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Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Public Transportation Systems

Massachusetts Institute of Technology via MIT OpenCourseWare

Overview

This course discusses the evolution and role of urban public transportation modes, systems, and services, focusing on bus and rail. It covers various topics, including current practice and new methods for data collection and analysis, performance monitoring, route design, frequency determination, vehicle and crew scheduling, effect of pricing policy and service quality on ridership.

Syllabus

1. Introduction (for 1.258J Public Transportation Systems, Spring 2017).
2. Data Collection Techniques and Program Design.
3. Modal Characteristics and Roles.
4. Short-range Planning.
5. Short-range Planning (cont.).
6. Modal Capacities and Costs.
7. Cost Estimation.
8. Ridership Forecasting.
9. Performance Models.
10. Origin, Destination, and Transfer Inference.
13. Vehicle Scheduling.
17. Customer Information Strategies.
19. Transit Signal Priority.
20. Transit Service Reliability.
21. Fare Policy, Structure, and Technology.
22. Public Transportation Systems.
24. Baumol's Disease.

Taught by

Prof. Nigel Wilson , Dr. Gabriel E. Sanchez-Martinez and Dr. Neema Nassir

Reviews

4.4 rating, based on 9 Class Central reviews

Start your review of Public Transportation Systems

  • Shahriar Rezaee
    Title: Public Transportation Systems (Spring 2017) - Course Review I recently completed the Public Transportation Systems course in the Spring of 2017, and I'm pleased to share my review. Firstly, the course content was exceptionally well-structur…
  • Jamila Ibrahim
    I recently took the Public Transportation Systems course and was thoroughly impressed with the comprehensive and engaging content. The instructors did an outstanding job of breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand modules, and the interactive simulations and case studies allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. The course's focus on the practical aspects of public transportation systems, such as route planning, scheduling, and operations, gave me a deep understanding of how to effectively manage and optimize these systems. Overall, I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to develop a strong foundation in public transportation systems and gain practical skills in the field.
  • Gnanavel.M
    Thank you for a great course. Great presentation style with lots of opportunities to ask questions and talk about real life examples which all made for a really enjoyable and informative course." "This has more than met my expectation
  • Bello Emmanuel Oluwasegun
    The course is so educative and enlighten. Giving the essentials of public transportation systems. Many thanks to MIT opencourse ware for this opportunity.
  • Profile image for Chiranjeevi
    Chiranjeevi
    It clearly explained how public transport is the backbone of a healthy city. From reducing traffic and pollution to fostering walkable neighborhoods and economic growth, the site broke it all down. I learned how planning for accessibility, frequency, and first-mile/last-mile connections makes public transport a game-changer. Now I can confidently explain why well-designed public transportation systems are key to thriving cities. By incorporating these elements, educational resources can provide a more comprehensive picture of public transportation systems and their impact on urban planning.
  • Profile image for Harneet Kaur
    Harneet Kaur
    I had the privilege of enrolling in MIT's "Public Transportation Systems" course via MIT OpenCourseWare in Spring 2017. This course provided an exceptional, well-structured educational experience, offering a balanced mix of theory and practical appl…
  • Manisha Anand Jamdar
    thought it was well planned and layed out, easy for me to follow. The work load(h.w. & test)was just enough, so i could finish everything with enough time, learn about the topics and not feel over loaded and rushed.



    Overall I really like this class because all lectures, assignments, and tests are straight forward. A couple things I dislike about the class are that there should be more opportunities for extra credit and it would be awesome if the final was an objective essay about what we have learned in this class or what we like about the class. I believe that I have more knowledge about ocean, weather, and marine lives and hopefully, I can use them in real life.
  • Otonoku Ovayioza Vivian
    This course is very educative. The learning process was awesome. The use of simple English language made it more understanding. I will encourage alot of people to come here and learn.
  • Dinkle Chauhan
    Please share notes and presentation need to improve. Otherwise all ok liked jt but needed to note on these reason

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