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TCRP C-14 [Completed]
Technical Assistance for Development of Bus Standards
| Project Data |
| Funds: |
$1,275,000 |
| Research Agency: |
American Public Transportation Association |
| Principal Investigator: |
Thomas Peacock |
| Effective Date: |
11/1/2001 |
| Completion Date: |
9/30/2008 |
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The purpose of this TCRP project was to develop a process that allowed the transit industry to prepare consensus-based standards and recommended practices for the bus transit industry. This process was then be used to develop standards and recommended practices in areas such as vehicle design, vehicle inspection and maintenance, operating practices, infrastructure design, and infrastructure inspection and maintenance. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) administered the standards-development process. The process included a mechanism to identify needs, and prioritize standards-development activities. An important part of the project was also to fast track the development of a small number of standards to demonstrate the ability to quickly get a product into the hands of the bus transit industry.
APTA conducted a two-phase project. Phase I consisted of the following three tasks: (1) establish a formal bus transit industry leadership oversight process to provide guidance to the standards development efforts; (2) identify and prioritize the standards and recommended practices most needed by the bus transit industry; and (3) commence a fast tracked effort to develop an initial small number of the standards. Phase II of the project included completion of the fast track task and the planning and implementation of a more comprehensive standards development effort. Phase II consisted of the following tasks: (1) continue and complete the SAE fast track task initiated as part of Phase I; (2) recommend the most suitable process for developing each standard or recommended practice identified during Phase I; (3) define a Bus Transit Standards Development Program that fits with the TCRP's resource constraints and meets the most pressing needs of the industry; and (4) execute the program defined in Task 3.
Status: This project has been completed. APTA created a Bus Standards Policy and Planning Committee. This committee provides policy direction to the standards-development process. Standards-development efforts were conducted in the areas of bus cooling, bus brake systems, HVAC systems, vehicle data recorder, bus operator training/retraining, on-board bus fire safety, hybrid-electric bus specifications, bus interior noise, bus rapid transit vehicles, maintenence training, maintenance facility design guidelines, and an update of the standard procurment guidelines for transit buses. In addition, APTA worked with the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations and arranged for a reprint of existing truck recommended maintenance practices that also apply to transit buses. Over 500 copies of this reprint were distributed to transit systems and bus suppliers. The bus standards-development process has been continued as an APTA-sponsored service.
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