Transit Performance Measurement and Arterial Travel Time Estimation Using Archived AVL Data

Portland's local transit provider (TriMet) began using an automated bus dispatch system to manage and collect data about the performance of its fleet of buses in the late 1990s. These data provide TriMet with an abundance of useful information that it has used to successfully improve the performance and efficiency of its transit system. Each day, TriMet buses travel Portland's city and suburban streets on more than 90 different bus routes, collecting data at each scheduled and unscheduled stop. This rich source of data also has the potential to aid traffic engineers in evaluating arterial performance using the bus fleet as probes. This paper explains the type of data being collected by TriMet buses, gives examples of how it is used to evaluate and improve transit service, and demonstrates how these data might be used in the future, perhaps in conjunction with other technologies such as central signal system data, to aid traffic engineers in monitoring and improving arterial performance.