DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE TRANSIT SYSTEM DATABASE USING GIS IN MICHIGAN

The development of a statewide transit system database allows better planning and management of limited resources both at local and at a statewide level. Easy accessible information regarding bus routes, bus stops, operating schedules, ridership frequencies and characteristics, and socio-economic and demographic characteristics of an area is essential for good planning and management. A Geographic Information System (GIS) provides an opportunity to develop such a systemwide database. GIS offers an efficient means of entering, managing, retrieving and displaying spatial data in a GIS transit system. GIS allows a user to view and analyze bus system characteristics. The data includes graphic elements such as maps and images as well as non-graphical elements that are entered into the databases. Procedures, analysis techniques, queries, and data security are also included in the GIS databases. Proper planning, design, implementation and performance evaluations of local area transit systems require standardized information regarding the system, the agency hardware, and system performance.