Abstract:
As the attention being given to transit planning for smaller communities increases, more accurate ridership forecasts are being required. In smaller areas, basic data for these forecasts remain scarce, but a number of successful techniques have been designed to overcome this lack of original data. Among the techniques developed for use by small cities and rural areas in Florida is a first-cut, sketch-planning estimate that roughly forecasts the annual numbers of riders, vehicles, and equipment kilometers. This technique can also be used to estimate capital costs and yearly operating costs. If, on the basis of the initial forecasts, a community decides to pursue a transit plan, additional ridership forecasts will be necessary. Particulary for fixed-route systems, the latent-demand and direct-demand forecasting techniques can be very useful. These two techniques and the results of the initial survey can provide a cost-effective basis that local officials can use in deciding on the most appropriate transit plan for their area. (Author)
Supplemental Notes:
This paper appeared in TRB Special Report 187, Transportation Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Communities, Proceedings of a Workshop sponsored by UMTA and FHWA, conducted by TRB, Sarasota, Florida, 3-6 December 1978. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
