MODULE 4, LESSON 5

Developing Service: Calculating Capacity

Learning Objectives
Describe how to calculate transit vehicle and passenger
capacity at four levels:
• Loading area
• Bus stop
• Bus facility
• Person capacity
VEHICLE CAPACITY
Why Study Transit Capacity?
• Planning (long-range, special event, etc.)
• Forecasting the effects of changes in fare policies, or
changing vehicle types
• The same factors that influence capacity also influence
speed and reliability
• Analyzing the operation of major transit facilities in large
cities
Vehicle Capacity – Bus
• The number of buses that can be served by a loading
area (bus berth), bus stop, bus lane, or bus route during
a specified period of time.
Bus Capacity Relationships

Loading Area Capacity

Bus Stop Capacity

Bus Facility Capacity

Loading Area Capacity Factors
• Dwell time
• Variability of dwell Loading Area Capacity
times among buses
• Time needed to
re-enter street Bus Stop Capacity
• Capacity/reliability
trade-offs
• Traffic signal timing Bus Facility Capacity
Bus Stop Capacity Factors
• Loading area capacity
• Number of loading Loading Area Capacity
areas provided per
stop
Bus Stop Capacity

Bus Facility Capacity

Bus Facility Factors
• “Critical” bus stop
capacity Loading Area Capacity
• Amount of traffic, bus
congestion
• Operating practices Bus Stop Capacity

Bus Facility Capacity

Two Methodologies
1. Planning methodology
Use for long-range planning, when exact values for capacity
factors aren’t known
Use for “back-of-envelope” calculations, when a quick,
reasonable answer is wanted
2. Operations methodology
Mathematical method
Use for short-term planning and operations applications
Use when accurate values for capacity factors are known
LOADING AREA
CAPACITY PLANNING
METHODOLOGY
Bus Lane Service Volumes
Passenger Volume

Assumes peak hour factor of 1.00 – appropriate values should be

used to reduce these values to reflect passenger flow variations
LOADING AREA
CAPACITY OPERATIONS
METHODOLOGY
Capacity Calculation Process
Step 1: Define the Facility

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

No
Final bus stop on facility?
Yes
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity

Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

Step 1 – Define the Facility
Step 1: Define the Facility

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

No
Final bus stop on facility?

Y
e
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

Bus Bus

L L L L

S S
F
L = loading area, S = bus stop, F = bus facility
Step 2 – Gather Input Data
Step 1: Define the Facility

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

• Bus Stop Demand Data No

Final bus stop on facility?

Y
e
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

• Bus Stop Location Data

Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

• Skip-Stop Data (if applicable)

Step 3 – Set Design Stop Failure Rate
Step 1: Define the Facility

Step 2: Gather Input Data

• Sets how often a bus should arrive Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

at a stop only to find all loading Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

areas occupied No
Final bus stop on facility?

Y
e
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

 Downtown – rate of 7.5% to 15% recommended Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

 Outside downtown – rate of 2.5% recommended

Step 4 – Determine Dwell Time
Step 1: Define the Facility

• Three dwell time estimation methods:

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

1. Field measurements Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

o Recommended whenever possible

No
Final bus stop on facility?

Y
e
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

2. Default values
Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

o Provides conservative estimate of the critical dwell time

3. Calculation
o Good for estimating changes in dwell time
Step 4 – Determine Dwell Time
Dwell Time – Calculation
Average passenger service times for each bus door channel
and movement
Step 4 – Determine Dwell Time
• Other Dwell Time Considerations
 Wheelchair loading & securement
o Typical lift times: 60-200 sec

o Low-floor bus ramps: 30-60 sec

o Range reflects skill and familiarity of user

 Bicycle rack loading and unloading

o 20-30 sec

 Timepoint holding
Step 5 – Determine Loading Area Capacity
Step 1: Define the Facility

Bus capacity of loading area dependent

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

on: Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

• Dwell time No
Final bus stop on facility?

e
Y
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

 From Step 4
Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

• Operating margin
• Clearance time
• Traffic signal time
Step 5 – Operating Margin

•Failure rate used with dwell time variability and

average dwell time to provide operating margin
•Operating margin is the maximum amount of
time that an individual bus dwell time can exceed
the average without causing failure for the next
buses scheduled to use the stop
Step 5 – Determine Loading Area Capacity
• Clearance Time Values
 Start up and exit time = 10 seconds

 For “off-line” stops (out of traffic flow), add

re-entry delay
o Depends on curb-lane
volumes
o Depends on yield-to-bus
laws and motorist compliance
o Nearby signals will affect
Step 5 – Determine Loading Area Capacity
• Traffic Signal Time
 At near-side stops buses may not be able to leave the loading
area immediately after
serving passengers
 At far-side stops buses may not be able to immediately enter the
stop
 In both cases the portion of time that the traffic signal permits bus
movement is given by
the g/C ratio
Step 6 – Bus Stop Capacity
Step 1: Define the Facility

a. Determine the number of effective Step 2: Gather Input Data

loading areas
Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

b. Adjust capacity for traffic blockage No

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

Final bus stop on facility?

at traffic signals
Y
e
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

c. Calculate bus stop capacity

Step 6 – Bus Stop Capacity
Step 6a: Determine the number of effective
loading areas
• Stops with multiple loading areas in linear sequence
have a lower number of effective loading areas than
the total
• Non-linear stops are 100% efficient
Step 6 – Bus Stop Capacity
Step 6b: Adjust capacity for traffic
blockage at traffic signals
• Conflicting vehicle movements
• Conflicting pedestrian movements
Step 6 – Bus Stop Capacity
• Step 6c: Calculate bus stop capacity
Step 7: Facility Bus Capacity
Step 1: Define the Facility

Capacity is calculated for three different types of Step 2: Gather Input Data

facility:
Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

a. Non-stop facility capacity No

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

Final bus stop on facility?

Facility capacity withoutskip-stop operation

e

b.
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

c. Facility capacity with skip-stop operation

For b and c there is also a further step:
d. Check v/c ratios of all stops along the facility
Step 7: Facility Bus Capacity
• Step 7a: Non-stop facility capacity
 Determine capacity of both the facility
itself and of terminals serving it
Step 7: Facility Bus Capacity
• Step 7b: Facility capacity without skip-stop operation:
 Facility capacity is equal to the capacity of the critical stop along
the facility
 When all buses use all stops this is the stop with the lowest
capacity
 With a mix of services (e.g. local and limited stop) this is the stop
used by all service types that has the lowest capacity
Step 7: Facility Bus Capacity
• Step 7c: Facility capacity with skip-stop operation:
 Facility capacity depends on three factors:
1. The capacities of the critical bus stops of each skip-stop group
2. Arrival patterns of the buses (random arrivals/typical
arrivals/platooned arrivals)
3. Vehicle traffic volume in the adjacent lane
 See TCQSM Chapter 6 for more details
Step 7: Facility Bus Capacity
• Step 7d: Check v/c ratios of all stops along the facility
 If volume exceeds capacity, buses will wait behind stop, resulting
in:
o Poor bus speeds

o Schedule reliability problems

o Potential traffic operations issues

Steps 5-7: Concentrated Bus Arrivals
• Steps 5-7 determine hourly capacities
• If bus arrivals are more concentrated during a particular
portion of the hour, volumes should be checked for the
peak-of-the-peak period
Step 8: Facility Person Capacity
Step 1: Define the Facility

• Once vehicle capacity is known, Step 2: Gather Input Data

person capacity is relatively simple

Step 3: Set a Design Bus Stop Failure Rate

Step 4: Determine Dwell Time

to determine
Step 5: Determine Loading Area Capacity

Step 6: Determine Bus Stop Capacity

No
Final bus stop on facility?

• Person capacity is influenced by:

Y
e
Step 7: Determine Facility Bus Capacity
s

Step 8: Determine Facility Person Capacity

 The facility’s bus capacity

 Transit agency policy regarding passenger loads

 Scheduled headways

 Passenger demand diversity

Step 8: Facility Person Capacity
• Vehicle Capacity
 A stop or facility’s vehicle capacity sets an upper limit
on the number of passengers that could be carried
during a given time
 Bus width
o Wider bus provides more standing area

 Seating configuration
o More comfortable seating arrangement vs. greater passenger capacity
vs. better accessibility (e.g., low-floor buses)
 Step 8: Facility Person Capacity
• Vehicle Capacity

Source: TCRP, Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual. 2013 .

Step 8: Facility Person Capacity
• Operator Policy Factors
 Loading policies
o Standees allowed?

o Crush loading?

o Maximum schedule load

• Average over the hour,

or not to be exceeded
during the hour?
Step 8: Facility Person Capacity
• Passenger Loading Preferences
 Passengers in smaller cities less likely to tolerate high levels of
crowding
o May choose to wait for the next bus, even if some standing space is
available
o Passengers more likely to wait when they know how long the wait will
be, and the wait is relatively short
Step 8: Facility Person Capacity
• Passenger Demand Diversity
 Passengers will typically not arrive at a stop at an even rate

 Need sufficient capacity to handle peaks in demand without

causing pass-ups
 Not all of the available capacity (seats and standing space) will be
utilized because of variations in passenger arrivals
Person Capacity & Quality of Service
• Person capacity and quality of
service are related
• Improving one may improve or
reduce the other
 Increasing service frequency

 Using buses with fewer seats, more

standing area
Bus Speed Calculation Process
Step 1: Define the Facility

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

No
Final section on facility?
Yes
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
Step 1: Define The Facility
Step 1: Define the Facility

• Defined the same way as for

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

Bus Capacity
Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

 Once defined, it is divided into Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

sections with similar right-of-way types

No
Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
s

 Average speed calculated first for each individual section, then

combined into the overall facility speed
 Sections should be at least 0.25 mi (400 m) and preferably 0.5 mi
(800 m) long.
Step 2: Gather Input Data
Step 1: Define the Facility

• Input data for calculating bus capacity

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

required
Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

• The following data are required for No

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

Final section on facility?

each section of the facility: Y

e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
s

 Average stop spacing

 Average dwell time

 Scheduled number of buses at the critical stop(s)

 Traffic signal timing and spacing

 Traffic interference
Step 3: Section Maximum Capacity
Step 1: Define the Facility

• Apply the bus capacity methodology

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

with the following adjustments:

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

 Each section should be treated as Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

its own facility

No
Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
s

 A 25% failure rate should be used to estimate maximum capacity

Step 4: Base Bus Running Time Rate
Step 1: Define the Facility

• Step 4 estimates a travel time rate in

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

minutes per mile based on the bus’s

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

running speed between stops, stop Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

spacing, and delays due to traffic No

Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed

interference
s

Base Bus Running

Time Rate = Unimpeded Bus
Running Time Rate + Additional Running
Time Losses
Step 4a: Unimpeded Bus Running Rate

• The unimpeded travel time rate incorporates:

 Average dwell time of all bus stops in the section

 Acceleration and deceleration delays

for each stop
 Time spent running at the bus’s running speed for the facility
Step 4a: Unimpeded Running Time Rate

• Illustrative Values

• (CBD)
Step 4c: Base Running Time Rate
• Calculate base bus running time
 The sum of the unimpeded running time and the additional
running time losses
Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation
Step 1: Define the Facility

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

No
Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
s

Bus Bus Bus

400 ft
Step 5: Skip-Stop Operation

Bus Bus

800 ft

• Longer distance between stops allows a higher speed

• This will be offset by increased dwell time, as each stop
accommodates more passengers
Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion
Step 1: Define the Facility

• As the number of buses using a lane

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

increases, there is a greater

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

probability that one bus will Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

delay another No
Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
s
Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed
Step 1: Define the Facility

• The base bus running time rate is

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

divided by the skip-stop operation

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

and bus-bus interference factors to Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

produce the overall section running No

Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed

time rate
s

• This can be converted into a speed by dividing 60 by this

number
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed
Step 1: Define the Facility

• The travel time rates for each section

Step 2: Gather Input Data

Step 3: Determine Section Maximum Capacity

are multiplied by the respective

Step 4: Determine Base Bus Running Time Rate

Step 5: Adjust for Skip-Stop Operation

section lengths and then summed Step 6: Adjust for Bus Congestion

Step 7: Determine Average Section Speed

to produce a total travel time for No

Final section on facility?

Y
e
Step 8: Determine Average Facility Speed

the facility
s

• The average facility speed is the facility length divided by

the facility travel time