1. Overview of the TCQSM

2. Presentation Overview
What is the TCQSM?
Five key concepts used throughout the manual
What’s inside?
Overview of all chapters
Focus on Chapters 2 and 3, as these are not covered in other presentations
Mode, service, and operations concepts

3. Learning Objectives
Become familiar with the TCQSM’s scope, audiences, and organization
Learn five key concepts applied throughout the manual
Review mode, service, and operations concepts that are applied in the manual’s methods chapters

4. What is the TCQSM?

5. Need for the TCQSM
In the 1990s, the transit industry lacked a comprehensive document on methods related to transit capacity
A variety of research reports and papers existed on various topics
However, no single, authoritative source of information that practitioners could refer to
Agency and FTA performance measurement focused on operator-oriented measures
For example, cost-oriented measures
Passenger point-of-view considered only indirectly (e.g., ridership)
In contrast, the automobile mode had a document with both highway capacity methods and user-oriented performance measures
Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)
The lack of a counterpart transit manual was felt to put transit at a disadvantage when competing for transportation funding

6. TCQSM Development 1st Edition (1999) 2nd Edition (2003)
Mainly synthesized previous research
Introduced quality of service (QOS) framework
2nd Edition (2003)
Tested QOS framework
Incorporated gap-filling research
Added ferry capacity chapter
TCRP’s best-selling report
3rd Edition (2013)
Evaluated use of 2nd Edition
Updated & reorganized manual to respond to user needs
Incorporated new research since the 2nd Edition
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

7. What is the TCQSM Today?
Fundamental reference document that compiles a wide variety of work in the transit field that hadn’t been available previously in one place
Defines transit service quality from the passenger point of view
Presents methods for evaluating transit speed, reliability, capacity, and more
Provides guidance on sizing elements of transit stops and stations
Identifies ways to positively influence all of the above
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

8. TCQSM Audiences Transit planners Transportation planners
Traffic engineers
Transit operations personnel
Design engineers
Management personnel
Researchers
University students
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

9. Potential Applications
Training
Staff new to the transit industry, university students
Reference
Useful data for answering questions, transit glossary
Guidance
Transit preferential treatments, role of simulation
Service standards development
Incorporating passenger quality of service
Service evaluation
Diagnose and treat operational issues
What-if questions
Evaluate effects of changes being considered
Planning and design
Sketch planning, alternatives analysis
Bus/rail/ferry/demand-response service and facility design
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

10. Five Key Concepts

11. Concept 1: Quality of Service
Quality of service (QOS) is the overall measured or perceived performance of transit service from the passenger’s point of view
The TCQSM focuses on the passenger point of view
A balance must be struck between the service passengers would ideally like and the service operators can afford to provide or would reasonably provide, given the demand for service
Quality of service has two main components
Transit availability determines whether transit is even an option for a trip
If transit is an option, comfort and convenience factors weigh into a person’s decision to choose transit for a given trip
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

12. Concept 2: Capacity
Capacity reflects the maximum number of transit vehicles, persons, or both, that can travel past a particular location in a given period of time under specified conditions
Maximum (theoretical) capacity reflects the greatest number of persons or transit vehicles that can be served under any circumstance
Not normally used for planning and design
Operating to maximum capacity results in unstable operations
Design (achievable, practical) capacity reflects the number of persons or transit vehicles that can be served at a design quality of service
What TCQSM procedures calculate, unless specifically stated otherwise
Vehicle (bus/line/vessel) capacity is measured in vehicles per hour and expresses how many transit vehicles can pass a point in an hour
Passenger capacity is measured in persons per vehicle and expresses how many passengers a transit vehicle can carry at a design loading level
Person capacity is the product of vehicle and passenger capacity, is measured in persons per hour, and expresses how many persons can pass a point in an hour
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

13. Concept 3: Speed and Reliability
Easy to overlook among the TCQSM’s other content, because they’re not mentioned in the manual’s title
The same factors that influence transit capacity also influence speed and reliability
Small and mid-sized transit agencies may not have to address capacity issues very often, but speed and reliability are important considerations for all sizes of transit agencies
Travel time and reliability influence passenger mode choice and satisfaction with transit service
Speed and reliability influence the number of transit vehicles needed to provide service on a route at a given headway, which directly affects the route’s operating costs
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

14. Concept 4: Definitions
Like many other industries, the transit industry has developed its own vocabulary over the years
Complicating matters, transit terminology varies between operators and may be different from the TCQSM’s usage
Local usage should prevail; however, readers should be familiar with TCQSM definitions and terminology when applying TCQSM methods
Terms are presented in italics at the first point they are defined in the text
The TCQSM provides a comprehensive transit glossary that includes many terms used in transit operations and planning outside the areas of transit capacity and quality of service
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

15. Concept 5: Local Data
The TCQSM compiles data from a variety of sources and TCQSM methods produce estimates that reflect average conditions
Each location has its own unique characteristics that may not reflect North American averages
Passenger characteristics and behaviors
Passenger demand patterns
Differences in equipment and technology
External factors (e.g., motorist compliance with bus lanes)
Whenever possible, use local values as inputs to TCQSM methods
Default (average/typical) values may be used when local data are unavailable
Consider checking the sensitivity of results to defaulted and assumed values
Illustrative speed and capacity graphs in Chapter 3 can be used to identify the values with the greatest potential impact on the results
This presentation will paint the backdrop for the course:
background of the manual,
essential terminology (more in individual presentations),
links between the missions of transit and QOS
QOS structure, and
mode types.
NOTE: this presentation is also linked to the presentation on “Ridership and Quality of Service”.

16. What’s in the TCQSM?

17. TCQSM 3rd Edition Chapter Structure
Chapter 1 User’s Guide
Introduction
Chapter 2 Modes & Services
Chapter 3 Operations
Chapter 4 Quality of Service
Concepts
Chapter 5 Quality of Service
Chapter 6 Bus Transit
Chapter 7 Demand Responsive
Methods
Chapter 8 Rail Transit
Chapter 9 Ferry Transit
Chapter 10 Stops & Stations
Chapter 11 Glossary
Chapter 12 Index
Reference
CD-ROM

18. TCQSM Organization
Chapter sequence moves from less technical to more technical
Introduction
Concepts
Methods
Reference
Methods chapter content also progresses from non-technical to technical topics
Overview
Chapter-specific concepts and guidance
Computational methods
Applications
Calculation examples
Not intended that anyone will read the manual cover-to-cover

19. Tools for Applying the TCQSM 3rd Edition
Text
Chapter 1, User’s Guide
“How to Use This Chapter” sections in each chapter
Cross-references to related documents with more detail
Step-by-step presentation of calculation methods
Global and chapter-specific tables of contents
Index
PDF version
All of the above, plus search capability and hyperlinks to many referenced documents
Spreadsheets
Assist with performing multimodal QOS and bus, rail, and ferry capacity calculations
PowerPoint presentations
Overviews for the each of the major chapters

20. Chapter 1: User’s Guide Road map to the rest of the TCQSM
All users encouraged to read this chapter
Manual’s organization and content
Five key concepts recurring throughout the manual
Purpose, scope, and audiences
Guidance on international use
Changes from the 2nd Edition
Companion documents

21. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts
Introduction to the transit modes used in the U.S. and Canada and how service using these modes can be provided
Written for readers new to the transit industry
Experienced professionals will also find value in summaries of industry trends in vehicles, technology, and service types

22. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts (cont’d.)
Transit mode (and submode) definitions and descriptions
Bus
Bus, commuter bus, bus rapid transit, electric trolleybus
Demand responsive
General public, limited eligibility, ADA paratransit
Vanpool
Rail
Heavy rail, commuter rail, diesel light rail (hybrid rail)
Light rail, modern streetcar, vintage trolley
Automated guideway transit, monorail
Funiculars, inclines, elevators, cable cars, aerial ropeways
Ferry
Terminology is not used consistently in the industry
Vehicle and service characteristics, rather than the mode’s local name, should be considered when applying TCQSM methods

23. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts (cont’d.)
Operating environments (rights-of-way)
Mixed traffic
Transit vehicles and general traffic share the lane
Semi-exclusive
Lane partially reserved for transit, but available to other users at certain times or locations
Exclusive
Lane, portion of roadway, or right-of-way reserved for transit at all times but still subject to some traffic interference (traffic signals, grade crossings)
Grade-separated
Facility dedicated to transit without grade crossings

24. Chapter 2: Mode and Service Concepts (cont’d.)
Service patterns
Fixed route and demand responsive
Route and system levels

25. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts
All about transit capacity, speed, and reliability and the factors that influence them
Definitions section useful for all readers
Section 3 discusses the impact of external factors on ridership
Remaining sections written for readers new to transit operations analysis

26. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Why is transit capacity important?
The same factors that influence capacity also influence speed and reliability, which impacts operating costs and passenger satisfaction
Managing passenger loads
Understanding the impact of operational changes (e.g., fare collection) that impact dwell time and thus speed and capacity
Planning for the future as part of alternatives analysis and facility design
Analyzing the operation of streets used by buses, particularly large city downtowns and around transit centers
Special event service planning
Transportation system management

27. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Person capacity defined
“The maximum number of people that can be carried past a given location during a given time period under specified operating conditions; without unreasonable delay, hazard, or restriction; and with reasonable certainty.”
A given location: Capacity reflects the number of people that can be transported past a given location, typically the maximum load point/segment
Under specified operating conditions: Capacity depends on the number of vehicles operated (e.g., the number currently scheduled or the maximum that could be scheduled) and the size of those vehicles
Without unreasonable delay, hazard, or restriction: Capacity should reflect conditions passengers will normally tolerate
With reasonable certainty: Capacity should reflect the number of people that can be carried on a sustained basis day after day, considering variations in passenger demand, traffic congestion, and other factors not under the control of the transit operator

28. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Factors influencing person capacity
Factors in bold also influence speed, reliability, or both

29. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Vehicle capacity defined
“The maximum number of transit vehicles (buses, trains, vessels, etc.) that can pass a given location during a given time period at a specified level of reliability.”
Has different names, depending on the mode and situation
Bus capacity, line capacity [rail], vessel capacity [ferry], facility capacity
Desired level of reliability plays a significant role
Vehicle capacity is maximized when a route or line is operated at the minimum headway, so that the next transit vehicle is ready to arrive at a stop or station when the vehicle ahead of it pulls out and is a safe distance down the line
An unstable form of operation: the moment one vehicle’s dwell time exceeds the amount used in developing the minimum headway, all subsequent vehicles will experience delay
The number of vehicles that can be reliably served is less than the theoretical maximum number of vehicles that could be served

30. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Design capacity
The capacity that can be sustained day after day, accounting for small irregularities in service and variations in passenger demand and arrival patterns
Maximum capacity
The capacity that could be achieved if service was 100% reliable, passenger demand never varied, passengers filled every available space on every trip, etc.
Unless stated specifically otherwise, the TCQSM estimates design capacities

31. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Passenger traffic density
Passenger miles per route mile
Reflects relative ability of modes to serve passenger demands
When measured for the peak hour in the maximum load segment, it directly reflects capacity
When measured for longer periods of time and distances (as here, using 2010 NTD data), also reflects demand and average loading over the length of the route

32. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Factors influencing transit speed
*See earlier passenger capacity slide for all factors influencing dwell time

33. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Average 2010 US system speeds (revenue miles per revenue hour)
Modern streetcar data are from 2012
Bus rapid transit data are from 2008 and include Canadian systems

34. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Factors influencing transit reliability

35. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Example time of day variations in transit demand
Demand pattern impacts need for, and amount of, extra peak period service

36. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Example peak period variation in transit demand
Designing for average peak hour loads may result in overcrowding during the peak-of-the-peak

37. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Impacts of external factors on ridership demand
Demographics
Land use density
Transportation demand management strategies
The TCQSM is not a ridership estimation manual, but nevertheless presents general relationships, as capacity planning needs to have a good understanding of possible future demand

38. Chapter 3: Operations Concepts (cont’d.)
Impacts of dwell time on capacity and speed
Impacts of operating environment on capacity, speed, and reliability
Impacts of stop and station characteristics on capacity and speed

39. Chapter 4: Quality of Service Concepts
Service aspects that influence passenger satisfaction
Transit performance measurement
Written for those new to the industry, agency decision-makers, and staff involved with transit performance measurement
QOS factors
Background material on passenger satisfaction research, written for users wanting a greater depth of understanding of QOS
QOS framework
Useful for readers intending to apply Chapter 5’s QOS methods
Ridership and cost implications of making QOS changes
Chapter details are covered in the fixed route QOS presentation

40. Chapter 5: Quality of Service Methods
How to measure quality of service
Fixed route transit QOS
QOS measures designed for use by transit agencies, particularly for service standards development
Multimodal transit level of service (LOS) measure designed for use by planning agencies, particularly in a multimodal planning/evaluation context
Demand responsive transit QOS
Potential applications of QOS measurement to real-world situations
Calculation examples
Chapter details are covered in the fixed route QOS and demand responsive transit presentations

41. Chapter 6: Bus Transit Capacity
How to evaluate bus capacity and forecast bus speeds
Bus-specific concepts
Sources of bus delay, factors determining bus capacity, planning-level values
Transit preferential treatments and operating strategies
Bus capacity evaluation method
Bus speed forecasting method
Factors influencing bus reliability
Applications of the chapter’s method to real-world situations
Comprehensive calculation example
Dwell time data collection guidance
Impacts of bus bunching on capacity
Chapter details are covered in the bus transit capacity presentation

42. Chapter 7: Demand Responsive Transit
Summarizes the state of knowledge on DRT capacity and ridership estimation
DRT capacity factors
Overview of existing DRT capacity estimation methods
Importance of ridership demand for estimating DRT capacity
Chapter details are covered in the DRT presentation

43. Chapter 8: Rail Transit Capacity
Methods for estimating rail capacity and the factors involved
Rail capacity fundamentals
Train control and signaling
Train operations
Capacity methods
General method—used for most rail submodes, and the starting point for the others
Commuter rail
Automated guideway transit
Ropeway
Applications of rail capacity methods to real-world situations
Role of simulation in rail capacity analysis
Calculation examples
Chapter details are covered in the rail transit capacity presentation

44. Chapter 9: Ferry Transit Capacity
Methods for estimating ferry transit passenger and auto capacity
Overview of ferry service and terminals
Ferry scheduling and service planning
Vessel capacity of docks and berths
Passenger and auto capacity
Calculation examples
Chapter details are covered in the ferry transit capacity presentation

45. Chapter 10: Station Capacity
Methods for sizing the passenger circulation elements of transit stations and selected external elements
Station design considerations
ADA requirements, emergency evacuation requirements, security
Station types and configurations
Passenger circulation concepts
Vehicle circulation and storage
Station elements and their capacities
Applications of the methods to real-world situations
Role of simulation in station planning and design
Chapter details are covered in the station capacity presentation

46. Chapter 11: Glossary and Symbols
Comprehensive transit glossary
List of symbols/variables used in TCQSM equations

47. More Information TCRP Report 165: TCQSM The TCQSM is available as:
Chapter 1, User’s Guide
Chapter 2, Mode and Service Concepts
Chapter 3, Operations Concepts
The TCQSM is available as:
Free individual printed copies and PDF downloads through the TCRP Dissemination Program
Free PDF downloads directly from TCRP (Publications section) or simply do an Internet search for the report number (e.g., TCRP Report 165)
Individual or multiple copy purchases from the TRB Bookstore

48. Acknowledgments and Permissions
Presentation author
Paul Ryus (Kittelson & Associates, Inc.)
Photo credits
Operating environments, bottom picture: Sound Transit
All other photos: Paul Ryus
This presentation was developed through TCRP Project A-15C
Research team: Kittelson & Associates; Parsons Brinkerhoff, Quade & Douglass; KFH Group; Texas A&M Transportation Institute; and Arup
This presentation and its contents may be freely distributed and used, with appropriate credit to the presentation authors and photographers, and the Transit Cooperative Research Program