Service Standards Review
The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) operates the local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, enabling the area’s residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost, and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportation alternatives. For more information, please visit TheRide.org.
Service Standards Review
In line with Title VI guidelines overseen by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), TheRide and all other transit agencies create service standards and guidelines to help guide how various types of public transportation services are provided to its riders. Service standards and guidelines address various elements related to public transit, including the reliability, comfort, accessibility, safety, and efficiency of the service. These standards and guidelines help ensure a consistent, predictable, and positive experience for customers, and they will be used by TheRide to monitor performance, plan improvements, and adjust services as needed.
TheRide is in the process to review and make recommendations for updating its standards and guidelines to better address the needs of the community. TheRide is accepting public feedback from April 15 to May 23.
Service Quality
Service quality addresses the primary standards for transit: on-time performance, frequency,
span of service, and travel time.
On-Time Performance
Transit on-time performance (OTP) is crucial for several reasons, both for riders and the broader transportation system. People are more likely to use public transportation if they can depend on it to get them where they need to go without delays. Maintaining a high OTP is important to maintain:
Reliability and trust of riders.
Efficiency within the transit network.
Positive rider experience.
Operational cost savings.
TheRide’s existing OTP goal is a minimum of 90% of scheduled trips will be completed within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. Recent data shows that TheRide had an OTP of 80 - 85%.
Frequency
The frequency of transit refers to how often the bus comes. Increased frequency leads to shorter wait times, increased flexibility, and increased convenience and reliability for riders.
TheRide operates high-frequency bus service on main corridors before 6pm. Main corridors are ones where high-frequency service is already somewhat viable and where intensification of land development is possible. Specifically, these corridors are Washtenaw Avenue, Plymouth Road, Huron, State Street, Main Street, and Packard.
Currently, the minimum service frequency for local routes is every 30 minutes during weekday peak hours and every 60 minutes at other times (midday, evenings and weekends). Weekday peak hours are from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The map to the left show TheRide routes by frequency.
Click the map to expand
Span of Service
The span of service in public transit refers to the hours during which public transportation is available, from the first bus departure in the morning to the last one at night. Increasing the span of service supports different work and lifestyle schedules, particularly for people that don’t work a traditional 9am-5pm job. It also increases accessibility for everyone, encourages more people to take transit, promotes equity, accommodates social and cultural activities, and improves safety.
Existing Hours of Transit Service
Monday–Friday: 6:00 AM – 11:50 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM – 11:50 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:40 PM
Travel Time
Transit travel time refers to the total amount of time it takes for a rider to travel from one point to another using public transportation, including waiting time, transfer time, and the actual time spent in transit (i.e., time spent traveling on the bus). It's a critical factor in the overall effectiveness of a transit system because it directly influences how convenient and attractive the system is to potential riders.
Rider Experience
The rider experience in transit is critically important because it directly impacts how people perceive, use, and rely on public transportation. A positive rider experience can encourage more people to choose transit. Specifically, we are looking at passenger loads, bus stop spacing, accessibility, and passenger amenities.
Passenger Loads
Passenger loads in transit refers to the number of passengers on the bus at any given time. Managing passenger loads is an important aspect of maintaining efficient, comfortable, and safe public transportation. High passenger loads can affect service quality, while low loads may indicate inefficiency in resource use.
TheRide’s existing standards require investigations of the service where the number of passengers exceed the number of seats on 1% of trips or fewer.
Bus Stop Spacing
Bus stop spacing has a major impact on transit performance. Stop spacing affects both access time and riders’ overall trip time, and therefore affects the demand for transit service. In general, bus stops closely spaced lead to shorter walking distance but longer time on the bus due to frequent stops while bus stops spaced further apart lead to longer walking distance but less time on the bus. Placing bus stops close to major destinations ensures connectivity within a generally accepted walking distance.
The map to the left shows TheRide routes with a 1/2 mile buffer highlighted.
Click the map to expand
Accessibility
The accessibility of bus stops is a critical aspect of a well-functioning public transit system, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities, can use the service comfortably and safely. Accessibility goes beyond just making sure people can physically reach a bus stop—it involves creating an environment that accommodates various needs, including those of people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and others who might face mobility challenges.
TheRide plans to make all bus stops adjacent to sidewalks wheelchair accessible, so that anyone using an ADA-compliant wheelchair is able to access all buses and passenger terminals. In addition, TheRide provides printed and electronic translations of passenger information in Arabic, Korean, Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin).
Amenities
Bus stop amenities are the features and facilities provided at bus stops to improve the comfort, convenience, and safety of passengers. These amenities are designed to enhance the overall rider experience, making it easier for people to wait for and use public transportation. The right combination of amenities can encourage more people to rely on public transit and make the experience more enjoyable.
The availability of amenities as bus stops is primarily based upon average daily boardings. While TheRide used to use 50 or more boardings per day as the standard for shelters, the standard is more flexible post-Covid due to decreased transit usage. Other amenities may include seating, real-time information, and trash receptacles.
Service Effectiveness
Transit service effectiveness refers to how productive and cost-effective transit services are being provided. These standards help TheRide balance agency goals related to equity, efficiency, and effectiveness.
Productivity
High transit productivity means that a transit system is effectively providing transportation services while minimizing waste and maximizing resource use. We are specifically measuring the number of boardings per hour per route.
Cost Effectiveness
In simple terms, transit cost-effectiveness measures the relationship between the costs of operating a transit system and the outcomes or benefits it generates, such as passenger miles, ridership, or reduced vehicle congestion.
Service Availability
Transit service availability refers to the extent to which public transportation services are accessible to people, in terms of the physical access (proximity to transit stops).
TheRide’s existing standards aim to provide bus stops within 0.5 miles of 90% of residents within our service area in the member jurisdictions (Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Ypsilanti Township). 0.5 miles is the walking distance equivalent to 6-8 city blocks (~10 minute walk).
Areas of Need
Transit areas of need refer to geographic regions or specific communities where transit services are insufficient, underdeveloped, or do not meet the demands of the population. These areas often face barriers to accessing public transportation, which can negatively impact residents' mobility, economic opportunities, and overall quality of life. These areas may include communities that have high percentages of senior citizens, disabled people, low-income residents, and households with either one or no vehicles available.