Evaluating Centralized versus Decentralized Zoning Strategies for Metropolitan ADA Paratransit Services
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 5
Abstract
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit systems are dial-a-ride services that provide public transportation to disabled customers. In large metropolitan areas, these services might use zoning strategies to simplify their management. The objective of this paper is to provide a more in-depth evaluation and comparison between centralized and decentralized zoning strategies. This is achieved by developing a simulation model to evaluate the effects of zoning strategies on the productivity and quality of service for the particular ADA paratransit service, using actual demand data from the city of Houston. Four decentralized zoning strategies are compared with a centralized no-zoning strategy. Higher degrees of decentralization degrade the operational efficiency in terms of larger fleet size because the causative empty trip kilometers are greater. The intrazonal trip percentages of demand and productivity are positively correlated.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank two anonymous referees for their comments and valuable suggestions, which were used to improve this manuscript. This research was supported by the Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) project 169114-1. The writers give special thanks to Houston METRO for providing data and expertise.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 5 • May 2013
Pages: 524 - 532
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 27, 2012
Accepted: Nov 29, 2012
Published online: Dec 3, 2012
Published in print: May 1, 2013
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