Abstract

Using Business Analyst for Demographic Input into Mass Transit Planning
Track: Transportation
Authors: Luis Galicia

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Systems have been gaining popularity in the United States and worldwide as a cost-effective mass transit solution. However, existing methodologies to estimate BRT ridership are not well structured and clear. The goal of this research was to provide an interactive model that looks into the technical fundamentals of transit theory and urban planning. This innovative hybrid was developed using GIS buffer analysis to create Business Analyst Trade Areas for extracting demographic characteristics to be input into a System Dynamics model. The results suggest a reliable methodology for forecasting BRT ridership at a corridor level capable of helping decision-makers when conducting BRT feasibility and planning studies. Additionally, results showed that Business Analyst Trade Areas can be used to accurately estimate population in custom geographical analysis areas such as for a potential BRT corridor (thus not limited to predefined areas such as tracts or blocks).