| Popis: |
This article presents a conceptual framework for the establishment of transit standards. The author identifies five groups of individuals impacted by transit service--passengers, operating personnel, transit agencies, equipment manufacturers, and the general public--and specifies a set of objectives important to each group. Quantitative standards, termed "output measures", can be developed for each objective to assess the degree of satisfaction. Achievement of a desired level of output requires a number of managerial decisions or actions, termed "controlled attributes", because they are the direct result of the system's management. These controlled attributes can be grouped into five categories: (1) performance (i.e. speed, deceleration), (2) physical (i.e. dimensions, weights), (3) input (i.e. labor materials), (4) control (i.e. automatic, pneumatic), and (5) operational (i.e. schedules, fares). Standards for each controlled attribute, termed "input standards", can be developed to evaluate the overall results of system operation. The relationship between controlled attributes and user satisfaction can also be quantitatively assessed. Transit standards can also be classified according to activity (i.e. planning, design, construction, maintenance) and by mode. The author illustrates his evaluation framework with a matrix which incorporates the dimensions of impact group, activity, and modal grouping. The article concludes with a discussion of standardization of transit vehicles and facilities. |
