Cost Trade‐Off Analysis for Bus Facility Expansion

Abstract

This paper describes a study that evaluated relative costs of alternate facility configurations to support an expanding Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) fleet. Each configuration was composed of a combination of the number location, and capacity of garages. The complex procedures by which COTA operates are reviewed, and a conceptual model for estimating operating cost parameters is presented. Mathematical models are developed to estimate both deadheading and relief components of variable operating cost. A prescriptive model which determines optimal facility configuration and assignment of buses to garages is described. The methodology is used to evaluate cost tradeoffs related to operating procedures, site locations, and economies of scale associated with garage capacity. Alternatives for time staging construction are also evaluated.