TRANSIT SCORE INDEX: A WAY TO PLAN FOR NEW SERVICES

The Transit Score Index was developed by NJ TRANSIT as a way to indicate the relative likelihood and potential for different types of transit investment and usage in a geographic area. This paper describes the method and focuses on its components, its relationship to planning for new or expanded services, and how the guidelines were developed. Examples are provided of how the methodology has been used in local planning studies, and how land use alternatives can impact the viability of different types of transit service. The factors that influence the viability of different transit modes and service levels that were developed using New Jersey and national data are outlined, along with cost-recovery information and the integration of transit into the Congestion Management System.