national center for accessible transportation community bus transportation: an emerging transit mode...

National Center for Accessible Transportation

Community Bus Community Bus Transportation: An Transportation: An Emerging Transit Mode Emerging Transit Mode

Kate Hunter-Zaworski, Ph.D., Kate Hunter-Zaworski, Ph.D., P.E.P.E.Director, NCATDirector, NCAT

TRANSED 2007 Montreal TRANSED 2007 Montreal CanadaCanada


Outline Outline

1.1. Overview of new transit modeOverview of new transit mode

2.2. Route characteristicsRoute characteristics

3.3. Vehicle CharacteristicsVehicle Characteristics

4.4. Case StudyCase Study

5.5. Ergonomic ChallengeErgonomic Challenge


1. Community Public 1. Community Public TransitTransit What is it?What is it?

Who does it serve?Who does it serve?

How is it different from current How is it different from current modes?modes?


2. Route Structure2. Route Structure

Fixed RouteFixed Route

Flexible RouteFlexible Route

Hybrid Routes Hybrid Routes

Flexible service hours Flexible service hours


3. Vehicles3. Vehicles

Typically smaller – 12-20 Typically smaller – 12-20 passengerspassengers

Built on truck chassisBuilt on truck chassis

High FloorHigh Floor

8-10 year life expectancy8-10 year life expectancy


Vehicle Challenges Vehicle Challenges StepsSteps

LiftsLifts Front, Side or RearFront, Side or Rear

Mobility Aid SecurementMobility Aid Securement

Internal circulation Internal circulation

Ride qualityRide quality

Lighting Lighting


So what is the problem?So what is the problem?

Current vehicles do not meet Current vehicles do not meet needs of seniors and people with needs of seniors and people with disabilitiesdisabilities

Current low floor smaller Current low floor smaller vehicles do not have long service vehicles do not have long service lifelife


Universal Design for Universal Design for VehiclesVehicles

Low floorLow floor

Mobility Aid Accommodation Mobility Aid Accommodation

Seats for AllSeats for All

Comfortable Ride QualityComfortable Ride Quality

8-10 year service life 8-10 year service life


Potential Vehicles – Top Potential Vehicles – Top FiveFive

The Friendly Bus, by Dallas Smith The Friendly Bus, by Dallas Smith Corp.Corp.

Hybrid HD Senator Citibus, by Hybrid HD Senator Citibus, by AzureAzure

Titan II, by GlavalTitan II, by Glaval

LC Series, by IC Corp.LC Series, by IC Corp.

President Low Floor, by StartransPresident Low Floor, by Startrans


President Low Floor, Startrans

10” Entry10” Entry 19,000 Lbs GVW19,000 Lbs GVW 19 passengers + 19 passengers +

2 W.C.2 W.C. 12,000 General 12,000 General

WarrantyWarranty


LC Series, IC Corp.LC Series, IC Corp.

14.5” Entry, with 11” kneel14.5” Entry, with 11” kneel 20,500 lbs GVW20,500 lbs GVW Assumed - 19 passengers, or 15 + 2 W.C.Assumed - 19 passengers, or 15 + 2 W.C. Chassis – Custom made by InternationalChassis – Custom made by International


Titan II, GlavalTitan II, Glaval

Higher Floor Higher Floor 12,300 lbs GVW12,300 lbs GVW 14 passengers + 2 14 passengers + 2

W.C.W.C. 5 year or 150k mile 5 year or 150k mile

warrantywarranty Chassis – GMC G-Chassis – GMC G-

CutawayCutaway


Hybrid HD Senator Citibus, Hybrid HD Senator Citibus, AzureAzure

Higher floor – 12” Higher floor – 12” at first stepat first step

14-16 Passengers 14-16 Passengers + 2 W.C.+ 2 W.C.

Electric Hybrid Electric Hybrid MotorMotor

Chassis – Chassis – Workhorse W42Workhorse W42


The Friendly Bus, Dallas Smith The Friendly Bus, Dallas Smith Corp.Corp.

8” Entry, or 5” 8” Entry, or 5” kneelkneel

18,000 lbs GVW18,000 lbs GVW 15 Passengers, 15 Passengers,

or 9 + 2 W.C.or 9 + 2 W.C. Chassis – Ford Chassis – Ford

F450 Lo-FloorF450 Lo-Floor


4. Case Studies4. Case Studies

Translink – Translink – Vancouver B.C.Vancouver B.C.

Oregon Oregon Paratransit Paratransit Operators Operators


Small Vehicle IssuesSmall Vehicle Issues

Common to most transit Common to most transit agenciesagencies

Limited number of vehicles in Limited number of vehicles in marketmarket

Challenge to industry to develop Challenge to industry to develop innovative and sustainable innovative and sustainable solutionssolutions


Community Shuttle -Community Shuttle -TranslinkTranslinkEssential component of multi-Essential component of multi-modal transit systemmodal transit system

Reaches out into lower density Reaches out into lower density neighborhoodsneighborhoods

Serves seniors and also people Serves seniors and also people with disabilitieswith disabilities


5. Ergonomic Challenges5. Ergonomic Challenges

Steep steps at front of vehicleSteep steps at front of vehicle

Mobility Aid lift at back side of vehicleMobility Aid lift at back side of vehicle

Limited Securement Space Limited Securement Space

Poor Ride QualityPoor Ride Quality

Wheelchairs ride behind rear axleWheelchairs ride behind rear axle

Problems with over-size Mobility Aids Problems with over-size Mobility Aids


5. Industry Challenges 5. Industry Challenges Lack of low floor vehicles with Lack of low floor vehicles with service life expectations required service life expectations required by public transportationby public transportation

Limited market sizeLimited market size

Need to also consider fuel Need to also consider fuel optionsoptions


Acknowledgement Acknowledgement

Thank you to the students in Thank you to the students in Public Transportation Class at Public Transportation Class at Oregon State University for their Oregon State University for their assistance with this project. assistance with this project. Thank you to all the transit Thank you to all the transit agencies who keep asking for agencies who keep asking for new low floor small vehicles.new low floor small vehicles.


CONTACT USCONTACT USNational Center for Accessible TransportationNational Center for Accessible Transportation

220 Owen Hall220 Owen Hall

Oregon State UniversityOregon State University

Corvallis, OR , 97331-3212Corvallis, OR , 97331-3212

Tel: 800-916-0099Tel: 800-916-0099

[email protected]@oregonstate.edu

http://ncat.oregonstate.eduhttp://ncat.oregonstate.edu

national center for accessible transportation community bus transportation: an emerging transit mode...

Documents