Why Optimizing Running Time Matters in Transit Scheduling and How Guelph Transit Has Benefited with ViewPoint Running Times

Every minute counts in public transportation. Optimizing running times is more than just keeping buses on schedule—it’s about ensuring that transit services are reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. Effective management of running times creates a smoother, more predictable service that meets community needs. Transit agencies can leverage innovative technology to optimize running times and significantly improve route efficiency, cost management, and overall rider satisfaction.

This blog explores the impact of running time optimization, using the real-world success of Guelph Transit as a case study. Our ViewPoint Running Times module was key in helping them reduce the time to analyze and revamp their Route 5 service, resulting in an impressive 32.3% surge in ridership!

Guelph Transit has also revolutionized its route analysis process by switching from a labor-intensive, 48+ staff-hour approach to ViewPoint Running Times, which enables them to analyze routes in under an hour with up-to-date information and visualization.

Read more about Guelph Transit at the end of this blog.

The Benefits of Optimizing Running Times

Running time optimization is crucial for transit scheduling, yielding benefits that extend beyond operational efficiency to cost savings, service reliability, and operator well-being.

1. Optimizing Routes for Efficiency

Accurate running times are the foundation of optimized routes, patterns, and trips. By analyzing where time can be reduced or added, planners create routes that are not only efficient but also responsive to real-world conditions. This ensures that schedules are realistic, leading to fewer delays and a more reliable service.

For example, a bus route consistently running late due to unrealistic running times can disrupt riders. Adjusting these times to reflect actual conditions helps prevent delays and enhances the overall rider experience.

2. Determining the True Cost of Operations

Analyzing running times helps determine the actual cost of operations, enabling agencies to reduce costs or increase service without additional expenses. Transit leaders can optimize resource allocation by pinpointing routes within the service network where resources, such as operators and vehicles, can be strategically reduced and redeployed to other routes where they are needed most. 

Accurately determining costs also helps justify budget requests by showing how running time adjustments directly impact service quality and efficiency.

3. Enhancing Service Reliability and Customer Satisfaction

Reliable service is the cornerstone of customer satisfaction in public transportation. Accurate running times lead to consistent on-time performance and reduced schedule headway deviations, fostering trust among riders.

Optimizing running times reduces instances of buses arriving late or early, which can frustrate riders and erode trust in the system. Reliable service increases customer satisfaction and builds long-term rider loyalty.

4. Improving Operator Morale and Well-being

Transit operators play a crucial role in the success of public transportation services. Optimized running times contribute to a more predictable and manageable work environment for operators, which reduces stress and burnout. This leads to improved morale, lower turnover rates, and better operator well-being.

The Challenges of Analyzing Running Times

Despite the benefits of optimizing running times, transit planners often face significant challenges in the analysis process, hindering data-driven decisions.

1. Rudimentary Methods

Many transit agencies still rely on manual data collection methods, such as ride-alongs and manual calculations. These time-consuming methods are prone to errors and incomplete data, making accurate running time optimization difficult.

2. Limitations of CAD/AVL Systems

While Computer-Aided Dispatch and Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) systems provide valuable data, they often lack the granularity needed for precise running time analysis, which makes it challenging to identify specific problem areas. Views of node pairs and peak periods are critical to accurately analyzing running time.

3. Manual Data Collation

Manual collation of data from multiple sources, including scheduling and CAD/AVL systems, can take weeks or months. The lengthy process leads to delays in planning, inefficient resource use, and errors.

The Solution: Running Times Analysis with ViewPoint

Transit agencies need a robust solution that combines data from various sources and provides detailed analysis in order to address these challenges. ViewPoint Running Times is a software that enables more effective running time optimization through:

• Granular Analysis of Running Times: ViewPoint Running Times allows transit planners to analyze running times at the node pair level, providing a detailed view of specific improvement areas for more accurate scheduling and planning.
• Evaluation Across Different Peak Periods: Running times can vary depending on the time of day. ViewPoint Running Times enables planners to evaluate these times across different peak periods, leading to more informed resource allocation and schedule adjustments.
• Merged Data from Multiple Sources: ViewPoint Running Times merges data from scheduling systems and CAD/AVL systems, eliminating manual data collation. Integration reduces planning time and allows agencies to respond quickly to changing conditions.
• Machine Learning-Based Recommendations: The ViewPoint Running Times module analyzes historical data and provides machine learning-based recommendations for optimal time bands and runtimes. Recommendations are tailored to specific node pairs during various peak periods for more effective running time adjustments.

Guelph Transit's ViewPoint Success Story

The effectiveness of ViewPoint Running Times is best illustrated by its application with Guelph Transit. Guelph faced significant challenges with their Route 5 service, where traditional methods failed to provide the necessary insights for optimization.

“Our analysis of Route 5 began with gathering valuable feedback from operators and customers, as well as ride check data,” explains a Guelph Transit representative. “What set this review apart was the wealth of data at our disposal, enabling us to pinpoint problem areas with unprecedented precision.”

Traditionally, Guelph Transit built routes with a 10% recovery time buffer. However, the running times analysis revealed that actual run times exceeded this threshold, making the existing 30-minute frequency unsustainable. Faced with this challenge, Guelph Transit had four options:

1. Request additional budget for increased frequency enhancement.
2. Introduce an express portion of the route.
3. Eliminate part of the route to optimize time.
4. Develop an innovative solution.

After meticulous analysis, Guelph Transit opted for a two-pronged approach: introducing an express route segment and adjusting running times based on the analysis. Additionally, time bands for weekend services were split, and customers were informed of the new service adjustments.

The Results

After adjusting running times and introducing the express route segment, Guelph Transit saw an impressive 32.3% surge in ridership. 

ViewPoint Running Times also transformed their workflow, reducing vehicle and terminal auditing time from 8 hours to near real-time analysis. The module streamlined manual data manipulation and graph-based recommendations, significantly reducing staff requirements from 4-6 members to a more efficient, automated process.

Revolutionize Your Transit Planning with ViewPoint Running Times

Optimizing running times is not just a technical exercise—it’s a strategic imperative for effective transit planning. ViewPoint Running Times offers a powerful solution that enables transit agencies to achieve granular analysis, improve service reliability, reduce costs, and enhance operator morale. As Guelph Transit's success story demonstrates, the right tools can revolutionize your transit operations, leading to better outcomes for both riders and transit agencies.

Don't let inefficient running times hold your agency back. Leverage ViewPoint Running Times to revolutionize your transit planning process and deliver the reliable, efficient service your community deserves.