Evaluating transit systems in a university environment The Clemson University case study.

摘要

With the economy in a slow recovery, enrollment in higher education is increasing. This means that universities across the country must accommodate these new students, their vehicles, and local transportation needs. Campus setting and ambiance is a treasured quality on a university campus resulting in the approval of additional surface lots and parking garages being difficult or restricted. To combat the increased number of single occupancy vehicles, universities are developing and encouraging the use of multimodal transportation by providing pedestrian, bicycle, and public transportation facilities along with providing users with the information necessary to make the optimal modal choice (Boyles, 2006).;This research developed a framework to evaluate transit in the context of mobility currently on a university campus. The framework includes a process that any university can utilize to evaluate its current and future transit efficiency levels and identify solutions through an integrated process of planning, operations, and performance monitoring. Clemson University's campus in Clemson, South Carolina serves as a case study for the test application of this process. This study evaluates Clemson University's performance in providing adequate transportation options to the university community in comparison with similar universities. Customer satisfaction surveys are used to determine deficiencies from the user's perspective. Traffic simulations and a matrix alternative analysis have evaluated several alternatives developed through integrating the results of transit capacity surveys, user surveys, and considerations for pedestrian and bicycle traffic to create seamless operations and optimal function of all transportation modes available.;The case study presented in this thesis can serve as a guide to university campuses beginning to have significant mobility problems. It also provides an insight into the institutional or organizational structures that facilitate efficient, high-quality transportation services, which can guide universities to pursue structural or policy changes to improve mobility. Although the process is tailored for small- or medium- sized universities outside of urban areas, the evaluation framework can be customized for use at any university regardless of its size or location.