Evaluation Of The Advanced Operating System Of The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority: Archives And Records

This study examines data regularly maintained by the AATA (Ann Arbor Transportation Authority) for evidence of AOS (Advanced Operating System) impact. These data include on-time performance, bus trips broken because of maintenance or other incidents, time lost due to broken trips, on-road incidents and passenger complaints. On time performance data were still being compiled at the time of this study. Other data sets did not reveal conclusive evidence of AOS impact though declines in on-road incidents and passenger complaints were potentially suggestive of benefits. Results from these analyses of AATA records did not demonstrate measureable improvments in broken trips, or trip delay. Nominally, reported incidents and passenger complaints appeared to decline significantly. Yet these items appear to be subject to a great variability; thus attributing the apparent improvement to AOS exclusively would not be supported. In addition, basing conclusions on these records would require improvements in record keeping, with systematically accepted standards for recording various events or passenger complaints. Tables, 8 p.\n