CTE Public Transit & Multimodal Transportation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'first/last mile connectivity' in the context of transit systems?
- The first and last stops on a transit route
- Solutions that bridge the gap between transit stations and trip origins/destinations for riders (Correct answer)
- The first and last mile of a new transit line opened for revenue service
- Pedestrian access within 1 mile of highway interchanges
Correct answer: Solutions that bridge the gap between transit stations and trip origins/destinations for riders
First/last mile connectivity refers to transportation options — walking paths, bike share, shuttles, TNCs — that connect riders between transit stations and their ultimate origins or destinations.
Question 2: Under ADA, what is required for fixed-route transit services regarding accessibility?
- Only new vehicles purchased after 1990 must be accessible
- All vehicles in fixed-route service must be accessible and complementary paratransit must be provided for those who cannot use fixed-route service (Correct answer)
- Transit agencies must provide door-to-door service to all disabled riders
- Accessibility is required only for heavy rail and commuter rail
Correct answer: All vehicles in fixed-route service must be accessible and complementary paratransit must be provided for those who cannot use fixed-route service
ADA requires all new fixed-route transit vehicles to be accessible and mandates that transit agencies provide complementary paratransit service within 3/4 mile of fixed routes for individuals unable to use accessible fixed-route service.
Question 3: What is the 'capacity' of a transit route typically measured in?
- Number of vehicles per hour
- Persons per hour per direction (pphpd) (Correct answer)
- Seat-miles per day
- Vehicle revenue miles per year
Correct answer: Persons per hour per direction (pphpd)
Transit capacity is most usefully measured in persons per hour per direction (pphpd), combining vehicle capacity, loading standards, and service frequency to express the maximum people movement achievable.
Question 4: What is 'farebox recovery ratio' and what does it indicate about a transit system?
- The percentage of fare revenue collected electronically vs. cash
- The fraction of operating costs covered by passenger fare revenues (Correct answer)
- The ratio of actual to budgeted fare revenue
- The percentage of riders paying full fare vs. discounted fare
Correct answer: The fraction of operating costs covered by passenger fare revenues
Farebox recovery ratio is fare revenue divided by total operating cost; it indicates what share of operations is self-funded through fares vs. requiring subsidy, with US transit systems typically recovering 25–50%.
Question 5: What is 'transit signal priority' (TSP) and how does it benefit bus operations?
- Exclusive transit signal phases that prohibit other vehicles
- Technology that extends green phases or advances green signals to reduce transit vehicle delays at intersections (Correct answer)
- Signal timing plans optimized for transit during off-peak hours only
- Preemption technology that stops all traffic for emergency transit vehicles
Correct answer: Technology that extends green phases or advances green signals to reduce transit vehicle delays at intersections
TSP detects approaching transit vehicles and requests signal timing adjustments — extended greens or early greens — to minimize intersection delay, improving schedule adherence and travel times without preempting other traffic.
Question 6: What is a 'park-and-ride' facility and what transportation goal does it serve?
- A parking structure at a shopping center served by transit
- A facility where commuters park vehicles and transfer to transit to complete their trips, reducing auto traffic in congested corridors (Correct answer)
- A rideshare lot for carpooling without transit connection
- A temporary construction staging area near transit stations
Correct answer: A facility where commuters park vehicles and transfer to transit to complete their trips, reducing auto traffic in congested corridors
Park-and-ride facilities intercept auto trips at the urban fringe and transfer riders to transit, reducing vehicle volumes in congested urban corridors and serving commuters who cannot access transit from home.
CTE Public Transit & Multimodal Transportation 2
What is 'first/last mile connectivity' in the context of transit systems?