Examining associations with on-time performance and identifying relevant road network, demographic, socioeconomic and land use characteristics within the bus stop vicinity for proactive and reliable public transportation system planning

Abstract

Growing population, rapid urbanization, and increasing travel demand emphasize the need for reliable public transportation systems and sustainable transportation planning. A reliable bus service fosters a more significant, satisfied, and committed base of users. This research focuses on examining the association between on-time performance (OTP) and road network, demographic, socioeconomic, and land use characteristics to identify relevant external factors for proactive and reliable public transportation system planning. The analysis was conducted at a bus stop level. Bus arrival/departure data from the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) was obtained. The road network, demographic, socioeconomic, and land use characteristics were captured within 0.25-mile and 0.50-mile buffers. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to understand the association between OTP and road network, demographic, socioeconomic, and land use characteristics by day of the week and time of the day. The results show that OTP is associated with external factors such as the number of signalized or cul-de-sac/dead-end intersections, number of lanes, network density, population, income (median and total), and land use types related to residential and commercial/employment purposes within the bus stop vicinity. The findings provide vital insights for transit agencies to enhance scheduling, service and maximize benefits, effectively utilize available resources, plan, and provide equitable services to all riders.