use of non-neutral postures an increase in muscle activation. Significant postural adjustments were needed over the one-hour observation period suggesting that the musculoskeletal demands may increase over a regular 12-hour shift.

Support and power-plant documentation for the gas-turbine-powered-bus demonstration program. Final report, 1 January 1980-30 September 1981

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nigro, D.N.; Stewart, R.G.; Apple, S.A.

1982-03-01

The operational experience obtained for the GT404-4 gas turbine engines in the Intercity and Intracity Bus Demonstration Programs is described for the period January 1980 through September 1981. Support for the engines and automatic transmissions involved in this program provided engineering and field service, spare parts and tools, training, and factory overhauls. The Greyhound (intercity) coaches accumulated 183,054 mi (294,595 km) and 5154 hr of total operation. The Baltimore Transit (intracity) coaches accumulated 40,567 mi (65,285 km) and 1840 hr of total operation. In service, the turbine-powered Greyhound and Transit coaches achieved approximately 25% and 40% lower fuel mileage, respectively,more » than did the production diesel-powered coaches. The gas turbine engine will require the advanced ceramic development currently being sponsored by the DOE and NASA to achieve fuel economy equivalent not only to that of today's diesel engines but also to the projected fuel economy of the advanced diesel engines of the 1990s. Sufficient experience was not achieved with the coaches prior to the start of service to identify and eliminate many of the problems associated with the startup of new equipment. Because of these problems, the mean miles between incident were unacceptably low. The future gas turbine system should be developed sufficiently to establish satisfactory durability prior to evaluation in revenue service. Commercialization of the gas turbine bus engine remains a viable goal for the future.« less

Support and power plant documentation for the gas turbine powered bus demonstration program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nigro, D. N.; Stewart, R. G.; Apple, S. A.

1982-01-01

The operational experience obtained for the GT404-4 gas turbine engines in the intercity and intracity Bus Demonstration Programs is described for the period January 1980 through September 1981. Support for the engines and automatic transmissions involved in this program provided engineering and field service, spare parts and tools, training, and factory overhauls. the Greyhound (intercity) coaches accumulated 183,054 mi (294,595 km) and 5154 hr of total operation. The Baltimore Transit (intracity) coaches accumulated 40,567 mi (65,285 km) and 1840 hr of total operation. In service, the turbine powered Greyhound and Transit coaches achieved approximately 25% and 40% lower fuel mileage, respectively, than did the production diesel powered coaches. The gas turbine engine will require the advanced ceramic development currently being sponsored by the DOE and NASA to achieve fuel economy equivalent not only to that of today's diesel engines but also to the projected fuel economy of the advanced diesel engines of the 1990s. Sufficient experience was not achieved with the coaches prior to the start of service to identify and eliminate many of the problems associated with the startup of new equipment. Because of these problems, the mean miles between incident were unacceptably low. The future gas turbine system should be developed sufficiently to establish satisfactory durability prior to evaluation in revenue service. Commercialization of the gas turbine bus engine remains a viable goal for the future.

Design of a CAN bus interface for photoelectric encoder in the spaceflight camera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Ying; Wan, Qiu-hua; She, Rong-hong; Zhao, Chang-hai; Jiang, Yong

2009-05-01

In order to make photoelectric encoder usable in a spaceflight camera which adopts CAN bus as the communication method, CAN bus interface of the photoelectric encoder is designed in this paper. CAN bus interface hardware circuit of photoelectric encoder consists of CAN bus controller SJA 1000, CAN bus transceiver TJA1050 and singlechip. CAN bus interface controlling software program is completed in C language. A ten-meter shield twisted pair line is used as the transmission medium in the spaceflight camera, and speed rate is 600kbps.The experiments show that: the photoelectric encoder with CAN bus interface which has the advantages of more reliability, real-time, transfer rate and transfer distance overcomes communication line's shortcomings of classical photoelectric encoder system. The system works well in automatic measuring and controlling system.

King County Metro Battery Electric Bus Demonstration: Preliminary Project Results

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

The U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds a variety of research projects that support the commercialization of zero-emission bus technology. To evaluate projects funded through these programs, FTA has enlisted the help of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct third-party evaluations of the technologies deployed under the FTA programs. NREL works with the selected agencies to evaluate the performance of the zero-emission buses compared to baseline conventional buses in similar service. The evaluation effort will advance the knowledge base of zero-emission technologies in transit bus applications and provide 'lessons learned' to aid other fleets in incrementally introducing nextmore » generation zero-emission buses into their operations. This report provides preliminary performance evaluation results from a demonstration of three zero-emission battery electric buses at King County Metro in King County, Washington. NREL developed this preliminary results report to quickly disseminate evaluation results to stakeholders. Detailed evaluation results will be published in future reports.« less

Evaluation of service reliability impacts of traffic signal priority strategies for bus transit

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-03-31

Recent progress in technology has facilitated the design, testing, and deployment of traffic signal priority strategies for transit buses. However, a clear consensus has not emerged regarding the evaluation of these strategies. Each agency implementi...

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results: Sixth Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-09-01

This report presents results of a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) operating in Oakland, California. Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) leads the Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) demonstration that includes 13 advanced-d...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2017

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-11-01

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of ...

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results : Fourth Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-07-04

This report presents results of a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEB) operating in Oakland, California. Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) leads the Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) demonstration, which includes 12 advanced-...

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Results : Fifth Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-06-01

This report presents results of a demonstration of fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) operating in Oakland, California. Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) leads the Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) demonstration, which includes 13 advanced...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2016

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-11-01

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of ...

Minnesota : innovative choices for congestion relief.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

All of the Minnesota UPA projects are in operation. The first project, the Transit Advantage Bus Bypass at the Highway 77/Highway 62 intersection, was implemented in December 2008. Most of the transit projects and the expansion of the existing high-o...

DART Fixed-Route Service Review Study: Executive Summary

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-02-01

This study analyzes the probable impact of new light rail transit and commuter rail service into the Dallas Central Business District on existing Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus service. It looks at possible route and schedule modifications to e...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets : Current Status 2015

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-12-01

This report, published annually, summarizes the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discusses the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report provides a summary of ...

Foothill Transit Battery Electric Bus Demonstration Results

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-01-01

In October 2010, Foothill Transit began a demonstration of three Proterra battery electric buses (BEBs) in its service area located in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley region of Los Angeles County, California. The agency had a goal of evaluating the...

Transit accessibility and labor force participation rate of at-risk groups : Dade County

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1997-06-01

This report examines whether transit accessibility to jobs from individual traffic analysis zones has an impact on employment of different racial/ethnic groups. Demonstrations of cross-town bus routes making suburban employment more accessible have b...

Evaluation of HART MetroRapid BRT.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-08-01

This report is a limited scope evaluation of the MetroRapids first two years of operation. The : MetroRapid represents Hillsborough Area Regional Transits first foray into bus rapid transit. Built at a : total cost of $34.75 million, or $1.98 m...

Network Extender for MIL-STD-1553 Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marcus, Julius; Hanson, T. David

2003-01-01

An extender system for MIL-STD-1553 buses transparently couples bus components at multiple developer sites. The bus network extender is a relatively inexpensive system that minimizes the time and cost of integration of avionic systems by providing a convenient mechanism for early testing without the need to transport the usual test equipment and personnel to an integration facility. This bus network extender can thus alleviate overloading of the test facility while enabling the detection of interface problems that can occur during the integration of avionic systems. With this bus extender in place, developers can correct and adjust their own hardware and software before products leave a development site. Currently resident at Johnson Space Center, the bus network extender is used to test the functionality of equipment that, although remotely located, is connected through a MILSTD- 1553 bus. Inasmuch as the standard bus protocol for avionic equipment is that of MIL-STD-1553, companies that supply MIL-STD-1553-compliant equipment to government or industry and that need long-distance communication support might benefit from this network bus extender

Ultra-Capacitor Energy Storage in a Large Hybrid Electric Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Viterna, L. A.

1997-01-01

The power requirements for inner city transit buses are characterized by power peaks about an order of magnitude larger than the average power usage of the vehicle. For these vehicles, hybrid power trains can offer significantly improved fuel economy and exhaust emissions. A critical design challenge, however, has been developing the energy storage and power management system to respond to these rapid power variations. Most hybrid vehicles today use chemical energy storage batteries to supplement the power from the fuel burning generator unit. Chemical storage batteries however, present several difficulties in power management and control. These difficulties include (1) inadequate life, (2) limited current delivery as well as absorption during regenerative braking, (3) inaccurate measurement of state of charge, and (4) stored energy safety issues. Recent advances in ultra-capacitor technology create an opportunity to address these concerns. The NASA Lewis Research Center, in cooperation with industry and academia, has developed an advanced hybrid electric transit bus using ultra-capacitors as the primary energy storage system. At over 15,000-kg gross weight, this is the largest vehicle of its kind ever built using this advanced energy storage technology. Results of analyses show that the vehicle will match the performance of an equivalent conventionally powered vehicle over typical inner city drive cycles. This paper describes the overall power system architecture, the evolution of the control strategy, and analysis of power flow and vehicle performance.

Analysis of Feeder Bus Network Design and Scheduling Problems

PubMed Central

Almasi, Mohammad Hadi; Karim, Mohamed Rehan

2014-01-01

A growing concern for public transit is its inability to shift passenger's mode from private to public transport. In order to overcome this problem, a more developed feeder bus network and matched schedules will play important roles. The present paper aims to review some of the studies performed on Feeder Bus Network Design and Scheduling Problem (FNDSP) based on three distinctive parts of the FNDSP setup, namely, problem description, problem characteristics, and solution approaches. The problems consist of different subproblems including data preparation, feeder bus network design, route generation, and feeder bus scheduling. Subsequently, descriptive analysis and classification of previous works are presented to highlight the main characteristics and solution methods. Finally, some of the issues and trends for future research are identified. This paper is targeted at dealing with the FNDSP to exhibit strategic and tactical goals and also contributes to the unification of the field which might be a useful complement to the few existing reviews. PMID:24526890

Low-floor bus design preferences of walking aid users during simulated boarding and alighting.

PubMed

D'souza, Clive; Paquet, Victor; Lenker, James; Steinfeld, Edward; Bareria, Piyush

2012-01-01

Low-floor buses represent a significant improvement in accessible public transit for passengers with limited mobility. However, there is still a need for research on the inclusive design of transit buses to identify specific low-floor bus design conditions that are either particularly accommodating or challenging for passengers with functional and mobility impairments. These include doorway locations, seating configuration and the large front wheel-well covers that collectively impact boarding, alighting and interior movement of passengers. Findings from a laboratory study using a static full-scale simulation of a lowfloor bus to evaluate the impact of seating configuration and crowding on interior movement and accessibility for individuals with and without walking aids are presented (n=41). Simulated bus journeys that included boarding, fare payment, seating, and alighting were performed. Results from video observations and subjective assessments showed differences in boarding and alighting performance and users' perceptions of task difficulty. The need for assistive design features (e.g. handholds, stanchions), legroom and stowage space for walking aids was evident. These results demonstrate that specific design conditions in low-floor buses can significantly impact design preference among those who use walking aids. Consideration of ergonomics and inclusive design can therefore be used to improve the design of low-floor buses.

The US transit bus manufacturing industry [brief].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-10-01

Manufacturing buses for the US transit market has been a challenging business : over the last several decades. It is a small market with volatile demand. The : purpose of this report is to provide policy makers with an update on the state of the indu...

Miami urban partnership agreement (UPA) Pines Boulevard transit signal priority evaluation .report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-09-01

The Miami Urban Partnership Agreement included the conversion of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95 to high occupancy toll : (HOT) lanes and additional express bus service. It also included funding for the installation of transit signal prior...

Unhealthy and healthy weight control behaviours among bus operators.

PubMed

Escoto, K H; French, S A

2012-03-01

Urban bus operators are an occupational group with high rates of overweight and obesity. Understanding methods bus operators use for weight control may be important; there may be increased risk for these workers to engage in less healthy weight management behaviours due to stressful working conditions. To examine the prevalence of unhealthy and healthy weight control behaviours used by bus operators and examine associations between use of unhealthy weight control behaviours and work-related and sociodemographic variables. Bus operators from four different transit garages were invited to complete a self-administered survey; height and weight were measured by research staff. Unhealthy and healthy weight control behaviours, work hours, work schedule and social support were measured with self-report items on the employee survey. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate associations. Nearly 60% of bus operators endorsed at least one unhealthy method; over 50% reported skipping meals, 30% fasted and 10% reported taking diet pills in the past year. Bus operator gender, race, body mass index status and hours worked per week showed significant associations with using at least one unhealthy weight control behaviour. Worksite interventions should emphasize the benefit of healthy eating and physical activity but should also address the use of less healthy methods for weight control for individuals employed in transportation occupations.

Design of limited-stop service based on the degree of unbalance of passenger demand

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

This paper presents a limited-stop service for a bus fleet to meet the unbalanced demand of passengers on a bus route and to improve the transit service of the bus route. This strategy includes two parts: a degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand and an optimization of the limited-stop service. The degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand, which is based on the different passenger demand between stations and the unbalance of passengers within the station, is used to judge whether implementing the limited-stop service is necessary for a bus route. The optimization of limited-stop service considers the influence of stop skipping action and bus capacity on the left-over passengers to determine the proper skipping stations for the bus fleet serving the entire route by minimizing both the waiting time and in-vehicle time of passengers and the running time of vehicles. A solution algorithm based on genetic algorithm is also presented to evaluate the degree of unbalanced passenger demand and optimize the limited-stop scheme. Then, the proper strategy is tested on a bus route in Changchun city of China. The threshold of degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand can be calibrated and adapted to different passenger demands. PMID:29505585

Design of limited-stop service based on the degree of unbalance of passenger demand.

PubMed

Zhang, Hu; Zhao, Shuzhi; Liu, Huasheng; Liang, Shidong

2018-01-01

This paper presents a limited-stop service for a bus fleet to meet the unbalanced demand of passengers on a bus route and to improve the transit service of the bus route. This strategy includes two parts: a degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand and an optimization of the limited-stop service. The degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand, which is based on the different passenger demand between stations and the unbalance of passengers within the station, is used to judge whether implementing the limited-stop service is necessary for a bus route. The optimization of limited-stop service considers the influence of stop skipping action and bus capacity on the left-over passengers to determine the proper skipping stations for the bus fleet serving the entire route by minimizing both the waiting time and in-vehicle time of passengers and the running time of vehicles. A solution algorithm based on genetic algorithm is also presented to evaluate the degree of unbalanced passenger demand and optimize the limited-stop scheme. Then, the proper strategy is tested on a bus route in Changchun city of China. The threshold of degree assessment of unbalanced passenger demand can be calibrated and adapted to different passenger demands.

Optical technology for flight control systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mayanagi, M.

1986-01-01

Optical applications to the flight control system including optical data bus, sensors, and transducers are analyzed. Examples of optical data bus include airborne light optical fiber technology (ALOFT), F-5E, YA-7D, MIL-STD-1553 fiber optic data bus and NAL-optic data bus. This NAL-optic data bus is applied to STOL, and its characteristics are stressed. Principles and advantages of optical pulse-digital transducers are discussed.

Security awareness for public bus transportation : case studies of attacks against the Israeli public bus system [research brief].

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

Government regulators and transportation operators of public bus systems are concerned about terrorist attacks. Bus attacks in Israel between late September 2000 and the end of 2006, a period known as the Second Intifada, are particularly well known....

Stability improvement of wind turbine penetrated using power system stabilizer (PSS) on South Sulawesi transmission system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siswanto, Agus; Gunadin, Indar Chaerah; Said, Sri Mawar; Suyuti, Ansar

2018-03-01

The purpose of this research is to improve the stability of interconnection of South Sulawesi system caused by penetration new wind turbine in Sidrap area on bus 2 and in Jeniponto area on bus 34. The method used in this research was via software Power System analysis Toolbox (PSAT) under MATLAB. In this research, there are two problems that are evaluated, the stability of the system before and after penetration wind turbine into the system South Sulawesi system. From the simulation result shows that penetration of wind turbine on bus 2 Sidrap, bus 37 Jeniponto give effect oscillation on the system. The oscillation was damped by installation of Power System Stabilizer (PSS) on bus 29 area Sungguminasa, that South Sulawesi system stable according to normal condition.

Report on Development of Specification for Design and Performance of 40 Ft. Transit Buses

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1971-11-01

The purpose of the specification documented in this report is to define the performance requirements of the standard vehicle--a forty foot transit coach--intended to revitalize urban bus fleets over the near-term future. The specification defines the...

Part-time Labor, Work Rules, and Transit Costs

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1981-01-01

This report examines two major issues: (1)the impact of labor union work rules : on bus transit operating costs and (2)the magnitude of cost savings that can be : expected from the use of part-time drivers. These issues are examined within : the cont...

Investigation, quantification, and recommendations : performance of alternatively fueled buses.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-08-01

The goal of this project was to continue consistent collection and reporting of data on the performance and costs of alternatively fueled public transit vehicles in the U.S. transit fleet in order to keep the Bus Fuels Fleet Evaluation Tool (BuFFeT; ...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2011

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-11-11

his report is the fifth in a series of annual status reports that summarize the progress resulting from fuel cell transit bus demonstrations in the United States and provide a discussion of the achievements and challenges of fuel cell propulsion in t...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets : Current Status 2012

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-11-12

This report is the sixth in an annual series of reports that summarize the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discuss the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The repo...

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets : Current Status 2013

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-12-01

This report is the seventh in an annual series of reports that summarize the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discuss the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. This r...

Valley Transit District: specialized transportation services for the elderly, handicapped, and low-income in the Lower Naugatuck Valley, Connecticut. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kocur, G.

1979-02-01

A multifaceted demonstration with special emphasis on service to the elderly and handicapped has been operating in the Lower Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut since January 1973. The system has included limited fixed-route service, demand responsive door-to-door service, subscription service, and contract bus service for social-service agencies and other groups in the Valley. An automated fare-collection system using credit cards and monthly billings to eliminate the need for cash payment was used from 1973 to 1975. Fare subsidization for handicapped and elderly citizens is facilitated by this computerized system which bills sponsoring agencies according to the use of the transportation servicesmore » by their clients during the previous billing period. The user-side subsidies and monthly billings were continued after 1975 using manual methods. Of the target population of 12,000 individuals, 600 are regular, heavy users of the Valley Transit District (VTD), with few of the others using the system at all. VTD users are primarily low-income, autoless elderly from small households. The system operates 10 vehicles daily to provide its services; the average hourly cost is near $12. The system has earned revenues equal to almost 50% of its costs, although 40% of its revenues have been derived from user-side subsidy funds. Finally, VTD has withstood several challenges in regulatory and institutional areas from private bus operators and has slowly expanded its services throughout the demonstration. It is currently operating in post-demonstration status under ongoing funding.« less

Emissions of toxic pollutants from compressed natural gas and low sulfur diesel-fueled heavy-duty transit buses tested over multiple driving cycles.

PubMed

Kado, Norman Y; Okamoto, Robert A; Kuzmicky, Paul A; Kobayashi, Reiko; Ayala, Alberto; Gebel, Michael E; Rieger, Paul L; Maddox, Christine; Zafonte, Leo

2005-10-01

The number of heavy-duty vehicles using alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and new low-sulfur diesel fuel formulations and equipped with after-treatment devices are projected to increase. However, few peer-reviewed studies have characterized the emissions of particulate matter (PM) and other toxic compounds from these vehicles. In this study, chemical and biological analyses were used to characterize the identifiable toxic air pollutants emitted from both CNG and low-sulfur-diesel-fueled heavy-duty transit buses tested on a chassis dynamometer over three transient driving cycles and a steady-state cruise condition. The CNG bus had no after-treatment, and the diesel bus was tested first equipped with an oxidation catalyst (OC) and then with a catalyzed diesel particulate filter (DPF). Emissions were analyzed for PM, volatile organic compounds (VOCs; determined on-site), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and mutagenic activity. The 2000 model year CNG-fueled vehicle had the highest emissions of 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and carbonyls (e.g., formaldehyde) of the three vehicle configurations tested in this study. The 1998 model year diesel bus equipped with an OC and fueled with low-sulfur diesel had the highest emission rates of PM and PAHs. The highest specific mutagenic activities (revertants/microg PM, or potency) and the highest mutagen emission rates (revertants/mi) were from the CNG bus in strain TA98 tested over the New York Bus (NYB) driving cycle. The 1998 model year diesel bus with DPF had the lowest VOCs, PAH, and mutagenic activity emission. In general, the NYB driving cycle had the highest emission rates (g/mi), and the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) had the lowest emission rates for all toxics tested over the three transient test cycles investigated. Also, transient emissions were, in general, higher than steady-state emissions. The emissions of toxic compounds from an in-use CNG transit bus (without an oxidation catalyst) and from a vehicle fueled with low-sulfur diesel fuel (equipped with DPF) were lower than from the low-sulfur diesel fueled vehicle equipped with OC. All vehicle configurations had generally lower emissions of toxics than an uncontrolled diesel engine. Tunnel backgrounds (measurements without the vehicle running) were measured throughout this study and were helpful in determining the incremental increase in pollutant emissions. Also, the on-site determination of VOCs, especially 1,3-butadiene, helped minimize measurement losses due to sample degradation after collection.

TMS communications software. Volume 1: Computer interfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, J. S.; Lenker, M. D.

1979-01-01

A prototype bus communications system, which is being used to support the Trend Monitoring System (TMS) as well as for evaluation of the bus concept is considered. Hardware and software interfaces to the MODCOMP and NOVA minicomputers are included. The system software required to drive the interfaces in each TMS computer is described. Documentation of other software for bus statistics monitoring and for transferring files across the bus is also included.

Assessing Bus Performance Rating in Kajang, Selangor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norhisham, S.; Ismail, A.; Sidek, L. M.; Borhan, M. N.; Zaini, N.; Yen, A. T. G.

2018-04-01

The Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual (TCQSM) was chosen based on the review with four manuals and guidelines for the method will be applied. Six (6) attributes, namely Hours of Service, Passenger Load, Transit Auto Travel Time, Service Frequency, Punctuality Performance and Service Coverage were chosen for evaluation.[6][7][8]. A total of three (3) operators with seven (7) routes were identified in Kajang. Based on the final results, the Quality of Service (QOS) findings was rated as D, which was regarded as minimum or satisfactory. Most stakeholders’ recommendations were: for the operators to provide information on bus scheduling and have accurate information for the passengers. It was suggested that in future this study can be extended to all routes and could be repeated after the opening of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations in Kajang, so as to provide a comparison and better evaluation of the public buses in Kajang.

Variational Bayes method for estimating transit route OD flows using APC data.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-01-31

The focus of this study is on the use of large quantities of APC data to estimate OD flows : for transit bus routes. Since most OD flow estimation methodologies based on boarding and : alighting counts were developed before the prevalence of APC tech...

Zero Emission Bay Area (ZEBA) Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration : First Results Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-08-01

In response to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) rule for transit agencies in the state, five San Francisco Bay Area transit agencies have joined together to demonstrate the largest fleet of fuel cell buses in the United States. The Zero Emis...

Fixed Route Comprehensive Operational Analysis, 1994 Operating Year. Fourth Installment Route 3: Mill Ridge/Mill Plain Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-05-01

In October, of 1992, the Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) District published a planning study providing an in-depth analysis of its fixed route bus transit service. This comprehensive operational analysis (COA) was the first detailed analysis ...

Fixed Route Comprehensive Operational Analysis, 1994 Operating Year. First Installment, Route 1: Medical Center/Golden Hill Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-07-01

In October, of 1992, the Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) District published a planning study providing an in-depth analysis of its fixed route bus transit service. This comprehensive operational analysis (COA) was the first detailed analysis ...

Fixed Route Comprehensive Operational Analysis, 1994 Operating Year. Third Installment, Route 6: Lake Avenue/Danbury Fair Mall Analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-02-01

In October, of 1992, the Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) District published a planning study providing an in-depth analysis of its fixed route bus transit service. This comprehensive operational analysis (COA) was the first detailed analysis ...

Optimal PMU placement using topology transformation method in power systems.

PubMed

Rahman, Nadia H A; Zobaa, Ahmed F

2016-09-01

Optimal phasor measurement units (PMUs) placement involves the process of minimizing the number of PMUs needed while ensuring the entire power system completely observable. A power system is identified observable when the voltages of all buses in the power system are known. This paper proposes selection rules for topology transformation method that involves a merging process of zero-injection bus with one of its neighbors. The result from the merging process is influenced by the selection of bus selected to merge with the zero-injection bus. The proposed method will determine the best candidate bus to merge with zero-injection bus according to the three rules created in order to determine the minimum number of PMUs required for full observability of the power system. In addition, this paper also considered the case of power flow measurements. The problem is formulated as integer linear programming (ILP). The simulation for the proposed method is tested by using MATLAB for different IEEE bus systems. The explanation of the proposed method is demonstrated by using IEEE 14-bus system. The results obtained in this paper proved the effectiveness of the proposed method since the number of PMUs obtained is comparable with other available techniques.

Small Explorer Data System MIL-STD-1773 fiber optic bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flanegan, Mark; Label, Ken

1992-01-01

The MIL-STD-1773 Fiber Optic Data Bus as implemented in the GSFC Small Explorer Data System (SEDS) for the Small Explorer Program is described. It provides an overview of the SEDS MIL-STD-1773 bus components system design considerations, reliability figures, acceptance and qualification testing requirements, radiation requirements and tests, error handling considerations, and component heritage. The first mission using the bus will be launched in June of 1992.

Electrical system architecture having high voltage bus

DOEpatents

Hoff, Brian Douglas [East Peoria, IL; Akasam, Sivaprasad [Peoria, IL

2011-03-22

An electrical system architecture is disclosed. The architecture has a power source configured to generate a first power, and a first bus configured to receive the first power from the power source. The architecture also has a converter configured to receive the first power from the first bus and convert the first power to a second power, wherein a voltage of the second power is greater than a voltage of the first power, and a second bus configured to receive the second power from the converter. The architecture further has a power storage device configured to receive the second power from the second bus and deliver the second power to the second bus, a propulsion motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus, and an accessory motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus.

Determination of an Optimal Commercial Data Bus Architecture for a Flight Data System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crawford, Kevin; Johnson, Martin; Humphries, Rick (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is continually looking for methods to reduce cost and schedule while keeping the quality of work high. MSFC is NASA's lead center for space transportation and microgravity research. When supporting NASA's programs several decisions concerning the avionics system must be made. Usually many trade studies must be conducted to determine the best ways to meet the customer's requirements. When deciding the flight data system, one of the first trade studies normally conducted is the determination of the data bus architecture. The schedule, cost, reliability, and environments are some of the factors that are reviewed in the determination of the data bus architecture. Based on the studies, the data bus architecture could result in a proprietary data bus or a commercial data bus. The cost factor usually removes the proprietary data bus from consideration. The commercial data bus's range from Versa Module Eurocard (VME) to Compact PCI to STD 32 to PC 104. If cost, schedule and size are prime factors, VME is usually not considered. If the prime factors are cost, schedule, and size then Compact PCI, STD 32 and PC104 are the choices for the data bus architecture. MSFC's center director has funded a study from his discretionary fund to determine an optimal low cost commercial data bus architecture. The goal of the study is to functionally and environmentally test Compact PCI, STD 32 and PC 104 data bus architectures. This paper will summarize the results of the data bus architecture study.

Bus 54 -- Where are you? A school bus intelligent information system

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Truett, L.F.; Moore, S.; Tonn, B.

1998-07-01

Although major accidents involving school buses are rare (only about 0.3% of all fatal crashes since 1986 are classified as school-bus-related), even minor accidents and breakdowns cause a great deal of parental anxiety. The objective of this research is to design an efficient, cost-effective, accurate, and secure system that will track individual school buses and communicate appropriate information to the school system`s central administration unit, to the school transportation administrator, and to parents of children on the bus. The greatest benefit of the proposed information system is that parents and officials can always know the location and condition (these conditionsmore » would vary depending on the needs of a particular school system) of the school buses. In case of an accident or mechanical problem, when emergency crews are needed, they can be dispatched almost immediately with a good understanding of the problem and the exact location of the bus. In addition to being able to track the bus while the child is on board, parents will be able to determine the location of their child`s bus prior to its arrival in the morning in order to prevent the child from needing to wait outside in inclement weather. The information available to parents can also be expanded to include maps of limited routes (e.g., snow routes). Basically, the Bus 54 concept consists of a bus component and a central data processing unit. Each bus will be outfitted with a global positioning satellite (GPS) device, a wireless communication device, and wireless data communication service. The central data processing unit will receive and process information from the buses and provide information access to parents and officials via an Internet link.« less

Fairness in optimizing bus-crew scheduling process.

PubMed

Ma, Jihui; Song, Cuiying; Ceder, Avishai Avi; Liu, Tao; Guan, Wei

2017-01-01

This work proposes a model considering fairness in the problem of crew scheduling for bus drivers (CSP-BD) using a hybrid ant-colony optimization (HACO) algorithm to solve it. The main contributions of this work are the following: (a) a valid approach for cases with a special cost structure and constraints considering the fairness of working time and idle time; (b) an improved algorithm incorporating Gamma heuristic function and selecting rules. The relationships of each cost are examined with ten bus lines collected from the Beijing Public Transport Holdings (Group) Co., Ltd., one of the largest bus transit companies in the world. It shows that unfair cost is indirectly related to common cost, fixed cost and extra cost and also the unfair cost approaches to common and fixed cost when its coefficient is twice of common cost coefficient. Furthermore, the longest time for the tested bus line with 1108 pieces, 74 blocks is less than 30 minutes. The results indicate that the HACO-based algorithm can be a feasible and efficient optimization technique for CSP-BD, especially with large scale problems.

Bus transit operational efficiency resulting from passenger boardings at park-and-ride facilities.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2016-08-01

In order to save time and money by not driving to an ultimate destination, some urban commuters drive themselves a few miles to specially designated parking lots built for transit customers and located where trains or buses stop. The focus of this pa...

ALR-46 Computer Graphics System for the Robins Air Force Base Electronic Warfare Division Engineering Branch Laboratory.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-12-01

CGS Funtional Requirements and System Configuration Introduction The first phase of any system development is to define requirements. The development of...between any two devices and the bus is in a master/slave relationship . During any bus operation, the bus master controls the bus when communicating with...illustrate the CASE statement of the PASCAL language. These extensions are mentioned to illustrate the relationships that the Warnier-Orr diagrams exhibit

Fault tolerant data management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gustin, W. M.; Smither, M. A.

1972-01-01

Described in detail are: (1) results obtained in modifying the onboard data management system software to a multiprocessor fault tolerant system; (2) a functional description of the prototype buffer I/O units; (3) description of modification to the ACADC and stimuli generating unit of the DTS; and (4) summaries and conclusions on techniques implemented in the rack and prototype buffers. Also documented is the work done in investigating techniques of high speed (5 Mbps) digital data transmission in the data bus environment. The application considered is a multiport data bus operating with the following constraints: no preferred stations; random bus access by all stations; all stations equally likely to source or sink data; no limit to the number of stations along the bus; no branching of the bus; and no restriction on station placement along the bus.

Bus driving assistance system for town area by using ATmega328P microcontroller

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakaria, Mohamad Fauzi; Soon, Tan Jiah; Rohani, Munzilah Md

2017-09-01

Recently, several bus accidents happened because of bus driver's behavior. In fact, there is no dedicated tool for assisting them to drive safely. This project gives solutions to this by assisting the driver, according to the speed and acceleration of the bus. These data are collected by using a motion processing unit (MPU-6050) and a global positioning system (GPS) and then indicate the driving mode status on the LEDs. All data and status are recorded in a secure digital (SD) card for the authority or the bus company to analyze the driving behavior of a bus driver. This system has been successfully developed and tested in two different areas which includes the UTHM main campus and the road from Parit Raja to Batu Pahat.

Network device interface for digitally interfacing data channels to a controller via a network

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ellerbrock, Philip J. (Inventor); Grant, Robert L. (Inventor); Winkelmann, Joseph P. (Inventor); Konz, Daniel W. (Inventor)

2009-01-01

A communications system and method are provided for digitally connecting a plurality of data channels, such as sensors, actuators, and subsystems, to a controller using a network bus. The network device interface interprets commands and data received from the controller and polls the data channels in accordance with these commands. Specifically, the network device interface receives digital commands and data from the controller, and based on these commands and data, communicates with the data channels to either retrieve data in the case of a sensor or send data to activate an actuator. Data retrieved from the sensor is converted into digital signals and transmitted to the controller. Network device interfaces associated with different data channels can coordinate communications with the other interfaces based on either a transition in a command message sent by the bus controller or a synchronous clock signal.

Multi-channel temperature measurement system for automotive battery stack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lewczuk, Radoslaw; Wojtkowski, Wojciech

2017-08-01

A multi-channel temperature measurement system for monitoring of automotive battery stack is presented in the paper. The presented system is a complete battery temperature measuring system for hybrid / electric vehicles that incorporates multi-channel temperature measurements with digital temperature sensors communicating through 1-Wire buses, individual 1-Wire bus for each sensor for parallel computing (parallel measurements instead of sequential), FPGA device which collects data from sensors and translates it for CAN bus frames. CAN bus is incorporated for communication with car Battery Management System and uses additional CAN bus controller which communicates with FPGA device through SPI bus. The described system can parallel measure up to 12 temperatures but can be easily extended in the future in case of additional needs. The structure of the system as well as particular devices are described in the paper. Selected results of experimental investigations which show proper operation of the system are presented as well.

The crew activity planning system bus interface unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Allen, M. A.

1979-01-01

The hardware and software designs used to implement a high speed parallel communications interface to the MITRE 307.2 kilobit/second serial bus communications system are described. The primary topic is the development of the bus interface unit.

TMS communications hardware. Volume 2: Bus interface unit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, J. S.; Hopkins, G. T.

1979-01-01

A prototype coaxial cable bus communication system used in the Trend Monitoring System to interconnect intelligent graphics terminals to a host minicomputer is described. The terminals and host are connected to the bus through a microprocessor-based RF modem termed a Bus Interface Unit (BIU). The BIU hardware and the Carrier Sense Multiple Access Listen-While-Talk protocol used on the network are described.

A decentralized software bus based on IP multicas ting

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, John R.; Montgomery, Todd

1995-01-01

We describe decentralized reconfigurable implementation of a conference management system based on the low-level Internet Protocol (IP) multicasting protocol. IP multicasting allows low-cost, world-wide, two-way transmission of data between large numbers of conferencing participants through the Multicasting Backbone (MBone). Each conference is structured as a software bus -- a messaging system that provides a run-time interconnection model that acts as a separate agent (i.e., the bus) for routing, queuing, and delivering messages between distributed programs. Unlike the client-server interconnection model, the software bus model provides a level of indirection that enhances the flexibility and reconfigurability of a distributed system. Current software bus implementations like POLYLITH, however, rely on a centralized bus process and point-to-point protocols (i.e., TCP/IP) to route, queue, and deliver messages. We implement a software bus called the MULTIBUS that relies on a separate process only for routing and uses a reliable IP multicasting protocol for delivery of messages. The use of multicasting means that interconnections are independent of IP machine addresses. This approach allows reconfiguration of bus participants during system execution without notifying other participants of new IP addresses. The use of IP multicasting also permits an economy of scale in the number of participants. We describe the MULITIBUS protocol elements and show how our implementation performs better than centralized bus implementations.

Fuel Cell Buses in U.S. Transit Fleets: Current Status 2013

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eudy, Leslie; Gikakis, Christina

2013-12-01

This report is the seventh in an annual series of reports that summarize the progress of fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) development in the United States and discuss the achievements and challenges of introducing fuel cell propulsion in transit. The report also provides a snapshot of current FCEB performance results from August 2012 through July 2013 for five FCEB demonstrations at four transit agencies.

Bus Vent Design Evolution for the Solar Dynamics Observatory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woronowicz, Michael

2010-01-01

As a spacecraft undergoes ascent in a launch vehicle, its pressure environment transitions from one atmosphere to high vacuum in a matter of minutes. Venting of internal cavities is necessary to prevent the buildup of pressure differentials across cavity walls. Opposing the need to vent these volumes freely into space are thermal, optical, and electrostatic requirements for limiting or prohibiting the intrusion of unwanted energy into the same cavities. Bus vent design evolution is discussed for the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Design changes were influenced by a number of factors and concerns, such as contamination control, electrostatic discharge, changes in bus material, and driving fairing ascent pressure for a launch vehicle that was just entering service as this satellite project had gotten underway.

Digital Autonomous Terminal Access Communication (DATAC) system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Novacki, Stanley M., III

1987-01-01

In order to accommodate the increasing number of computerized subsystems aboard today's more fuel efficient aircraft, the Boeing Co. has developed the DATAC (Digital Autonomous Terminal Access Control) bus to minimize the need for point-to-point wiring to interconnect these various systems, thereby reducing total aircraft weight and maintaining an economical flight configuration. The DATAC bus is essentially a local area network providing interconnections for any of the flight management and control systems aboard the aircraft. The task of developing a Bus Monitor Unit was broken down into four subtasks: (1) providing a hardware interface between the DATAC bus and the Z8000-based microcomputer system to be used as the bus monitor; (2) establishing a communication link between the Z8000 system and a CP/M-based computer system; (3) generation of data reduction and display software to output data to the console device; and (4) development of a DATAC Terminal Simulator to facilitate testing of the hardware and software which transfer data between the DATAC's bus and the operator's console in a near real time environment. These tasks are briefly discussed.

Exploring unintended environmental and social-equity consequences of transit oriented development : a research report from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-10-01

Communities throughout the U.S. are pursuing land use and transportation plans that locate : high density, mixed-use development near high quality rail and bus transit service. The : objective of these plans is to meet important community goals, such...

In-vehicle measurement of ultrafine particles on compressed natural gas, conventional diesel, and oxidation-catalyst diesel heavy-duty transit buses.

PubMed

Hammond, Davyda; Jones, Steven; Lalor, Melinda

2007-02-01

Many metropolitan transit authorities are considering upgrading transit bus fleets to decrease ambient criteria pollutant levels. Advancements in engine and fuel technology have lead to a generation of lower-emission buses in a variety of fuel types. Dynamometer tests show substantial reductions in particulate mass emissions for younger buses (<10 years) over older models, but particle number reduction has not been verified in the research. Recent studies suggest that particle number is a more important factor than particle mass in determining health effects. In-vehicle particle number concentration measurements on conventional diesel, oxidation-catalyst diesel and compressed natural gas transit buses are compared to estimate relative in-vehicle particulate exposures. Two primary consistencies are observed from the data: the CNG buses have average particle count concentrations near the average concentrations for the oxidation-catalyst diesel buses, and the conventional diesel buses have average particle count concentrations approximately three to four times greater than the CNG buses. Particle number concentrations are also noticeably affected by bus idling behavior and ventilation options, such as, window position and air conditioning.

Automated Bus Diagnostic System Demonstration in New York City

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1983-12-01

In response to a growing problem with the quality and efficiency of nationwide bus maintenance practices, an award was granted to the Tri-State Regional Planning Commission for the testing of an automated bus diagnostic system (ABDS). The ABDS was de...

Road safety issues for bus transport management.

PubMed

Cafiso, Salvatore; Di Graziano, Alessandro; Pappalardo, Giuseppina

2013-11-01

Because of the low percentage of crashes involving buses and the assumption that public transport improves road safety by reducing vehicular traffic, public interest in bus safety is not as great as that in the safety of other types of vehicles. It is possible that less attention is paid to the significance of crashes involving buses because the safety level of bus systems is considered to be adequate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and perceptions of bus managers with respect to safety issues and the potential effectiveness of various technologies in achieving higher safety standards. Bus managers were asked to give their opinions on safety issues related to drivers (training, skills, performance evaluation and behaviour), vehicles (maintenance and advanced devices) and roads (road and traffic safety issues) in response to a research survey. Kendall's algorithm was used to evaluate the level of concordance. The results showed that the majority of the proposed items were considered to have great potential for improving bus safety. The data indicated that in the experience of the participants, passenger unloading and pedestrians crossing near bus stops are the most dangerous actions with respect to vulnerable users. The final results of the investigation showed that start inhibition, automatic door opening, and the materials and internal architecture of buses were considered the items most strongly related to bus passenger safety. Brake assistance and vehicle monitoring systems were also considered to be very effective. With the exception of driver assistance systems for passenger and pedestrian safety, the perceptions of the importance of other driver assistance systems for vehicle monitoring and bus safety were not unanimous among the bus company managers who participated in this survey. The study results showed that the introduction of new technologies is perceived as an important factor in improving bus safety, but a better understanding of their actual effectiveness and related risk factor avoidance must be developed to permit their useful implementation in bus fleets. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1393 Ring Bus at JPL: Description and Status

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wysocky, Terry R.

2007-01-01

Completed Ring Bus IC V&V Phase - Ring Bus Test Plan Completed for SIM Project - Applicable to Other Projects Implemented a Avionics Bus Based upon the IEEE 1393 Standard - Excellent Starting Point for a General Purpose High-Speed Spacecraft Bus - Designed to Meet SIM Requirements for - Real-time deterministic, distributed systems. - Control system requirements - Fault detection and recovery Other JPL Projects Considering Implementation F'light Software Ring Bus Driver Module Began in 2006, Continues Participating in Standard Revision. Search for Earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars and measure the masses and orbits of the planets it finds. Survey 2000 nearby stars for planetary systems to learn whether our Solar System is unusual, or typical. Make a new catalog of star position 100 times more accurate than current measurements. Learn how our galaxy formed and will evolve by studying the dynamics of its stars. Critically test models of exactly how stars shine, including exotic objects like black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs.

In-use fuel economy of hybrid-electric school buses in Iowa.

PubMed

Hallmark, Shauna; Sperry, Bob; Mudgal, Abhisek

2011-05-01

Although it is much safer and more fuel-efficient to transport children to school in buses than in private vehicles, school buses in the United States still consume 822 million gal of diesel fuel annually, and school transportation costs can account for a significant portion of resource-constrained school district budgets. Additionally, children in diesel-powered school buses may be exposed to higher levels of particulates and other pollutants than children in cars. One solution to emission and fuel concerns is use of hybrid-electric school buses, which have the potential to reduce emissions and overall lifecycle costs compared with conventional diesel buses. Hybrid-electric technologies are available in the passenger vehicle market as well as the transit bus market and have a track record indicating fuel economy and emissions benefits. This paper summarizes the results of an in-use fuel economy evaluation for two plug-in hybrid school buses deployed in two different school districts in Iowa. Each school district selected a control bus with a route similar to that of the hybrid bus. Odometer readings, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs were recorded for each bus. The buses were deployed in 2008 and data were collected through May 2010. Fuel consumption was calculated for each school district. In Nevada, IA, the overall average fuel economy was 8.23 mpg for the hybrid and 6.35 mpg for the control bus. In Sigourney, IA, the overall average fuel economy was 8.94 mpg for the hybrid and 6.42 mpg for the control bus. The fuel consumption data were compared for the hybrid and control buses using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results indicate that fuel economy for the Nevada hybrid bus was 29.6% better than for the Nevada control bus, and fuel economy for the Sigourney hybrid bus was 39.2% higher than for the Sigourney control bus. Both differences were statistically significant.

Evolution of weighted complex bus transit networks with flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Ailing; Xiong, Jie; Shen, Jinsheng; Guan, Wei

2016-02-01

Study on the intrinsic properties and evolutional mechanism of urban public transit networks (PTNs) has great significance for transit planning and control, particularly considering passengers’ dynamic behaviors. This paper presents an empirical analysis for exploring the complex properties of Beijing’s weighted bus transit network (BTN) based on passenger flow in L-space, and proposes a bi-level evolution model to simulate the development of transit routes from the view of complex network. The model is an iterative process that is driven by passengers’ travel demands and dual-controlled interest mechanism, which is composed of passengers’ spatio-temporal requirements and cost constraint of transit agencies. Also, the flow’s dynamic behaviors, including the evolutions of travel demand, sectional flow attracted by a new link and flow perturbation triggered in nearby routes, are taken into consideration in the evolutional process. We present the numerical experiment to validate the model, where the main parameters are estimated by using distribution functions that are deduced from real-world data. The results obtained have proven that our model can generate a BTN with complex properties, such as the scale-free behavior or small-world phenomenon, which shows an agreement with our empirical results. Our study’s results can be exploited to optimize the real BTN’s structure and improve the network’s robustness.

Distributed control system for parallel-connected DC boost converters

DOEpatents

Goldsmith, Steven

2017-08-15

The disclosed invention is a distributed control system for operating a DC bus fed by disparate DC power sources that service a known or unknown load. The voltage sources vary in v-i characteristics and have time-varying, maximum supply capacities. Each source is connected to the bus via a boost converter, which may have different dynamic characteristics and power transfer capacities, but are controlled through PWM. The invention tracks the time-varying power sources and apportions their power contribution while maintaining the DC bus voltage within the specifications. A central digital controller solves the steady-state system for the optimal duty cycle settings that achieve a desired power supply apportionment scheme for a known or predictable DC load. A distributed networked control system is derived from the central system that utilizes communications among controllers to compute a shared estimate of the unknown time-varying load through shared bus current measurements and bus voltage measurements.

Fault-tolerant processing system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Palumbo, Daniel L. (Inventor)

1996-01-01

A fault-tolerant, fiber optic interconnect, or backplane, which serves as a via for data transfer between modules. Fault tolerance algorithms are embedded in the backplane by dividing the backplane into a read bus and a write bus and placing a redundancy management unit (RMU) between the read bus and the write bus so that all data transmitted by the write bus is subjected to the fault tolerance algorithms before the data is passed for distribution to the read bus. The RMU provides both backplane control and fault tolerance.

A software bus for thread objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, John R.; Li, Dehuai

1995-01-01

The authors have implemented a software bus for lightweight threads in an object-oriented programming environment that allows for rapid reconfiguration and reuse of thread objects in discrete-event simulation experiments. While previous research in object-oriented, parallel programming environments has focused on direct communication between threads, our lightweight software bus, called the MiniBus, provides a means to isolate threads from their contexts of execution by restricting communications between threads to message-passing via their local ports only. The software bus maintains a topology of connections between these ports. It routes, queues, and delivers messages according to this topology. This approach allows for rapid reconfiguration and reuse of thread objects in other systems without making changes to the specifications or source code. A layered approach that provides the needed transparency to developers is presented. Examples of using the MiniBus are given, and the value of bus architectures in building and conducting simulations of discrete-event systems is discussed.

Study of emergency setting for urban facility using microsimulation tool

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campisi, Tiziana; Canale, Antonino; Tesoriere, Giovanni

2017-11-01

Today Public transport is growing not only in terms of high passenger capacity but also considering high efficiency and it has become one of the preferred alternatives to automobile travel. This is evident, as for example, in the case of airport terminal working and management. The same could be for Bus Transport station considering roadway. As a result, many railway stations experience high levels of pedestrian congestion especially during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Traditional design and evaluation procedures for pedestrian transit facilities aim to maintain a desirable Pedestrian Level-Of-Service (PLOS) for the individual pedestrian areas or sub precincts. More in general, transit facilities and their sub-precincts interact with one another so that pedestrian circulation might be better assessed from a broader systems perspective. Microsimulation packages that can model pedestrians (e.g. VISSIM-VISWALK) can be employed to assess these interactions. This research outlines a procedure for the potential implementation of pedestrian flow analysis in a bus/rail transit station using micro-simulation. Base model data requirements are identified which include static (facility layout and locations of temporary equipment) and dynamic data (pedestrian demand and public transport services). Possible model calibration criteria would be also identified. A VISSIM micro-simulation base model would be developed for one of the main Airport terminal in Sicily (Italy) for investigating proposed station operational and infrastructure changes. This case study provided a good example for the potential implementation of micro-simulation models in the analysis of pedestrian circulation.

Dynamically reconfigurable photovoltaic system

DOEpatents

Okandan, Murat; Nielson, Gregory N.

2016-05-31

A PV system composed of sub-arrays, each having a group of PV cells that are electrically connected to each other. A power management circuit for each sub-array has a communications interface and serves to connect or disconnect the sub-array to a programmable power grid. The power grid has bus rows and bus columns. A bus management circuit is positioned at a respective junction of a bus column and a bus row and is programmable through its communication interface to connect or disconnect a power path in the grid. As a result, selected sub-arrays are connected by selected power paths to be in parallel so as to produce a low system voltage, and, alternately in series so as to produce a high system voltage that is greater than the low voltage by at least a factor of ten.

Dynamically reconfigurable photovoltaic system

DOEpatents

Okandan, Murat; Nielson, Gregory N.

2016-12-27

A PV system composed of sub-arrays, each having a group of PV cells that are electrically connected to each other. A power management circuit for each sub-array has a communications interface and serves to connect or disconnect the sub-array to a programmable power grid. The power grid has bus rows and bus columns. A bus management circuit is positioned at a respective junction of a bus column and a bus row and is programmable through its communication interface to connect or disconnect a power path in the grid. As a result, selected sub-arrays are connected by selected power paths to be in parallel so as to produce a low system voltage, and, alternately in series so as to produce a high system voltage that is greater than the low voltage by at least a factor of ten.

46 CFR 112.05-3 - Main-emergency bus-tie.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND POWER SYSTEMS General § 112.05-3 Main-emergency bus-tie. Each bus-tie between a main switchboard... other source of electric power, except for interlock systems for momentary transfer of loads; and (c) If...

46 CFR 112.05-3 - Main-emergency bus-tie.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND POWER SYSTEMS General § 112.05-3 Main-emergency bus-tie. Each bus-tie between a main switchboard... other source of electric power, except for interlock systems for momentary transfer of loads; and (c) If...

46 CFR 112.05-3 - Main-emergency bus-tie.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND POWER SYSTEMS General § 112.05-3 Main-emergency bus-tie. Each bus-tie between a main switchboard... other source of electric power, except for interlock systems for momentary transfer of loads; and (c) If...

46 CFR 112.05-3 - Main-emergency bus-tie.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND POWER SYSTEMS General § 112.05-3 Main-emergency bus-tie. Each bus-tie between a main switchboard... other source of electric power, except for interlock systems for momentary transfer of loads; and (c) If...

Security awareness for public bus transportation : case studies of attacks against the Israeli public bus system.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-03-01

This report presents 16 case studies of attacks planned or carried out against Israeli bus targets, along with statistical data on the number, frequency, and lethality of attacks against bus targets that have taken place in Israel since 1970 and duri...

77 FR 52128 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Assessment for the I-20...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-28

... (EA). SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit... Mall at Stonecrest in eastern DeKalb County and an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a new Bus Rapid... I-285 in DeKalb County. The EIS and EA will be prepared in accordance with the National...

Optical digital techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

Optical interface losses between transmitter-to-fiber interface, connector-to-connector interface, and fiber-to-receiver interface were studied. System effects such as pulse dispersion, risetimes of the sources and detectors, type of fibers used, output power of the sources, and detector sensitivity were considered. Data bus systems such as TEE, Star, and Hybrid were analyzed. The matter of single fiber versus bundle technologies for future avionics systems was considered. The existing data bus system on Space Shuttle was examined and an optical analog was derived for a fiber bundle system, along with the associated power margin. System tests were performed on a feasibility model of a 9-port Star data bus system including BER, star losses, connector losses, etc. The same system was subjected to EMI between the range of 200 Hz to 10 GHz at 20V/m levels. A lightning test was also performed which simulated the conditions similar to those on Space Shuttle. The data bus system was found to be EMI and lightning hard. It is concluded that an optical data bus system is feasible for shuttle orbiter type vehicles.

Effects of stressor characteristics on early warning signs of critical transitions and "critical coupling" in complex dynamical systems.

PubMed

Blume, Steffen O P; Sansavini, Giovanni

2017-12-01

Complex dynamical systems face abrupt transitions into unstable and catastrophic regimes. These critical transitions are triggered by gradual modifications in stressors, which push the dynamical system towards unstable regimes. Bifurcation analysis can characterize such critical thresholds, beyond which systems become unstable. Moreover, the stochasticity of the external stressors causes small-scale fluctuations in the system response. In some systems, the decomposition of these signal fluctuations into precursor signals can reveal early warning signs prior to the critical transition. Here, we present a dynamical analysis of a power system subjected to an increasing load level and small-scale stochastic load perturbations. We show that the auto- and cross-correlations of bus voltage magnitudes increase, leading up to a Hopf bifurcation point, and further grow until the system collapses. This evidences a gradual transition into a state of "critical coupling," which is complementary to the established concept of "critical slowing down." Furthermore, we analyze the effects of the type of load perturbation and load characteristics on early warning signs and find that gradient changes in the autocorrelation provide early warning signs of the imminent critical transition under white-noise but not for auto-correlated load perturbations. Furthermore, the cross-correlation between all voltage magnitude pairs generally increases prior to and beyond the Hopf bifurcation point, indicating "critical coupling," but cannot provide early warning indications. Finally, we show that the established early warning indicators are oblivious to limit-induced bifurcations and, in the case of the power system model considered here, only react to an approaching Hopf bifurcation.

Bus Propulsion Alternatives Overview

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1982-04-01

The Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) is currently investigating propulsion alternatives which would conserve petroleum-based fuels and would be practical for use by U.S. transit operators. A discussion of these alternatives (electric p...

TransMilenio, a Scalable Bus Rapid Transit System for Promoting Physical Activity.

PubMed

Lemoine, Pablo D; Sarmiento, Olga L; Pinzón, Jose David; Meisel, Jose D; Montes, Felipe; Hidalgo, Dario; Pratt, Michael; Zambrano, Juan Manuel; Cordovez, Juan Manuel; Zarama, Roberto

2016-04-01

Transport systems can play an important role in increasing physical activity (PA). Bogotá has been recognized for its bus rapid transit (BRT) system, TransMilenio (TM). To date, BRTs have been implemented in over 160 cities worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the association between PA and the use of TM among adults in Bogotá. The study consists of a cross-sectional study conducted from 2010 to 2011 with 1000 adults. PA was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. In a subsample of 250 adults, PA was objectively measured using ActiGraph accelerometers. Analyses were conducted using multilevel logistic regression models. The use of TM was associated with meeting moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). TM users were more likely to complete an average of >22 min a day of MVPA (odds ratio [OR] = 3.1, confidence interval [CI] = 95 % 1.4-7.1) and to walk for transportation for ≥150 min per week (OR = 1.5; CI = 95 % 1.1-2.0). The use of TM was associated with 12 or more minutes of MVPA (95 % CI 4.5-19.4, p < 0.0001). Associations between meeting PA recommendations and use of TM did not differ by socioeconomic status (p value = 0.106) or sex (p value = 0.288). The use of TM is a promising strategy for enhancing public health efforts to reduce physical inactivity through walking for transport. Given the expansion of BRTs, these results could inform the development of transport PA programs in low- to high-income countries.

Atlanta Wheelchair Accessible Bus Study

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1978-08-01

This document describes the implementation and operation of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority's fixed-route, subscription service for handicapped individuals. It is based on a site visit and discussions with several individuals in the ...

The Association between Access to Public Transportation and Self-Reported Active Commuting

PubMed Central

Djurhuus, Sune; Hansen, Henning S.; Aadahl, Mette; Glümer, Charlotte

2014-01-01

Active commuting provides routine-based regular physical activity which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Using public transportation involves some walking or cycling to a transit stop, transfers and a walk to the end location and users of public transportation have been found to accumulate more moderate physical activity than non-users. Understanding how public transportation characteristics are associated with active transportation is thus important from a public health perspective. This study examines the associations between objective measures of access to public transportation and self-reported active commuting. Self-reported time spent either walking or cycling commuting each day and the distance to workplace were obtained for adults aged 16 to 65 in the Danish National Health Survey 2010 (n = 28,928). Access to public transportation measures were computed by combining GIS-based road network distances from home address to public transit stops an integrating their service level. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the association between access to public transportation measures and active commuting. Distance to bus stop, density of bus stops, and number of transport modes were all positively associated with being an active commuter and with meeting recommendations of physical activity. No significant association was found between bus services at the nearest stop and active commuting. The results highlight the importance of including detailed measurements of access to public transit in order to identify the characteristics that facilitate the use of public transportation and active commuting. PMID:25489998

The association between access to public transportation and self-reported active commuting.

PubMed

Djurhuus, Sune; Hansen, Henning S; Aadahl, Mette; Glümer, Charlotte

2014-12-05

Active commuting provides routine-based regular physical activity which can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Using public transportation involves some walking or cycling to a transit stop, transfers and a walk to the end location and users of public transportation have been found to accumulate more moderate physical activity than non-users. Understanding how public transportation characteristics are associated with active transportation is thus important from a public health perspective. This study examines the associations between objective measures of access to public transportation and self-reported active commuting. Self-reported time spent either walking or cycling commuting each day and the distance to workplace were obtained for adults aged 16 to 65 in the Danish National Health Survey 2010 (n = 28,928). Access to public transportation measures were computed by combining GIS-based road network distances from home address to public transit stops an integrating their service level. Multilevel logistic regression was used to examine the association between access to public transportation measures and active commuting. Distance to bus stop, density of bus stops, and number of transport modes were all positively associated with being an active commuter and with meeting recommendations of physical activity. No significant association was found between bus services at the nearest stop and active commuting. The results highlight the importance of including detailed measurements of access to public transit in order to identify the characteristics that facilitate the use of public transportation and active commuting.

COMPARISON OF CLEAN DIESEL BUSES TO CNG BUSES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lowell, D.; Parsley, W.; Bush,C

2003-08-24

Using previously published data on regulated and unregulated emissions, this paper will compare the environmental performance of current generation transit buses operated on compressed natural gas (CNG) to current generation transit buses operated on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) and incorporating diesel particulate filters (DPF). Unregulated emissions evaluated include toxic compounds associated with adverse health effects (carbonyl, PAH, NPAH, benzene) as well as PM particle count and size distribution. For all regulated and unregulated emissions, both technologies are shown to be comparable. DPF equipped diesel buses and CNG buses have virtually identical levels of PM mass emissions and particlemore » number emissions. DPF-equipped diesel buses have lower HC and CO emissions and lower emissions of toxic substances such as benzene, carbonyls and PAHs than CNG buses. CNG buses have lower NOx emissions than DPF-equipped buses, though CNG bus NOx emissions are shown to be much more variable. In addition, this paper will compare the capital and operating costs of CNG and DPF-equipped buses. The cost comparison is primarily based on the experience of MTA New York City Transit in operating CNG buses since 1995 and DPF-equipped buses fueled with ULSD since 2001. Published data on the experience of other large transit agencies in operating CNG buses is used to validate the NYCT experience. The incremental cost (compared to ''baseline'' diesel) of operating a typical 200-bus depot is shown to be six times higher for CNG buses than for ''clean diesel'' buses. The contributors to this increased cost for CNG buses are almost equally split between increased capital costs for purchase of buses and installation of fueling infrastructure, and increased operating costs for purchase of fuel, bus maintenance, and fuel station maintenance.« less

Performance Evaluation of UHF RFID Technologies for Real-Time Bus Recognition in the Taipei Bus Station

PubMed Central

Own, Chung-Ming; Lee, Da-Sheng; Wang, Ti-Ho; Wang, De-Jun; Ting, Yu-Lun

2013-01-01

Transport stations such as airports, ports, and railways have adopted blocked-type pathway management to process and control travel systems in a one-directional manner. However, this excludes highway transportation where large buses have great variability and mobility; thus, an instant influx of numerous buses increases risks and complicates station management. Focusing on Taipei Bus Station, this study employed RFID technology to develop a system platform integrated with modern information technology that has numerous characteristics. This modern information technology comprised the following systems: ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio-frequency identification (RFID), ultrasound and license number identification, and backstage graphic controls. In conclusion, the system enabled management, bus companies, and passengers to experience the national bus station's new generation technology, which provides diverse information and synchronization functions. Furthermore, this technology reached a new milestone in the energy-saving and efficiency-increasing performance of Taiwan's buses. PMID:23778192

Analysis of a diesel-electric hybrid urban bus system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marr, W. W.; Sekar, R. R.; Ahlheim, M. C.

A hybrid bus powered by a diesel engine and a battery pack was analyzed over an idealized bus-driving cycle in Chicago. Three hybrid configurations, two parallel and one series, were evaluated. The results indicate that the fuel economy of a hybrid bus, taking into account the regenerative braking, is comparable with that of a conventional diesel bus. Life-cycle costs are slightly higher because of the added weight and cost of the battery.

Cathode power distribution system and method of using the same for power distribution

DOEpatents

Williamson, Mark A; Wiedmeyer, Stanley G; Koehl, Eugene R; Bailey, James L; Willit, James L; Barnes, Laurel A; Blaskovitz, Robert J

2014-11-11

Embodiments include a cathode power distribution system and/or method of using the same for power distribution. The cathode power distribution system includes a plurality of cathode assemblies. Each cathode assembly of the plurality of cathode assemblies includes a plurality of cathode rods. The system also includes a plurality of bus bars configured to distribute current to each of the plurality of cathode assemblies. The plurality of bus bars include a first bus bar configured to distribute the current to first ends of the plurality of cathode assemblies and a second bus bar configured to distribute the current to second ends of the plurality of cathode assemblies.

Modular sensor network node

DOEpatents

Davis, Jesse Harper Zehring [Berkeley, CA; Stark, Jr., Douglas Paul; Kershaw, Christopher Patrick [Hayward, CA; Kyker, Ronald Dean [Livermore, CA

2008-06-10

A distributed wireless sensor network node is disclosed. The wireless sensor network node includes a plurality of sensor modules coupled to a system bus and configured to sense a parameter. The parameter may be an object, an event or any other parameter. The node collects data representative of the parameter. The node also includes a communication module coupled to the system bus and configured to allow the node to communicate with other nodes. The node also includes a processing module coupled to the system bus and adapted to receive the data from the sensor module and operable to analyze the data. The node also includes a power module connected to the system bus and operable to generate a regulated voltage.

Research and design of intelligent distributed traffic signal light control system based on CAN bus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Yu

2007-12-01

Intelligent distributed traffic signal light control system was designed based on technologies of infrared, CAN bus, single chip microprocessor (SCM), etc. The traffic flow signal is processed with the core of SCM AT89C51. At the same time, the SCM controls the CAN bus controller SJA1000/transceiver PCA82C250 to build a CAN bus communication system to transmit data. Moreover, up PC realizes to connect and communicate with SCM through USBCAN chip PDIUSBD12. The distributed traffic signal light control system with three control styles of Vehicle flux, remote and PC is designed. This paper introduces the system composition method and parts of hardware/software design in detail.

Method and systems for a radiation tolerant bus interface circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kinstler, Gary A. (Inventor)

2007-01-01

A bus management tool that allows communication to be maintained between a group of nodes operatively connected on two busses in the presence of radiation by transmitting periodically a first message from one to another of the nodes on one of the busses, determining whether the first message was received by the other of the nodes on the first bus, and when it is determined that the first message was not received by the other of the nodes, transmitting a recovery command to the other of the nodes on a second of the of busses. Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention also provide for a bus recovery tool on the other node that re-initializes a bus interface circuit operatively connecting the other node to the first bus in response to the recovery command.

Method and system for pipeline communication

DOEpatents

Richardson,; John, G [Idaho Falls, ID

2008-01-29

A pipeline communication system and method includes a pipeline having a surface extending along at least a portion of the length of the pipeline. A conductive bus is formed to and extends along a portion of the surface of the pipeline. The conductive bus includes a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace with the first and second conductive traces being adapted to conformally couple with a pipeline at the surface extending along at least a portion of the length of the pipeline. A transmitter for sending information along the conductive bus on the pipeline is coupled thereto and a receiver for receiving the information from the conductive bus on the pipeline is also couple to the conductive bus.

Cluster Inter-Spacecraft Communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cox, Brian

2008-01-01

A document describes a radio communication system being developed for exchanging data and sharing data-processing capabilities among spacecraft flying in formation. The system would establish a high-speed, low-latency, deterministic loop communication path connecting all the spacecraft in a cluster. The system would be a wireless version of a ring bus that complies with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard 1393 (which pertains to a spaceborne fiber-optic data bus enhancement to the IEEE standard developed at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory). Every spacecraft in the cluster would be equipped with a ring-bus radio transceiver. The identity of a spacecraft would be established upon connection into the ring bus, and the spacecraft could be at any location in the ring communication sequence. In the event of failure of a spacecraft, the ring bus would reconfigure itself, bypassing a failed spacecraft. Similarly, the ring bus would reconfigure itself to accommodate a spacecraft newly added to the cluster or newly enabled or re-enabled. Thus, the ring bus would be scalable and robust. Reliability could be increased by launching, into the cluster, spare spacecraft to be activated in the event of failure of other spacecraft.

The Minerva Multi-Microprocessor.

DTIC Science & Technology

A multiprocessor system is described which is an experiment in low cost, extensible, multiprocessor architectures. Global issues such as inclusion of a central bus, design of the bus arbiter, and methods of interrupt handling are considered. The system initially includes two processor types, based on microprocessors, and these are discussed. Methods for reducing processor demand for the central bus are described.

Bus-Programmable Slave Card

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, William A.

1990-01-01

Slave microprocessors in multimicroprocessor computing system contains modified circuit cards programmed via bus connecting master processor with slave microprocessors. Enables interactive, microprocessor-based, single-loop control. Confers ability to load and run program from master/slave bus, without need for microprocessor development station. Tristate buffers latch all data and information on status. Slave central processing unit never connected directly to bus.

49 CFR 665.1 - Purpose.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Federal Transit Act for the purchase or lease of buses with funds obligated by the FTA shall certify to the FTA that any new bus model acquired with such assistance has been tested in accordance with this...

Michigan transportation facts & figures : public transportation

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2002-08-16

This on-line document is part of a series, Transportation Facts & Figures, by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The Public Transit section of Transportation Facts & Figures cover such topics as intercity bus service, intercity rail se...

25 CFR 170.152 - What transit facilities and activities are eligible for IRR Program funding?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... INTERIOR LAND AND WATER INDIAN RESERVATION ROADS PROGRAM Indian Reservation Roads Program Policy and... facilities that incorporate other community services; (h) Passenger shelters, bus stop signs, and similar...

25 CFR 170.152 - What transit facilities and activities are eligible for IRR Program funding?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... INTERIOR LAND AND WATER INDIAN RESERVATION ROADS PROGRAM Indian Reservation Roads Program Policy and... facilities that incorporate other community services; (h) Passenger shelters, bus stop signs, and similar...

25 CFR 170.152 - What transit facilities and activities are eligible for IRR Program funding?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... INTERIOR LAND AND WATER INDIAN RESERVATION ROADS PROGRAM Indian Reservation Roads Program Policy and... facilities that incorporate other community services; (h) Passenger shelters, bus stop signs, and similar...

25 CFR 170.152 - What transit facilities and activities are eligible for IRR Program funding?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... INTERIOR LAND AND WATER INDIAN RESERVATION ROADS PROGRAM Indian Reservation Roads Program Policy and... facilities that incorporate other community services; (h) Passenger shelters, bus stop signs, and similar...

Bus rapid transit accessibility guidelines.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-12-01

In recent years helpful guides have appeared in both English and Spanish to assist planners : and officials to construct accessible buildings and pedestrian infrastructure which are usable : by seniors, persons with disabilities, and all others who e...

Interim Evaluation Results from New Flyer/Allison Hybrid Buses at King County Metro: Preprint

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chandler, K.; Eberts, E.; Eudy, L.

2005-05-01

This paper prepared for the 2005 American Public Transportation Association Bus & Paratransit Conference discusses NREL/DOE evaluation of hybrid electric articulated transit buses operated by King County Metro.

Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Quasi-In-Motion Wireless Power Transfer for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Transit Buses from Fleet Perspective

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Lijuan; Gonder, Jeff; Brooker, Aaron

This study evaluated the costs and benefits associated with the use of stationary-wireless-power-transfer-enabled plug-in hybrid electric buses and determined the cost effectiveness relative to conventional buses and hybrid electric buses. A factorial design was performed over a number of different battery sizes, charging power levels, and f bus stop charging stations. The net present costs were calculated for each vehicle design and provided the basis for design evaluation. In all cases, given the assumed economic conditions, the conventional bus achieved the lowest net present cost while the optimal plug-in hybrid electric bus scenario beat out the hybrid electric comparison scenario.more » The parameter sensitivity was also investigated under favorable and unfavorable market penetration assumptions.« less

Combined comfort model of thermal comfort and air quality on buses in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Shek, Ka Wing; Chan, Wai Tin

2008-01-25

Air-conditioning settings are important factors in controlling the comfort of passengers on buses. The local bus operators control in-bus air quality and thermal environment by conforming to the prescribed levels stated in published standards. As a result, the settings are merely adjusted to fulfill the standards, rather than to satisfy the passengers' thermal comfort and air quality. Such "standard-oriented" practices are not appropriate; the passengers' preferences and satisfaction should be emphasized instead. Thus a "comfort-oriented" philosophy should be implemented to achieve a comfortable in-bus commuting environment. In this study, the achievement of a comfortable in-bus environment was examined with emphasis on thermal comfort and air quality. Both the measurement of physical parameters and subjective questionnaire surveys were conducted to collect practical in-bus thermal and air parameters data, as well as subjective satisfaction and sensation votes from the passengers. By analyzing the correlation between the objective and subjective data, a combined comfort models were developed. The models helped in evaluating the percentage of dissatisfaction under various combinations of passengers' sensation votes towards thermal comfort and air quality. An effective approach integrated the combined comfort model, hardware and software systems and the bus air-conditioning system could effectively control the transient in-bus environment. By processing and analyzing the data from the continuous monitoring system with the combined comfort model, air-conditioning setting adjustment commands could be determined and delivered to the hardware. This system adjusted air-conditioning settings depending on real-time commands along the bus journey. Therefore, a comfortable in-bus air quality and thermal environment could be achieved and efficiently maintained along the bus journey despite dynamic outdoor influences. Moreover, this model can help optimize air-conditioning control by striking a beneficial balance between energy conservation and passengers' satisfaction level.

Simulation of an Urban Battery Bus Vehicle

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1979-07-01

This report describes the computer simulation of a battery-powered bus as it traverses an arbitrary mission profile of specified acceleration, roadway grade, and headwind. The battery-bus system components comprise a DC shunt motor, solid-state power...

Methods of computing steady-state voltage stability margins of power systems

DOEpatents

Chow, Joe Hong; Ghiocel, Scott Gordon

2018-03-20

In steady-state voltage stability analysis, as load increases toward a maximum, conventional Newton-Raphson power flow Jacobian matrix becomes increasingly ill-conditioned so power flow fails to converge before reaching maximum loading. A method to directly eliminate this singularity reformulates the power flow problem by introducing an AQ bus with specified bus angle and reactive power consumption of a load bus. For steady-state voltage stability analysis, the angle separation between the swing bus and AQ bus can be varied to control power transfer to the load, rather than specifying the load power itself. For an AQ bus, the power flow formulation is only made up of a reactive power equation, thus reducing the size of the Jacobian matrix by one. This reduced Jacobian matrix is nonsingular at the critical voltage point, eliminating a major difficulty in voltage stability analysis for power system operations.

[Particle emission characteristics of diesel bus fueled with bio-diesel].

PubMed

Lou, Di-Ming; Chen, Feng; Hu, Zhi-Yuan; Tan, Pi-Qiang; Hu, Wei

2013-10-01

With the use of the Engine Exhaust Particle Sizer (EEPS), a study on the characteristics of particle emissions was carried out on a China-IV diesel bus fueled with blends of 5% , 10% , 20% , 50% bio-diesel transformed from restaurant waste oil and China-IV diesel (marked separately by BD5, BD10, BD20, BD50), pure bio-diesel (BD100) and pure diesel (BD0). The results indicated that particulate number (PN) and mass (PM) emissions of bio-diesel blends increased with the increase in bus speed and acceleration; with increasing bio-diesel content, particulate emissions displayed a relevant declining trend. In different speed ranges, the size distribution of particulate number emissions (PNSD) was bimodal; in different acceleration ranges, PNSD showed a gradual transition from bimodal shape to unimodal when bus operation was switched from decelerating to accelerating status. Bio-diesel blends with higher mixture ratios showed significant reduction in PN emissions for accumulated modes, and the particulate number emission peaks moved towards smaller sizes; but little change was obtained in PN emissions for nuclei modes; reduction also occurred in particle geometric diameter (Dg).

Systems evaluation of thermal bus concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stalmach, D. D.

1982-01-01

Thermal bus concepts, to provide a centralized thermal utility for large, multihundred kilowatt space platforms, were studied and the results are summarized. Concepts were generated, defined, and screened for inclusion in system level thermal bus trades. Parametric trade studies were conducted in order to define the operational envelope, performance, and physical characteristics of each. Two concepts were selected as offering the most promise for thermal bus development. All of four concepts involved two phase flow in order to meet the required isothermal nature of the thermal bus. Two of the concepts employ a mechanical means to circulate the working fluid, a liquid pump in one case and a vapor compressor in another. Another concept utilizes direct osmosis as the driving force of the thermal bus. The fourth concept was a high capacity monogroove heat pipe. After preliminary sizing and screening, three of these concepts were selected to carry into the trade studies. The monogroove heat pipe concept was deemed unsuitable for further consideration because of its heat transport limitations. One additional concept utilizing capillary forces to drive the working fluid was added. Parametric system level trade studies were performed. Sizing and weight calculations were performed for thermal bus sizes ranging from 5 to 350 kW and operating temperatures in the range of 4 to 120 C. System level considerations such as heat rejection and electrical power penalties and interface temperature losses were included in the weight calculations.

Evaluating a GPS-Based Transportation Device to Support Independent Bus Travel by People with Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davies, Daniel K.; Stock, Steven E.; Holloway, Shane; Wehmeyer, Michael L.

2010-01-01

We examined the utility of a PDA-based software system with integrated GPS technology for providing location-aware visual and auditory prompts to enable people with intellectual disability to successfully navigate a downtown bus route. Participants using the system were significantly more successful at completing a bus route than were people in a…

SCSI Communication Test Bus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hua, Chanh V.; D'Ambrose, John J.; Jaworski, Richard C.; Halula, Elaine M.; Thornton, David N.; Heligman, Robert L.; Turner, Michael R.

1990-01-01

Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) communication test bus provides high-data-rate, standard interconnection enabling communication among International Business Machines (IBM) Personal System/2 Micro Channel, other devices connected to Micro Channel, test equipment, and host computer. Serves primarily as nonintrusive input/output attachment to PS/2 Micro Channel bus, providing rapid communication for debugger. Opens up possibility of using debugger in real-time applications.

Concept Study on a Flexible Standard Bus for Small Scientific Satellites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fukuda, Seisuke; Sawai, Shujiro; Sakai, Shin-Ichiro; Saito, Hirobumi; Tohma, Takayuki; Takahashi, Junko; Toriumi, Tsuyoshi; Kitade, Kenji

In this paper, a new standard bus system for a series of small scientific satellites in the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (ISAS/JAXA) is described. Since each mission proposed for the series has a wide variety of requirements, a lot of efforts are needed to enhance flexibility of the standard bus. Some concepts from different viewpoints are proposed. First, standardization layers concerning satellite configuration, instruments, interfaces, and design methods are defined respectively. Methods of product platform engineering, which classify specifications of the bus system into a core platform, alternative variants, and selectable variants, are also investigated in order to realize a semi-custom-made bus. Furthermore, a tradeoff between integration and modularization architecture is fully considered.

Application of new electro-optic technology to Space Station Freedom data management system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Husbands, C. R.; Girard, M. M.

1993-01-01

A low risk design methodology to permit the local bus structures to support increased data carrying capacities and to speed messages and data flow between nodes or stations on the Space Station Freedom Data Management System in anticipation of growing requirements was evaluated and recommended. The recommended design employs a collateral fiber optic technique that follows a NATO avionic standard that is developed, tested, and available. Application of this process will permit a potential 25 fold increase in data transfer performance on the local wire bus network with a fiber optic network, maintaining the functionality of the low-speed bus and supporting all of the redundant transmission and fault detection capabilities designed into the existing system. The application of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology to both the local data bus and global data bus segments of the Data Management System to support anticipated additional highspeed data transmission requirements was also examined. Techniques were examined to provide a dual wavelength implementation of the fiber optic collateral networks. This dual wavelength implementation would permit each local bus to support two simultaneous high-speed transfers on the same fiber optic bus structure and operate within the limits of the existing protocol standard. A second WDM study examined the use of spectral sliced technology to provide a fourfold increase in the Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) global bus networks without requiring modifications to the existing installed cable plant. Computer simulations presented indicated that this data rate improvement can be achieved with commercially available optical components.

Center for Composites Manufacturing : fabrication guide

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2003-06-01

The objective of this report is to describe thermoplastic composite materials and processes and to demonstrate fabrication methods for molding these materials into transit bus flooring components or other large components for use in buses and other m...