COMPARISON OF DUAL-MODE TRANSIT SYSTEM WITH VARIOUS TRANSIT BUS OPTIONS

The annual costs and level of service of a dual-mode transit system (DMTS) are compared with those of exclusive busway bus (EBB), exclusive busway with small bus feeder (EBB/SBF), expressway bus (EB), and conventional bus (CB) systems. Large- and small-bus versions are studied. The systems, defined for Milwaukee in 1990, all provide the same capacity and routes. The Milwaukee Dual-Mode Study base-line data are used. Trip time and transfer characteristics are used as measures of level of service. Construction of busways and creation of reserved lanes increase vehicle speed that, in turn, increases driver-vehicle productivity and decreases travel time. The use of small buses allows for shorter headways, more privacy, and demand-responsive service. Bus small-bus operations are not economical unless automated operations are used. Transfers may have an unacceptable effect on the ridership of the exclusive busway and small-bus feeder system. The small-bus dual-mode system and large-bus exclusive busway system are the two most comparable systems: Annual cost of the busway system is 21 percent less, but ridership is expected to be 17 percent lower than that of dual mode because the dual-mode perceived trip time is 27 percent shorter. The busway system can be provided at the lowest cost, and implementation does not involve the large capital investment and construction impact. However, the busway system is only practical in cities with extensive freeway networks and provides an unfavorable cost growth characteristics. /Author/