transit | National Center for Sustainable Transportation

Modeling Multi-Modal Interaction with Emerging Shared Mobility

Principal Investigator Shenyang Chen
University of California, Davis

This project will investigate the traveler behavior using a nested logit model to balance labor supply and travel demand in the context of shared mobility.

Project Status

In Progress

A Framework for Optimizing Public Transit Bus Fleet Conversion to Alternative Fuels

Principal Investigator Hanyan (Ann) Li
Georgia Institute of Technology

This project develops a framework to help transit agencies replace their conventional-fuel bus fleets with alternative fuel vehicles.

Project Status

Complete

A framework for optimizing public transit fleet conversion to alternative fuels

Research Product Type

Dissertation / Thesis

This study develops an analytical framework to automatically generate optimal plans for fleet operations and conversion based on fleet-specific characteristics. The goal of the framework is to allow agencies to minimize the fleet-wide energy use, life-cycle CO2 emissions, and/or economic costs when transitioning to alternative fuels.

A Glimpse of Microtransit at an Early Stage: The SmaRT Ride Consumer Market in the Sacramento Area

Research Product Type

Policy Brief

Microtransit can potentially offer greater efficiency and more equitable service than ride-hailing services, and it may fill gaps in traditional transit services. Aiming to fill this gap, in 2021, researchers at the University of California, Davis conducted focus groups and an online survey of SmaRT Ride adopters and users of other means of transportation in the Sacramento area.

Advanced Transit Vehicle Modal Emissions Model for Optimizing Transit System Operations

Principal Investigator Xiaodan Xu
Georgia Institute of Technology

This project synthesizes various energy models into one model that estimates transit vehicle energy consumption using real-world data.

Project Status

Complete

Affordable Housing in Transit-Oriented Developments: Impacts on Driving and Policy Approaches

Research Product Type

White Paper

This paper studies the intersection of policies promoting affordable housing, transit-oriented developments (TODs), and the reduction of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in metropolitan areas.

All Aboard! Easier Transit Travel with Standardized Payments

Research Product Type

Research Report

This study explores interest in, and the challenges faced by transit agencies and operators in the adoption of open-loop payment systems.

All Aboard! Easier Transit Travel with Standardized Payments

Principal Investigator Susan Pike, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis

This research examines the potential for the adoption of a standardized fare payment system throughout California’s transit operators; to better serve their customers and provide seamless trip-planning and payment.

Project Status

Complete

Assessing the Feasibility of Autonomous Transit Vehicles as a First/Last Mile Public Transportation Solution

Principal Investigator Daniel Walls
Georgia Institute of Technology

Using Atlanta’s MARTA rail system as a case study, this thesis will assess the feasibility of integrating autonomous transit vehicles (transit AVs) into the public transportation system as a first-mile and last-mile solution for riders.

Project Status

Complete

Assessing the potential of autonomous transit shuttles as a first-and-last mile public transportation solution

Research Product Type

Dissertation / Thesis

This research assesses a scenario where transit agencies integrate automated vehicles into their existing systems as a first-and-last mile solution for riders to model whether there would be travel time, cost savings, and other impacts to riders.