Improving Public Transit Schedules, Timetables People Can Actually Read

George Fallat,
International Intermodal Transportation Center,
New Jersey Institute of Technology,
(973) 596 - 5254
fallat@njit.edu

One-Jang Jeng, Ph.D.
Department of Industrial and Management Engineering,
New Jersey Institute of Technology,
(973) 596 - 3659
jeng@njit.edu

External Project Contact: Edward Kondrath, (609) 530-2058

Background:

Operating 200 bus routes, many with complicated patterns and schedules, and frequent changes, NJTransit recognizes that reading transit schedules can be a stressful, frustrating experience for some and in fact may actually deter potential customers. In its ongoing commitment to customer service, NJTransit, through the NJDOT’s Research Program, has initiated a project to: (1) determine how well current timetables serve both bus riders and non-bus users; (2) identify the major deficiencies in the current timetable design and (3) develop more effective layout schemes.

From a human factors standpoint, reading and deciphering transit schedules is a highly complex set of tasks involving many phases of human information processing. According to a well-known human information processing model (Wickens and Hollands, 1999), the initial searching task requires short-term sensory storage for visual information input while scanning the busy timetable, recognition of symbols and abbreviations on the map from both working and long-term memory, decision making for determining the right bus schedule at the right bus stop, and working memory for memorizing the bus route, bus schedule, and bus stops for getting on and off the bus. These mental processing steps are even more challenging if the user is elderly, has poor vision or not accustomed to reading and processing busy timetables.

There has been extensive research on effective methods for visual information presentation that has lead to the establishment of useful principles for implementation. In Human Factors in Engineering and Design, Sanders and McCormick (1993) discuss a number of important visual display features, including typography (e.g. stroke width, font type, size), layout (interletter spacing, interline spacing, logical grouping and layout of information.), color, and information grouping. In his book titled "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information", Tufte (1983) uses many examples of good and poor designs to illustrate important factors for quantitative visual presentations. Through these and other references as well as feedback from customer surveys, deficiencies in the current presentation of transit schedule information can be identified and recommendations for improvements to the schedule layout can be formulated.

Objective:

The primary objective of the research project is to develop and improve the communication of schedule information to existing and potential future NJTransit riders. It is anticipated that by making it easier to read and comprehend schedule information, automobile users will be encouraged to use transit thereby reducing congestion and fuel consumption and improving air quality. For current transit users, improving the visual display of transit schedules can help ease the difficulty and frustration of implementing schedule changes.

Abstract:

From a human factors standpoint, reading and deciphering transit schedules is a highly complex set of tasks involving many phases of human information processing. According to a well-known human information processing model (Wickens and Hollands, 1999), the initial searching task requires short-term sensory storage for visual information input while scanning the busy timetable, recognition of symbols and abbreviations on the map from both working and long-term memory, decision making for determining the right bus schedule at the right bus stop, and working memory for memorizing the bus route, bus schedule, and bus stops for getting on and off the bus. These mental processing steps are even more challenging if the user is elderly, has poor vision or not accustomed to reading and processing busy timetables.

There has been extensive research on effective methods for visual information presentation that has lead to the establishment of useful principles for implementation. In Human Factors in Engineering and Design, Sanders and McCormick (1993) discuss a number of important visual display features, including typography (e.g. stroke width, font type, size), layout (interletter spacing, interline spacing, logical grouping and layout of information.), color, and information grouping. In his book titled "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information", Tufte (1983) uses many examples of good and poor designs to illustrate important factors for quantitative visual presentations. Through these and other references as well as feedback from customer surveys, the research team proposes to (1) determine how well current timetables serve both bus riders and non-bus users; (2) identify the major deficiencies in the current timetable design and (3) develop more effective layout schemes.

Task Description:

PHASE I

Task 1 Literature Search

PHASE II

Task 1. Presentation of Literature Review Findings
Task 2: Develop a Proposed Methodology
Task 3: Apply New Wayfinding Methods
Task 4: Administer Survey
Task 5: Compile Survey Results
Task 6: Prepare Guidelines
Task 7: Reporting

Project Budget: $157199	NCTIP: $0	NJDOT: $117622
	Sponsor: $0	Other: $39577

Starting Date: 01/01/2003

Completion Date: 6/30/2004

Milestones:

Phase 1 - Task 1.1 Literature Search : Jan. 2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.1 Presentation of Literature Review Findings: Jan.- Feb.2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.2 Develop a Proposed Methodology: Jan.- Feb.2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.3 Apply New Wayfinding Methods: Feb. - Mar.2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.4 Administer Survey: Apr. - Jun.2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.5 Compile Survey Results: May - Jul.2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.6 Prepare Guidelines: Jul. - Sep.2003;
Phase 2 - Task 2.7 Reporting: Jan. - Dec.2003;
Training and Implementation: Nov. - Dec.2003.

Student/Minority Involvement :

Two students are involved in this project

Relationship To Other Projects :

Enhancing the ability to read, understand and react to visual aids provided by transportation service providers fosters a safer, more efficient transportation system. This is an important theme and is inherent in the name of the Center, "Transportation and Industrial Productivity". Accordingly, NCTIP supports projects that seek to improve efficiency and productivity through transportation related initiatives.

Several NCTIP sponsored research projects, including Survey of Driver Perception at Railroad Crossings; Pedestrian Safety and Mobility Aids for Access to Bus Stops and Effectiveness of Design Solutions on Reducing Operator Speeds examine transportation system users’ ability to take in and respond to traffic control and other transportation related features. These and other projects, including Fatigue Management for Rail Operators and Alternative Performance Measures for Evaluating Congestion, integrate user and operator survey techniques. Improving Public Transit Schedules and Timetables not only can benefit from the experience gained on these and other NCTIP sponsored research, but, through enhancing transit service, continues the theme of improving transportation productivity.

Technology Transfer Activities to Date:

None to date

Potential Benefits of Project:

The primary benefit of the research project includes enhanced communication of schedule information to existing and potential future NJTransit riders. Making schedules easier to read eases implementation of schedule changes and promotes greater flexibility and responsiveness to changes in travel demand. It is also anticipated that by making schedule information easier to read and comprehend, automobile users will be encouraged to use transit thereby reducing congestion and fuel consumption and improving air quality.

TRB Key Words:

Human factors; Pedestrians; Accessibility; Bus stops; Bus usage; Accessibility; Walking; Transit riders; Schedules; Legibility; Transit; Transit buses