The US Transit Bus Manufacturing Industry

Manufacturing buses for the US transit market has been a challenging business over the last several decades. It is a small market with volatile demand. Many manufacturers have gone bankrupt, left the market, or been acquired by competitors. Manufacturers of transit buses in the US must comply with a wide range of operational and design regulations. The most salient policy areas include regulating emissions, disabled access, procurement, alternative fuels, the Altoona Test, pooled purchases and piggybacking, spare ratios, workforce training, minimum useful life, Buy America, and research & development (R&D). The purpose of this report is to provide policy makers with an update on the state of the industry, an analysis of how government policies are impacting the industry, and suggestions for policies that can help the industry move forward and thrive to best serve the transit-riding public

Bus rapid transit

Effective public transit is central to development. For the vast majority of developing city residents, public transit is the only practical means to access employment, education, and public services, especially when such services are beyond the viable distance of walking or cycling. Unfortunately, the current state of public transit services in developing cities often does little to serve the actual mobility needs of the population. Bus services are too often unreliable, inconvenient and dangerous. In response, transport planners and public officials have sometimes turned to extremely costly mass transit alternatives such as rail-based metros. Due to the high costs of rail infrastructure, cities can only construct such systems over a few kilometres in a few limited corridors. The result is a system that does not meet the broader transport needs of the population. Nevertheless, the municipality ends up with a long-term debt that can affect investment in more pressing areas such as health, education, water, and sanitation. However, there is an alternative between poor public transit service and high municipal debt. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) can provide high-quality, metro-like transit service at a fraction of the cost of other options. This document provides municipal officials, non-governmental organizations, consultants, and others with an introduction to the concept of BRT as well as a step-by-step process for successfully planning a BRT system

Evaluation of In-Use Fuel Economy and On-Board Emissions for Hybrid and Regular CyRide Transit Buses, October 2012

The objective of this project was to evaluate the in-use fuel economy and emission differences between hybrid-electric and conventional transit buses for the Ames, Iowa transit authority, CyRide. These CyRide buses were deployed in the fall of 2010. Fuel economy was compared for the hybrid and control buses. Several older bus types were also available and were included in the analysis. Hybrid buses had the highest fuel economy for all time periods for all bus types. Hybrid buses had a fuel economy that was 11.8 percent higher than control buses overall, 12.2 percent higher than buses with model years 2007 and newer, 23.4 percent higher than model years 2004 through 2006, 10.2 percent higher than model years 1998 through 2003, 38.1 percent higher than model years 1994 through 1997, 36.8 percent higher than model years 1991 through 1993, and 36.8 percent higher for model years pre-1991. On-road emissions were also compared for three of the hybrid buses and two control buses using a portable emissions monitor. On-average, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hybrid carbon emissions were much higher for the control buses than for the hybrid buses. However, on average nitrogen oxide emissions were higher for the hybrid buses

EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL DEEPENING ON ECONOMIC GROWTH: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

The design of proposed Modern Bus Terminal at Obalende employs the use of thin-shell concrete structures in order to provide maximum space use. The study adopts a combination of primary and secondary data which were obtained through review of relevant literature and case studies and also interview of stakeholders at the intended site. The obtained data were properly analyzed and infused into the proposed design for a properly functional bus terminal with proper circulation. This is expected to reduce travel time. Thereby serving as a solution to transportation challenges experienced by commuters at Obalende Area of Lagos Nigeria

Implementing an IQP Project Center in Japan

In this report, we detail our recommendations for establishing an IQP project center in Kyoto, Japan for our advisor, Jennifer deWinter. We evaluated Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Tokyo as potential locations by assessing sponsors and living logistics. We compared these factors by developing standardized forms and scoring systems to determine how well options fit our criteria. We concluded that the best project center location is Kyoto and made recommendations for sponsors, housing, PQP, the website, and the term of the IQP

Advanced Low-Floor Vehicle (ALFV) Specification Research

This report details the results of research on market comparison, operational cost efficiencies, and prototype tests conducted on a novel design for an Advanced Low Floor Vehicle (ALFV), flex-route transit bus. Section I describes how the need for such a bus arises from a combination of diminishing transit funding from the federal government and demographic and transportation factors. Section II describes the unique features of this bus design that render it suitable for rural and urban operation, including improved transit passenger and wheelchair accessibility, reduced maintenance, structural design features, safety provisions, and the technical specifications of this design. Section III details the potential differences in capital and operational costs of procuring and operating this bus in a fleet. Potential cost reductions due to the long-life vehicle concept, maneuverability, operational savings (from APTA Bus Roadeo tests), and reserve fleet savings are explored. Section IV refers to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) new model bus tests (“Altoona Testing”). However, at the this time, the Altoona Bus Test Report for these tests is not yet released by the bus manufacturer, Ride Solution, Inc., as is its right under the Bus Testing Regulation. The report must be released to the public before this bus can be purchased by a transit agency using FTA funds. In addition to the standard Altoona Bus Test, additional research was conducted to determine the turning ability, suspension travel, ramp travel index, field of view for the driver, compliance to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, and timed assessment of wheelchair securement. Section IV also presents the results of these tests. Section V presents results from a market comparison that included the buses in this mid-size category that were tested at Altoona and are expected to be available for FTA grantees to purchase. The specifications and performance of the ALFV bus are compared with these buses. Section VI presents a flex-route utilization plan, and Section VII provides the results from a survey of transit professionals about their interest in the features of this bus design. Section VIII gives Ride Solution’s experience in developing the concept for ALFV. Conclusions of this report are presented in Section IX, followed by the references and appendices

Mass transit options

Choices on public transit options are choices about a city's future. Will there be congestion? Will there be high levels of air and noise pollution? Will transport be affordable? Will services be available to all? The type of public transit system will have a big impact on the answers to these questions. This module aims to provide policy-makers in developing cities - and those advising them - with guidance on choosing appropriate Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) systems. The module begins by briefly describing some basic concepts and defining features of MRT in developing cities. Current applications of each of the main MRT options are then described, focusing on applications in developing cities. Since Metros and Light Rail Transit are still relatively uncommon in low income developing cities, most of this discussion focuses on the recent development of Bus Rapid Transit systems throughout the world

The future and outlook of alternative fuel bus industry and its marketing strategy

According to the current governmental regulations, all diesel buses will be replaced in the United States and the European market within the next ten years. There are over 60,000 buses in the United States and each year over 3,000 new buses of approximately 40 feet in length are purchased. The bus market has a growth rate of four to five percent per year over the last two years. The improvements in technology offered by United States companies prove unsatisfactory in terms of bus performance and the emissions of new buses. The energy crisis in the United States and concern over the health hazards of the diesel fuel exhaust gases and particulates, alternative fuel vehicles are in great demand in the transit market world wide

Transit systems in the US and Germany - a comparison

This thesis compares German transit systems to the transit system of Atlanta, Georgia. Different performance measures are used to assess the difference in the respective rail and bus systems. The results show that the German transit systems are overall more successful and efficient than the system in Atlanta.M.S.Committee Chair: Meyer, Michael D.; Committee Member: Amekudzi, Adjo Akpene; Committee Member: Southworth, Fran