This synthesis is designed to highlight knowledge, practice, lessons learned, and gaps in information related to wayside rail transit worker protection programs.

This synthesis explores current practices in using ridesharing to complement public transit and highlights ways to potentially enhance ridesharing and public transit.

This report is intended to aid in the planning, developing, and improving of access to high capacity commuter rail, heavy rail, light rail, bus rapid transit, and ferry stations. The report includes guidelines for arranging and integrating various station design elements. The print version of TCRP Report 153 is accompanied by a CD-ROM that includes a station access planning spreadsheet tool that allows trade-off analyses among the various access modes--automobile, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and transit-oriented development--for different station types. The appendices to TCRP Report 153 are also available on the CD-ROM at http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/166516.aspx

This digest is an overview of an international study mission that explored how public transportation systems in several cities in India and China have implemented plans, policies, technologies, and strategies for creating more livable communities through bus, metro, bus rapid transit, rail, and light rail systems.    The Indian and Chinese systems visited were designed to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, lower operating costs, and provide safe and accessible transportation services.

This report provides strategies to recruit minorities for chief executive officer (CEO) positions and offers resources to assist governing boards of public transportation agencies in the recruitment of minority CEOs. It also assesses the transit industry's recruitment processes for CEOs and provides a case for diversity that documents the benefits of minorities in public transportation leadership positions. Additionally, the report describes strategies for retaining CEOs at public transportation agencies.

This report identifies potential best practices for all of the elements of a comprehensive approach to safety-related rules compliance. The categories of best practices, which correspond to the elements of a safety-related rules compliance program, include screening and selecting employees, training and testing, communication, monitoring rules compliance, responding to noncompliance, and safety management. This report also outlines the features of a prototype safety reporting system for public transportation.

This report  presents strategies for planning, designing, building, and operating multimodal corridors, freeways and high-capacity transit lines running parallel in the same travel corridors.

This report explores the current use of electronic video surveillance technology solely by passenger rail agencies on board railcars, along rights-of-way, and more.

This synthesis documents the state-of-the-practice in terms of public participation strategies to inform and engage the public for transit-related activities. It also provides ideas and insights into practices and techniques that agencies have found to be most successful, and discusses challenges relating to engaging the public.

This report documents the state of the practice of transit agencies managing capacity on vehicles carrying customers with large items. The synthesis also includes a discussion of vehicle designs to accommodate these various large items.

This digest examines how bus and rail agencies and operators in several European cities develop community support for public transportation and how those communities implement sustainable funding strategies for transit assets, operations, and maintenance. The digest is based on the results of a scanning mission performed from June 11 through 25, 2010, under TCRP's International Transit Studies Program.

This digest explores the legal issues associated with transit operators' limited English proficiency (LEP) compliance efforts. It s designed to serve as a single source of information concerning the development and current status of transit LEP implementation efforts by state and local legislative and operational bodies.

The core features of this Resource Guide are two decision-making processes: (1) planning and (2) operations. The  Resource Guide presents important lessons learned from transit agencies that have made decisions both to commingle and not to commingle their ADA paratransit and non-ADA paratransit riders. Non-ADA paratransit riders include non-sponsored older adults, non-sponsored persons with disabilities, other agency funded persons, the general public, persons receiving Medicaid, Title III persons, non-sponsored low income persons, and persons in the Head Start program.

This digest documents a 2009 study mission to Guayaquil, Ecuador; Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Porto Alegre, Brazil, that investigated how transit operators and agencies in these cities accommodated sudden and significant growth in the number of riders and increasing demand for service.

This report provides guidance for understanding the relationships that influence and enhance operator recruitment, retention, and performance in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit services. Appendixes to TCRP Report 142 were published electronically as TCRP Web-Only Document 50: Survey Instrument, Productivity Charts, and Interview Protocol for Case Studies for TCRP Report 142.

This report is a digest of the progress and status of TCRP Project J-7,  Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems, for which the Transportation Research Board is the agency conducting the research.

This report examines pedestrian and motorist behaviors contributing to light rail transit (LRT) safety and explores mitigating measures available designed to improve safety along LRT alignments. The report also includes suggestions to facilitate the compilation of accident data in a coordinated and homogeneous manner across LRT systems. Finally, the report provides a catalog of existing and innovative safety devices, safety treatments, and practices along LRT alignments. Appendices B through E of TCRP Report 137 were published as TCRP Web-Only Document 42.

This report explores the operational characteristics of 511 telephone traveler information systems and examines how 511 systems interact with transit system call centers. This report inventories existing 511 systems throughout the country, documents the extent of transit participation and transit agency experiences with 511, and presents guidance to assist transit agencies and 511 system administrators in determining a transit-511 telephone strategy.

This report examines a business case for the shared use of non-Federal Railroad Administration-compliant public transit rail vehicles (e.g., light rail vehicles) with freight operations and highlights a business model for such shared-use operations.  This report also explores potential advantages and disadvantages of shared-use operations and the issues and barriers that can arise in the course of implementation.

This report presents the mitigation methods tested and used by transit agencies to reduce collisions between light rail vehicles (LRVs) and motor vehicles where light rail transit (LRT) runs through or adjacent to highway intersections controlled by conventional traffic signals.  A particular focus is placed on collisions occurring between LRVs and vehicles making left-hand turns at these intersections.  This report offers success stories and specific actions to achieve positive results, as well as examples of unsuccessful actions.  The issues addressed include a range of LRT operations and environments such as median-running, side-running, contra-flow, and mixed-use LRT alignments; urban and suburban setting; and a variety of U.S. geographic regions.

This report documents the state of the practice in terms of analytical tools and technologies for measuring transit ridership and other subsidiary data.  Survey results include transit agency assessments of the effectiveness and reliability of their methodologies and of desired improvements.  The survey was designed to emphasize automatic passenger counter (APC) systems, but agencies using manual systems were also surveyed to gain an understanding of why new technologies have not been adopted.

This report updates an earlier synthesis offering information on the planning, implementation, and operation of campus transit systems by moving to a focus on the communities in which schools are located. It includes local and regional transportation systems that serve college and university campuses. Further, it presents information about practices and trends in the areas of transit operations, and campus policies and planning, with a special focus area in technology and environmental innovations

This synthesis covers a wide range of policies and practices that transit agencies use to provide services to persons with disabilities more effectively and efficiently.

This guidebook is a resource to assist Demand-Response Transportation (DRT) systems to measure, assess, and improve performance, focusing on DRT in urban areas.  It addresses the diversity of DRT systems, service areas, and passengers; identifies the important controllable factors affecting DRT performance; and includes performance assessment methods based on the reliable data and meaningful measures.  Such methods will allow relevant assessments of DRT performance over time and across DRT systems.

This report summaries the value of current technologies used in public transportation, and identifies five promising emerging technologies with application for transit agencies.

This digest notes the progress and status of J-7, "Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Problems" for which the Transportation Research Board is the agency conducting the research.

This report will assist public transportation agency senior staff, law enforcement, and security service providers in assessing the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a passenger security inspection program. The objective is to provide guidance that a public transportation agency may use when considering whether, where, when, and how to introduce a passenger security inspection program into its operations. This volume identifies the most promising types of screening technologies and methods currently in use or being tested, the operational considerations for the deployment of these technologies in land-based systems, the legal precedent that either applies or that should be contemplated in connection with passenger screening activities, and a passenger security inspection policy decision-making model.

This digest provides guidelines for the application of guard/girder/restraining rails by transit systems to improve vehicle curving performance,  reduce risk of flange climb derailment, and to control wheel/rail wear.

This report is designed to provide transportation tunnel owners and operators with guidelines for protecting their tunnels by minimizing the damage potential from extreme events such that, if damaged, they may be returned to full functionality in relatively short periods.  This report will be of interest to tunnel authorities, state and local transportation departments, other agencies responsible for tunnel operation and maintenance, enforcement personnel and first responders responsible for tunnel safety and security, and tunnel designers.  The objective of this report is to provide safety and security guidelines for owners and operators of transportation tunnels to use in identifying (1) principal vulnerabilities of tunnels to various hazards and threats; (2) potential physical countermeasures; (3) potential operational countermeasures; and (4) deployable, integrated systems for emergency-related command, control, communications, and information.

This synthesis documents the state of the practice in fixed-routed transit ridership forecasting and service planning.  It identifies forecasting methodologies, resource, requirements, data inputs, and organizational issues.  It also analyzes the impacts of service changes and reviews transit agency assessments of the effectiveness and reliability of their methods and of desired improvements.

This synthesis documents and summaries the tasks necessary for a public transit Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) partnership to be successful.  The purpose is to report on the real and perceived barriers to NEMT and public transit coordination and to discribe case studies of Medicaid transportation program participation by transit agencies.

This digest describes the development of a relational database for data on the causes and conditions of traiin failures and some preliminary analyses of the data.

This digest offers design guidelines for a new transit switch based partially on longer lasting, better-performing switiches that were developed in the early 20th century, some of which are still in operation today at transit systems.  It also summarizes the work done to develop guidelines and recommendations for an improved performance 13-ft switch for heavy rail transit service.

This report will assist rural, small urban, and community-based passenger transportation agencies in creating hazards and security plans or evaluating and modifying existing plans, policies, and procedures consistent with the National Incident. Management System (NIMS)  "NIMS provides a consistent nationwide approach for Federal State, territorial, tribal, and local government to work effectively and efficiently together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity." To excess the accompany appendices to this report and additional resources, click the link. http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/152464.aspx

This digest is an overview of the mission that investigated the application of new technologies in bus and rail transit operations in Germany, Austria, and France.  The theme of the study mission was Implementing New Technologies in Maintenance Systems and Departments in Europe.  It is based on individual reports provided by the team members. This digest includes transportation information on the cities and facilities visited.

This synthesis documents and summarizes transit agencies' experiences with planning and implementing on-board and intercept surveys.  On-board/intercept surveys used throughout the report refer to sel-administered surveys distributed on board buses and railcars, and in stations, as well as interviews conducted in these environments.  This report provides an overview of industry prictices and covers a broad range of issues addressed in planning a given survey.

This synthesis reflects the additional knowledge gained by transit agencies in the past 10 years about integrating bicycles and transit.  It documents many different types of transit agencies in the United States and Canada.  The experiences that are documented can help transit agencies improve existing services and assist other communities in developing new bicycle and transit services.

This report provides information concerning the ability of public transportation systems or their agents, within the context of federal or state law, to conduct either random searches or targeted searches of passengers on public transportation vehicles or on public transportation property.

This digest is an overview of the mission that investigated innovations in bus, rail and specialized transit operations in Latin America.  It is based on individual reports provided by team members, and it reflects the views of the members, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data.

This report addresses transit ridership response to fare changes as applied to conventional urban area bus and rail transit services.  Topics covered are: changes in general fare level, changes in fare structure including relationships among fare categories, and free transit.  It does not cover the combined outcome of implementing fare and service in the same time frame.  This report will be of interest to transit planning practitioners; educators and researchers; and professionals across a broad spectrum of transportation agencies, MPOs, and local, state, and federal government agencies.

This digest is an overview of the mission that investigated transit design, construction, and operation in the Mediterranean region. It is based on individual reports provided by the team members, and it reflects the views of the team members, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented.

This synthesis documents and summarizes tansit agency experiences with "flexible transit services," including all types of hybrid services that are not pure demand-responsive (including dial-a-ride and ADA paratransit) or fixed-route services, but that fall somewhere in between those traditional serivce models.  In addition, it doucments six types of flexible transit service: request stops,flexible route segments, route deviation, point deviation, zone routes, and demand-responsive connector service.  This synthesis will be of interest to transit agnecy staff responsible for vehicle operations and planning, and to those who work with them in this regard.

This chapter covers travel demand and related aspects of providing and supporting park-and-ride and park-and-pool facilities.  It addresses the facilities working together with  supportive features and in coordination with high occupancy vehicle lanes; busways; bus rapid transit and other express bus services; light rail transit, commuter rail, and heavy rail transit facilities and services.

This report's  objective is to equip members of the transportation profession with a comprehensive, readily accessible, interpretive documentation of results and experience obtained across the United States and elsewhere from, different types of transportation system changes and policy actions and alternative land use and site development design approaches.

This synthesis documents current information on prevention and intervention strategies and resources that can be used by transit agencies.  It offers survey information obtained from individuals with the responsibility for managing health and wellness programs.  It also covers the state of the practice at 14 U.S. transit agencies of various sizes, operating different modes, in diverse locales around the nations.  This synthesis will be of interest to transit staff concerned with proactively addressing operator health and wellness issues at their agencies.

This manual is intended to be a fundamental reference document for public transit practitioners and policy makers.  The manual contains background, statistics, and graphics on the various types of public transportation, and it provides a framework for measuring transit availability and quality of service from the passenger point of view.  The manual contains quantitative techniques for calculating the capacity of bus, rail, and ferry transit services, and transit stops, stations, and terminals.  Examples problems are included.

This report and the TravelMatters website www.TravelMatters.org  provides key strategies for reducing transportation emissions increasing the use of transit, changing land-use patters, and adopting energy-efficient technologis and fuels in transit fleets.  It is designed to present information on climate change and to examine how greenhouse gas emissions from transportation may be reduced.  Both the print and web-based research products review the capacity of public transportation to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and present this information in a format accessible to transportation professionals and the general public.

This report is designed to address transit agencies' needs for evaluating and upgrading the intrusion detection systems applicable to the spectrum of their facilities (including tunnels, bridges, buildings, power stations, transfer stations, rail yards, bus yards, and parking lots) and their transit vehicles (such as buses, trains, support vehicles, and special purpose vehicles).  The Handbook provides guidance on assessing system needs; developing system designs; and estimating system costs, benefits, and risks.

Transportation Technology Center, Inc.  (TTCI) modeled the performance of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), B-IV cars operating over a SEPTA tangential design spiraled geometry Number 8 lateral turnout, an American Railway Engineering Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Number 8 lateral turnout with a 13-ft curved switch design, and several variations of these two designs.  The study was designed to determine which switch design features contribute to the good performance and long service life of the SEPTA switches.  These design elements will be applied to current switch design to develop a low-cost,high-performance switch for future use.

This report provides strategies to improve public transportation access to large airports through market-based planning and improved management of ground acces to airports.  Practical information on how to plan and improve public transportation access is provided.  The report in addition presents the results of the second phase of a two-part research effort.  The results of the first phase of the research were published as TCRP Report 62: Improving Public Transportation Access to Large Airports.

The aim of this digest is to inform and assist public transportation systems in the United States that are considering fundamental change to their organization.  This digest was prepared as part of the third and final phase of "New Paradigms for Local Public Transportation Organizations; " it addresses major dimensions of fundamental change; illustrates a few extraordinary, fundamental changes that are being pursued by transit organizations; and calls attention to immediate opportunities to support and sustain fundamental change in the U.S. transit industry.

A challenging problem that many light rail systems face is the "second train coming" phenomenon on double track crossings.  A second train frequently activates the grade crossing equipment within seconds after the first train has activated the grade crossing circuits, thus creating a situation in which two trains pass through the grade crossing within seconds of each other which could be very confusing and potentially dangerous to motorists and pedestrains.  This digest provides the results of two demonstrations of active sign warning systems that could increase awareness of and compliance with the conditions of the second train coming phenomenon.

This digest identifies the key workforce challenges facing the public transportation industry, identifies current approaches to addressing those challenges, and suggests an agenda that the public transportation industry can use to move forward in the important area of work-force development.

This digest describes findings from a follow-on study designed to analyze in greater detail the data obtained from the agency and general manager surveys on contracting conducted as part of the study, "Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience," The original study was published as TRB Special Report 258.

This digest supplements and updates TCRP Report 52, "Joint Operation of Light Rail Transit or Diesel Multiple Unit Vehicles with Railroads."  The digest updates information in TCRP Report 52 to recognize the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) joint statement of policy concerning shared use issued in July 2000, provides supplemental information concerning the international experience with joint operation, and updates a disucssion of the key issues and conclusions.  This digest also defines joint operation as commingled, simultaneous train operation on shared track by railroad trains (freight, passenger, or both) and rail transit vehicles that are not fully compliant with current FRA regulations.

This report examine how part-time labor has affected the cost and performance of transit systems over the past 25 years and consider how part-time labor can be meaningfully incorporated into the workforce while avoiding potential negative impacts. This research reflects concern for transit system operating costs, safety, service, reliability, customer satisfaction, labor-management relations, and employee satisfaction.

This report provides a wealth of information about the current status of public transportation services and their use at large airports in the United States and around the world. It identifies strategies to improve public transportation access to large airports through increased awareness of issues and best industry practices. Key factors affecting passenger and employee use of public transportation for airport access is presented. Market trends and factors affecting ridership at nine U.S. airports with direct rail service are presented as well as trends and factors at U.S. airports with rubber-tired access systems such as prearranged limousines, shared-ride vans, express buses, and multistop buses. The report will be of interest to individuals involved in planning and implementing improved public transportation access to large airports.

This guidebook provides information about the role of transportation in supporting welfare-to-work initiatives and identifies practical strategies to improve access to job opportunities for former welfare recipients making the transition to work. It also describes service approaches that include modifications to existing mass transit services, coordination between transportation services, ride-sharing programs, automobile ownership programs, and collaborations between faith-based and community-based groups.

This report provides documentation and presents the results of a study to improve the safety of light transit (LRT) in semi-exclusive rights-of-way where light rail vehicles (LRVs) operate at speeds greater than 35 mph through crossings with streets and pedestrians pathways. It also presents the results of field tests conducted to improve the safety of high speed LRT systems through grade crossing design. This report will be useful to LRT system designers, LRT operations and maintenance personnel, transit operations planners, traffic engineers, light rail safety officials, transit managers, and transit law enforcement officials.

The role that operator fatigue plays in mass transit safety has become one of the central issues that U.S. bus and rail transit agencies must address. Fatigue is increasing cited as a contributing factor in bus and rail transit accidents.  The National Transportation Safety Board lists human fatigue as an area where significant improvement is needed in order to increase transportation safety.  In addition to reducing accidents, mitigating fatigue can also reduce the cost of transit operations.  Costs due to lost productivity, employee absenteeism, employee turnover rate, reduced morale, and increased wear and tear on equipment are affected by employee fatigue.

This report includes the results of three research tasks carried out under TCRP Project D-7, Joint Rail Transit-Related Research with the Association of American Railroad/Transportation Technology, Inc.  The report should be of interest to engineers responsible for design, construction, maintenance, and operation of rail transit systems.

This guidebook will be of interest to marketing and graphics professionals, customer service personnel, schedulers, transit planners, operating staff, and others who need to be conversant with the design, distribution, and placement of passenger information materials for public transit systems. This guidebook provides instructions for designing passenger information aids. The research focused on traditional media (e.g., schedules, maps, and signage) for presentation of information. The guidebook consists of three sections. The first section addresses the basic information needs of transit passengers, including wayfinding behavior and decision making during a trip. The second section describes route guidance information and, where appropriates, provides examples to illustrate this information. The third section discusses the design and format details for information aids (e.g., print sizes, visual contrast, use of color and symbols, and map legends).

This digest provides a brief description of the products developed from Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Project C-3, Wheel/Rail Noise Mitigation, which was conducted by Wilson, Ihrig & Associates, Inc. The research included a comprehensive literature review of wheel/ rail noise control practices; a survey of all North American and selected foreign heavy and light rail transit agencies to ascertain their current wheel/rail noise-mitigation techniques and their related experiences (both good and bad); a compilation of wheel/rail noise- mitigation field test reports from transit agencies and product manufacturers and suppliers; and field tests of several noise- mitigation measures at several transit agencies. From these activities, a Wheel/Rail Noise Control Manual and an accompanying software tool were developed.

This synthesis will be of interest to transit agency general managers and their planning, operations, engineering, and design staff, as well as to other light rail vehicle (LRV) builders, operators, industry associations, and government organizations. Data summaries presented cover existing practice and include those related to design parameters. Compression test requirements are described, available information on the development of specifications and standards is presented, and examples of adjustments under particular circumstances are provided. This report of the Transportation Research Board makes use of existing surveys, reports, published literature, personal contacts, and interviews with experts in the field. It offers available LRV system information from North America, Europe, and Japan.

This report documents and presents the results of a study to improve the safety of light rail transit (LRT) operations in shared rights-of- way where LRT operates on, adjacent to, or across city streets at low to moderate speeds (35 mph or less). Safety problems and potential solutions were identified through a literature review, field observations, videotapes, and structured interviews with ten LRT properties in the U.S. and Canada. From the system surveys, an alignment classification scheme was developed, and an inventory of traffic control devices was compiled. Accident data were analyzed to examine where, how, and why conflicts between light rail vehicles, motor vehicles, and pedestrians arise.

This study investigated and quantified the variables that affect the maximum passenger carrying capacity of rail transit in four categories-- rail rapid transit (heavy rail), light rail transit, commuter rail, and automated guideway transit (AGT)--in North America. A comprehensive survey of existing literature on rail transit capacity was conducted. A survey of rail transit operators in Canada, Mexico and the United States determined the capacity and capacity constraints of each system. Appropriate data were collected from these agencies and in field visits. Quantitative analysis, narration and calibration to real life result in procedures for estimating rail transit capacity under a wide variety of conditions, including realistic operating margins. The procedures are divided into two sets, a basic simple method of estimation, and a comprehensive method that includes more variables. The results show that the maximum capacity on a double track urban rail transit line can be obtained with a moving-block signaling system which has the potential for a 30% increase in train throughput compared to conventional signaling. The single most important factor in maximizing capacity is to control and reduce dwell time through station and car design.

The goal of TCRP Research Project B-1 is to develop information to assist local transit providers in the implementation of appropriate service options and enhancements to serve individuals with disabilities. The specific research objective, consistent with this goal, is the development of a methodology for transit managers and planners to design and evaluate integrated transit systems that (1) provide accessible integrated service complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA); (2) facilitate the appropriate use of paratransit service; and (3) support service or system enhancements to encourage travel on accessible fixed routes by individuals with disabilities. This Research Results Digest presents the Phase I findings. Phase I, which was completed in Fall 1993, identified service options and described enhancements.

This synthesis will be of interest to transit agency general managers; rail planning operations, maintenance, and policy personnel; Federal Transit Administration staff, transportation consultants and engineers; and vehicle manufacturers. This synthesis addresses the system- specific variables that directly impact fleet size, and the spare ratios that are maintained by individual transit agencies. From the information obtained, it appears that most rail transit agencies closely monitor the spare vehicles they maintain to maximize efficiency and thereby reduce operating costs. This report of the Transportation Research Board describes operating environments at 21 selected rail transit agencies of various sizes in key geographical locations in North America. It contains survey information about operating practices, impediments, and strategies used to appropriately size fleets within each agency's operating context.

This digest contains a report prepared under TCRP Project J-5, Aspects of Transit and Intermodal Transportation Programs, for which the Transportation Research Board is the agency conducting the research. Project J-5 is designed to provide insight into the operating practices and legal elements of specific problems in transportation agencies. The report, which has the same title as this digest and is authored by Kevin M. Sheys, is organized as follows: Introduction; A Frame of Reference; Common Issues in Rail Transit Projects; Organization of Article; Acquisition and Use Strategies with Willing Sellers (Voluntary Sales--Abandonable Lines, Voluntary Sales--Nonabandonable Lines, and Control of Management and Operations); Acquisition and Use Strategies with Unwilling Sellers; Conclusion; and Notes.