On-board data collection for transit operations

Improved techniques for collecting data on transit operations are essential to improvements in transit operating efficiency. An On-Board Data Collection System, which is being developed for use by the transit industry, provides information on ridership, revenue, and mileage. A test program to determine the most suitable automatic passenger counting technique for use in such a system has shown that accuracies of better than 90 percent can be achieved. Mileage and information on revenue collected can be determined to better than 98 percent accuracy. The system provides for data storage on the vehicle, with subsequent off-line data processing.