Transportation Seminar Series
Advanced Small Transit Vehicle Study
Apr 27, 2007 (2:30 p.m., IACC 422)
Based on a survey of 63 transit agencies, Hemily and King (2002) found that vehicle reliability and high maintenance costs were both the most frequently cited and highest-ranking concerns with regard to small transit buses (less than 30 feet in length). The objective of this research was to examine the feasibility of developing a new transit vehicle, or vehicle specifications, to meet the needs of transit operators and riders. A transit vehicle designed to meet the specific needs of systems will lead to gained efficiencies by transit providers due to increased reliability and greater fuel economy while offering riders greater comfort with improved ride quality and greater vehicle maneuverability for operators. Surveys and stakeholder meetings served as a guide to determine the interest and feasibility of this research.
Del Peterson, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute – NDSU
Del Peterson is an associate research fellow with the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center (SURTC). He began working with SURTC in February, 2003. He has conducted research pertaining to fixed-route development, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) deployment, the small transit vehicle industry, and passenger mobility enhancements utilizing geographic information systems (GIS). He holds a B.A. in business management and economics from the University of Minnesota in Morris and an M.S. in agribusiness and applied economics with an emphasis in transportation economics from NDSU.
