TransLink’s latest review of its bus system shows that bus ridership increased in 2012, while costs per trip dropped – demonstrating that bus service is more cost-effective than ever.
The review reveals that the number of bus trips taken per revenue hour increased 3.4 per cent, while the average cost per trip dropped by 2.2 per cent, confirming the success of TransLink’s work to optimize bus service. The findings are outlined in TransLink’s 2012 Bus Service Performance Review, an annual examination of bus operation data.
“The results show that TransLink is truly doing more with what we have,” says Doug Kelsey, Chief Operating Officer, TransLink. “We delivered more bus trips at lower cost in 2012—while at the same time achieving our highest customer service rating ever.”
The report found higher ridership and lower cost trends across most of the region compared to 2011.
The South of Fraser, Burnaby/New Westminster, and other areas showed the same positive growth in passenger volumes and lower cost per trip over 2011.
Specific routes highlighted in the report further demonstrate the improvements: for example, the 403 Bridgeport Station/Three Road in Richmond saw productivity increases over 2011 after a targeted service level reduction during all its time periods.
The full report, including an infographic of the highlights, examines three key indicators on three levels: the entire system, eight sub-regional areas, and for every bus route.
With buses making up more than 80 per cent of TransLink’s transit services, the review is a key tool that informs service optimization, or evidence-based decision making on how to best use bus resources—a process that involves extensive public consultation.
TransLink first produced a Bus Service Performance Review in 2012 and uses the data to track to understand trends in ridership and bus productivity. As a regional transportation agency, TransLink and its partners use the information to better plan transit and improve overall system efficiency.
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Read the Backgrounder here.