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2008 TCRP Problem Statements
T
RANSIT
C
OOPERATIVE

R
ESEARCH
P
ROGRAM




Problem Statements Submitted for Consideration
by the
TCRP Oversight and Project Selection Committee










September 2007




The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is
seeking comments on research problem statements that
will be considered for funding by the TCRP governing
board at their October 25-26 meeting. Comments should
be provided to
tcrp@nas.edu
by October 17
th
. Please
reference the appropriate problem statement number
located on the upper left corner of each (#1 through #41).
Research Field A Operations
1
A Safety Policies Guidebook for Non-Urbanized Public Bus Transportation
Systems
$250,000
2
The Interface of Smart Cards and Transit Benefits
$300,000
3
Guidelines for Queue Jumper Transit Lanes on Congested Arterials
$230,000
4
Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Outreach and Communications to
Vulnerable Populations
$350,000
5
Quiet Cars: Threats to Safe Travel for Blind Pedestrians
$750,000
6
Public Transportation Response Plan for a Pandemic
$600,000
7
Bus TurnoutsBenefit or Curse
$300,000
8
Operation of Street-Running Light Rail Transit at Higher Speeds, Phase II
$295,000
9
Light Rail Grade Crossings
$300,000
Research Field B - Service Configuration/Marketing
10
Connecting the Public to Transit: Circulator and Feeder Systems
$450,000
11
Improving Transit Integration in Urban Area with Multiple Transit Providers
$300,000
12
Measuring and Understanding the Use of Fixed Route Services by Riders with
Disabilities
$350,000
13
The Role of Passenger Amenities and Traveler Information in Building Ridership
$375,000
14
Best Practices in Working with Retail Outlets for the Sale of Transit Fare Media
$200,000
15
Evaluation of the Decentralized Control Strategy (Zoning) for Paratransit
Services
$300,000
Research Field C Engineering of Vehicles and Equipment
16
Evaluation of Impact of SMART Bus Electrical Loads
$250,000
17
Documenting the Potential of Electric Trolley Bus Technology
$175,000
Research Field D Engineering of Fixed Facilities
18
Assessing the Return on Investment for CCTV Security Systems
$300,000
19
A Handbook for Lighting in Transit and Pedestrian Environments
$400,000
20
Shared Use of Road Space by Buses and Bikes
$300,000
21
Guidelines for Development of Performance Based, Transit Track Safety Criteria
$400,000
22
Crash Walls Versus Guard Rails in Urban Transit Projects
$200,000
23
Optimizing the Check Gauge of Restraining Guard Rail
$260,000
24
Guidelines and Guidebook for Stray Current Control and Monitoring in Transit
Systems
$300,000
Research Field E Maintenance
25
Establishing the National Joint Transit Industry Rail Vehicle Technician
Certification Program: Building for Success
$400,000
26
A Guidebook for Bus Fleet Maintenance Staffing
$300,000
Research Field F-Human Resources
27
Unscheduled Bus Operator Absenteeism: Trends, Causes and Solutions
$300,000
28
Lack of Substantive Outreach to Minorities for Executive Searches in Public
Transit
$300,000
29
Recruitment, Performance and Retention of Quality Paratransit ManagersSkills,
Qualifications, Needs, and Future Prospects
$350,000
30
Advancing the Implementation of Maintenance Training Standards
$250,000
Research Field G-Administration
31
Assessment of Transit Industry Software Practices
$300,000
Research Field H Policy and Planning
32
Tribal Transit Service, Training and Funding Challenges
$400,000
33
Parking Provision for Transit Riders
$300,000
34
New Methods for Collecting Origin-Destination and Ridership Data for Proof-of-
Payment/Open-Fare Transit Systems
$400,000
35
Relationship of Major Transit Investments to Transit Supportive Market
Segments
$500,000
36
Update and Expand Passenger Flow Capacity Analysis for Station Facilities
$350,000
37
Developing Guidelines for Incorporating Mode Split in the Application of ITE
Trip Generation Tables
$300,000
38
Data Collection for Transit Ridership Forecasting Models
$100,000
39
Transit Model Analysis, Reporting, and Validation Techniques
$100,000
40
Trip Distribution Techniques to Improve the Quality of Transit Ridership
Forecasts
$200,000
41
Techniques for Improving Transit Networks
$150,000


TCRP
RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT FOR FY 2008

I. PROBLEM TITLE
A Safety Policies Guidebook for Non-Urbanized Public Bus Transportation Systems.

II. RESEARCH PROBLEM STATEMENT
Written polices are an essential component of management for public bus transportation
systems. Documented guidance for employees and supervisory personnel provide ways to
increase efficiencies and avoid hazards creating potential loss and its associated liability
and costs. They also reinforce the importance of following rules, and tell employees what
treatment to expect, and what is expected of them. This can help build employee loyalty
and support for the system's programs, and improve personnel effectiveness in such areas
as safety.

These views are commonly accepted within system management in the bus transit
industry. But the translation of this perception into documentation among rural and non-
urbanized public providers is limited. The reasons for this include time and staff constraints;
a lack of knowledge about pertinent subject areas, or where to access relevant information;
and a reliance on verbal communication within an organization. There is also little evidence
that the transit community has available resources which address this need, beyond
materials which provide a conceptual framework for policy development rather than
adaptable models or templates for this purpose.

The problem this creates is that no matter how well intentioned a system manager may be,
without written guidelines operational procedures become inherently inconsistent, inefficient
and unsafe. An organization is compelled to rely on its collective and often uncertain
memory for direction if management should fail to prepare documented standards. This
makes the need for coordinated system policy development, which provides both a
rationale and procedures for each primary safety function within an organization, an
essential requirement for public bus transportation.

III. OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this project is to make available to small and non-urbanized bus transit
systems, providing demand-response (para-transit), non-fixed or deviated route service, a
guidebook of policy templates that provide examples of a design and content which can be
used in preparing a policy rationale and its accompanying procedures. The policies will be
categorized by functional task, and related to industry loss data results. A computer based
format will allow for the adaptation of the product to specific local transit conditions. The
model documents will cover topics including mission statements; pertinent statutory
regulations; vehicle operations and maintenance; bus operator behavior and monitoring;
accident and incident procedures; and customer relations.

IV. RESEARCH PROPOSED
The purpose of this research is to address policy deficiencies within public transit by
meeting this primary organizational need through a product development process that
results in a guidebook which promotes organizational management and is adaptable to
local industry conditions, and applicable to the knowledge and skill levels of non-urbanized
2
transit systems. To achieve these objectives this project will be conducted through the
following steps:

§
Conduct a review of pertinent documentation and resources to identify available or
adaptive materials and/or methodologies.

§
Identify and invite bus transit professionals to participate in this project. They will
represent a geographically diverse and representative sample.

§
Design, field, and evaluate a survey instrument for transit systems that captures
representative opinion on format, substance an