Changes: Presentation Summary This Presentation

¶ … Changes: Presentation Summary

This presentation addresses the perceived need for changes in the bus lines and/or bus schedules serving the students of the Indian University-Purdue University Indianapolis and the community surrounding the university. The two bus lines that are focused on in this presentation, which are the two bus lines that it is believed have the greatest potential for impact and change in the provision of bus service (leading to greater efficiency and service quality) are Purple Line (serving the north-eastern portion of the university campus) and the Brown Line (serving the north-western part of the campus). Both of these bus lines head to the same basic area of the larger Indianapolis area, heading to the northwest after leaving campus, and it is in part due to the similarity of the bus lines and the proximity of the bus stops both within campus and especially outside of campus that efficiency improvements can likely be made through addressing the specific schedules and placement of these bus lines. Maps of the lines are provided to make these issues quite clear.

The primary problem identified in this situation is that there are too many buses running on these lines -- and servicing the same basic areas of town and very similar areas of campus -- in the mornings and the evenings, when demand for bus service is lower. Currently, the bus schedule operates too heavily during these periods, generating far more expense than is warranted based on the level of service demanded and provided. Reducing this cost and increasing the overall efficiency of the bus lines and of bus service would lead to more resources available elsewhere and a greater potential for improved and more responsive service.

As the fishbone diagram in the presentation shows, there are four major components that need to be considered when addressing the issues of inefficiencies in the bus service, and causes of the problems that have been described. First, there are the methods used in creating the bus routes and schedules, which do not take the time of day adequately into account. Related to this yet separate are the student needs, which should dictate the level of bus service provided to a large degree; direct input from students can be sought to make better and more efficient decisions regarding bus service. The drivers are another consideration in making the changes necessary to address the identified problems, however, as a reduction in the number of buses operating will necessarily mean a reduction in the number of driver-hours needed, meaning either a reduction in the number of drivers employed or a reduction in the number of hours drivers work. While these labor savings are part of the efficiency desired by addressing these problems, impact on the workforce should also be considered. Finally, overall policies at the university and in Indianapolis regarding public transportation needs and provision must also be examined to effectively address this problem.