2013 Session: 722

• Assessment of “Last Mile” Shuttle Corridors and Users in New Jersey
  Abstract: “Last Mile” shuttles provide access between transit stations and employment sites. This paper provides an assessment of such shuttles in New Jersey by focusing on services funded by diverse entities. The assessment is made regarding the characteristics of the shuttle corridors, the shuttle users, the employers of the shuttle users, and the work sites. The research involved corridor-level analysis with census block group data and analyses of survey data from shuttle users. The study showed that the “Last Mile” shuttles predominantly serve low-income and carless workers who work for large companies located in highly suburban areas that are not conducive to mass transit. Many of the companies that hire the shuttle users are in the blue-collar sectors such as manufacturing and warehousing. The study shows that the shuttle users are highly dependent on the shuttles despite spending disproportionately longer time commuting than average workers in New Jersey. The research indicates that because of the nature of the employers served and the mismatch between the characteristics of the shuttle users and the areas served by shuttles, there will be a constant need for shuttles, but the services cannot be expected to be self-reliant by raising enough farebox revenue.
  Authors: Deka, Devajyoti; DiPetrillo, Stephanie
  Authors: Deka, Devajyoti; DiPetrillo, Stephanie
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 722
  Paper Number: 13-0421
• A Comparative Analysis of Personal Rapid Transit as an Urban Transportation Mode
  Abstract: Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is a modern form of transportation that moves people directly from origin to destination. PRT commonly consists of 4 person driverless pods that travel on grade-separate right-of-way at speeds of around 25 mph. Planned PRT systems, with the exception of a system under construction in Amritsar, India, are relatively simple systems that consist of only a few stations on a short route. This paper examines the potential of PRT as a substitute for traditional medium or large-scale urban transit such as bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail (LRT) and modern streetcars. The proposed Purple Line light rail project in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC is modeled as a PRT system using the BeamEd 1.3.2 simulation tool, although the Purple Line route and station locations are not optimized for PRT. PRT, BRT, and LRT versions of the Purple Line are compared with respect to costs, environmental effects, and system performance. Multiple sensitivity analyses are performed to assess how certain simulation inputs affect PRT system performance. The comparisons between the three alternative modes of the Purple Line favor PRT in terms of total travel times and capital costs, and indicate that PRT could be a viable option as a transportation mode in other urban environments. Risk in implementing a new technology on a grand scale is the largest obstacle hindering wider PRT implementation.
  Authors: Juster, Reuben Morris; Schonfeld, Paul
  Authors: Juster, Reuben Morris; Schonfeld, Paul
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 722
  Paper Number: 13-1186
• Modeling the Practical Capacity of Escalators Using a Rule-Based Microsimulation of Pedestrian Behavior
  Abstract: Escalators are an essential mode of public transportation, enabling people to travel vertically within a facility at a continuous, high flow rate. Despite the importance of these people movers, little systematic analysis of pedestrian capacity on escalators has been conducted within the field of transportation engineering. This study presents a method of calculating the practical capacity of escalators using a simulation based on pedestrian behavioral rules.Traditionally, the capacity of an escalator is defined only as a function of speed using capacity curves defined by manufacturers or in empirical studies. These methods do not consider pedestrian behavioral patterns and preferences like following distance, passing aggressiveness, or other local factors. A rule-based model provides the flexibility to analyze conditions in a variety of public facilities and to answer hypothetical research questions. This study reports three major findings. First, the practical capacity of escalators in casual public facilities like shopping malls is significantly lower than the maximum capacity that would be observed in a commuter facility like a transit station, at only 20-40% of what is generally reported by the manufacturers, in order to provide for freedom of movement and pedestrian comfort. Secondly, the model shows that prohibiting walking on escalators can streamline operations in emergency scenarios because it reduces the variability in the system and increases flow, particularly during peak periods. Finally, contrary to some claims in the literature, uphill flow on escalators operates at a lower capacity than downhill flow due to the presence of a “facial ellipse”.
  Authors: Kauffmann, Peter; Kikuchi, Shinya
  Authors: Kauffmann, Peter; Kikuchi, Shinya
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 722
  Paper Number: 13-1586
• Assessment of "Last Mile" Shuttle Corridors and Users in New Jersey
  Authors: Deka, Devajyoti
  Authors: Deka, Devajyoti
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 722
  Paper Number: 13-0421
• A Comparative Analysis of Personal Rapid Transit as an Urban Transportation Mode
  Authors: Juster, Reuben
  Authors: Juster, Reuben
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 722
  Paper Number: 13-1186
• Modeling the Practical Capacity of Escalators Using a Rule-Based Microsimulation of Pedestrian Behavior
  Authors: Kauffmann, Peter
  Authors: Kauffmann, Peter
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation
  Session: 722
  Paper Number: 13-1586