center for urban transportation research | university of south florida the tbest framework for data...

Center for Urban Transportation Research | University of South Florida

The TBEST Framework for Data Analysis and Forecasting Rodney P. Bunner

October 16, 2013 l Public Transit Modeling

Agenda

1. Motivation and Use2. GIS Specifications3. TBEST Framework Components

a) Data Managementb) Data Interoperabilityc) Data Requirementsd) Model Enginee) Analysis and Reports

4. Next Steps

Motivation

FDOT/planners wanted a software tool for short-term transit service planning – designed specifically for transit.

Serve as FDOT provided ridership estimation technique for State mandated Transit Development Plans (TDPs)

Transit Boardings Estimation and Simulation Tool (TBEST) has been in production for several years and is on its 4th Major Version (4.1).

FDOT is continually supporting the improvement of TBEST.

TBEST in Florida

Major Benefits: Standardized modeling method to ensure consistency and

equity among agencies TBEST reduces burden on FDOT for evaluating a variety of

ridership estimation methodologies TBEST reduces burden on agencies to prepare and conduct

more expensive and complex modeling efforts Leverage TBEST data and software framework to support

multiple transit agency tasks:

Mobility Studies NTD Route Miles Market Analysis Network Accessibility

Service Planning Comprehensive Operational

Analysis (COA) Grant Applications FTA Title VI Analysis

TBEST Elsewhere

Various projects inside and outside of Florida:• RVTD (Oregon) Calibration and Implementation• Los Angeles Metro Calibration• CAT (Savannah) Strategic Plan• TheT (Ft. Worth) Model Development• LYNX (Orlando) Service Planning Implementation• PennDOT Pilot Project• PeopleMover (Anchorage, AK)

TBEST GIS Specifications

• Desktop application requiring ArcGIS 10.1 Basic license • Utilizes ArcGIS Engine for map display, spatial analysis

and network editing• SQL Server 2008 R2 (Express or Enterprise editions)• No Network Analyst or ArcSDE required• Utilizes ESRI Map Services, Bing Maps or

preformatted .mxd for base map• No fee for TBEST except ArcGIS license

Components – Data Management

• TBEST manages data specific to individual transit systems

• Each transit system is composed of scenarios which contain editable routes, segments, stops, socio-economic data and network attributes

• Validation specific to each transit system

• All GIS/database files managed internally

• Download pre-formatted SE data, transit systems and model definition packages

• Easily create current or future year scenarios

TBEST managed Transit Systems

Components – Data Management

TBEST User Interface

Components – Data Interoperability

GTFS Import– Imported networks for FL agencies with

GTFS feeds– Utilized nationally in Ft. Worth, RVTD, Los

Angeles, SavannahGTFS Export

– Export TBEST “planning” network into GTFS

– Added TBEST attributes to exported data including ridership and stop amenities

ArcGIS– Export TBEST maps and data into ArcGIS– Import route alignments into TBEST from

outside data sources– Export “loaded networks” into

geodatabases

Components – Data RequirementsORIGINAL DATA REQUIREMENTS• Census 2000

• Employment– FDOT provided InfoUSA

address-based data

• Manually coded Route Network

• Special Generator Specification

CURRENT DATA REQUIREMENTS• Census 2010• American Community Survey

• Employment– FDOT provided InfoUSA address-

based data– Optionally include locally

provided zonal data• Land Use

– Florida Department of Revenue parcel data

• ITE Trip Generation Tables

• GTFS network import and full network editor

• Special Generator and Stop Amenity Specification

Components – Model Engine

• Micro-level model which simulates transit ridership at the level of the individual stop: by route, direction and time period

• Designed to capture both walk access market and network accessibility

• Model equations estimate direct and transfer boardings• Accommodate service features of fare, speed, frequency, etc.• Accommodate fundamental differences in route types (local,

circulator, express)

• Automated Validation – Users supply observed ridership and TBEST calculates model application adjustments…allows TBEST to adapt to different urban locations without developing new model equations (transferable)

Components – Model Engine

Multiple Model Management Users are able to maintain multiple model structures which can be applied to model scenarios

Editable Model Structures Users can add, delete or modify coefficients, land use trip rates, and network and market accessibility parameters

Available Models

Components – Model Engine

BRT Sensitivity - Users specify the implementation level of specific route-level BRT characteristics and TBEST will adjust base ridership forecasts with an empirically derived adjustment factor

Components – Analysis and Reports

Stop, Segment, Route and Regional distribution reports with supporting maps

Components – Analysis and Reports

Scenario Comparison and Mobility Threshold service recommendations

Components – Analysis and Reports

TDP Summary Report - Summarizes annual service area pop, employment, performance, and service for all scenarios in a TBEST transit system

Components – Analysis and Reports

Land Use Market Analysis

Components – Analysis and Reports

Socio-Economic Market Analysis

Components – Analysis and Reports

Network Accessibility Analysis

Steps Underway

October 2013– Release TBEST 4.1– Contains online Video Tutorials – Classroom training early 2014

January 2014– Enhanced FTA Title VI and Environmental Justice Analysis and

ReportingJune 2014 – Parcel Editor– Integrate Observed Ridership for COA support

October 2014– Network Accessibility Composite Measures

CONTACT INFORMATION

Rodney BunnerTransportation Technology Specialistrbunner@cutr.usf.edurodbunner@hotmail.com

Steven Polzin, Ph.D.Director Mobility Policy Researchpolzin@cutr.usf.edu.813-974-9849

Thank You! www.tbest.org

Xuehao Chu, Ph.D.Senior Research Associatexchu@cutr.usf.edu813-974-9831