Methodology for creating a bus stop quality index (BSQI)

This PR project develops an operable method for assessing bus stop quality through the case study of Austin, TX. The kind of method is much needed by transit agencies for them to improve services from both efficiency and equity standpoint. However available federal standards and professional guidelines provide inadequate details on specific ways to incorporate a variety of transit amenity attributes for bus stop quality assessment. This project creates a composite bus stop quality index (BSQI) that integrates 13 bus stop amenity factors. Weights are assigned to the factors based on extensive review of related studies and transit agencies’ service policies. Furthermore, the BSQI method distinguishes between transit authority-controlled factors (shelters, benches, et al) and citycontrolled factors (sidewalks, street lighting, et al); such a distinction helps identify responsibilities of and build partnerships between transit agencies and the community for transit service improvement. The project applied and validated the proposed method through regression and spatial overlay analysis using a rich set of data in Austin, TX. The PR project makes an important practical contribution to the transit industry and the method developed from the Austin case is readily transferable to other places.