Can bus routing be

improved through
traffic study?

Research Question

Can bus routes be improved at a local school

with the use of traffic study?

This project could help reduce the amount of

time that students spend riding the bus, as
well as the cost the school must pay to
provide transportation.

Hypothesis

My hypothesis was that there would be a

relationship between the number of cars in
the intersections and the time of day.

I also hypothesized that the variations in the

amount of traffic at different times could be
used to improve the efficiency of a schools
bus routes.

This project is an observational study, and

therefore the variable is the number of
vehicles present at a given time.

Design/Methodology
1.

Map out current routes and stops.

2.

Collect data on the two main intersections,

and access data from professionally
conducted traffic studies on area
intersections.

3.

Analyze the data and draw conclusions about

the patterns if they exist.

4.

Use the information to propose changes to

the routes.

5.

Test new routes.

Similar Studies

One study focused on providing the different

items that must be considered in school bus
routing.7

The problems that they stated needed to be

addressed were:

Bus stop selection

Bus route generation

School bell time adjustment

Traffic patterns

Similar Studies

One study discussed the use of a harmony

search algorithm in vehicle including bus
routing.4

The researchers adapted the algorithm for

routing buses when given time and capacity
constraints.

They found that the algorithm was both fast

and effective at generating a good solution.

Data Collection

The intersections were studied from 6:30am to 8:00 on

weekdays.

Total number of cars, The number cars stopped behind

the traffic light, and number of buses were counted
during the time period.
Time
7:30
7:32
7:34
7:36
7:38
7:40
7:42
7:44
7:46
7:48
7:50

Number of Cars
16
20
16
14
15
5
2
1
18
7
10

Bus At Intersection? (Y/N)

N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y

Total Count
1300
1400
1450
1500
1550
1600
1650
1700
1800

Data

GRAPH 1- From Minitab

Data

GRAPH 2 Also from Minitab

Data Analysis

Statistics information written in english

Conclusion

The data shows a statistically significant

relationship between traffic density and time,
therefore the hypothesis is supported.

Limitations of the project include short term

and long-term traffic variations, as well as
bus route timing variations.

Further study could lead to a re-drawing of

the routes based on the data collected and
comparison between human and computer
created routes.

Works Cited
1.

Abdul Khader Nayati, M. (2008). School bus routing and scheduling using GIS. Department of Technology and Built
Environment, 1-92. Retrieved from http://hig.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:120117/FULLTEXT01.pdf

2.

Bowerman, R., Hall, B., & Calamai, P. (1995, March). A multi-objective optimization approach to urban school bus routing:
Formulation and solution method. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0965856494E0006U

3.

Eldrandaly, K. A., & Abdallah, A. F. (2012). A novel GIS-based decision-making framework for the school bus routing problem
[Abstract]. Geo-Spatial Information Sciences, 15(1), 51-59.

4.

Geem, Z. W., Lee, K. S., & Park, Y. (2005). Application of harmony search to vehicle routing. American Journal of Applied
Sciences, 2(12), 1552-1557. doi:10.3844/ajassp.2005.1552.1557

5.

Graham, D. (2010, September 09). Tips for enhancing efficiency. Retrieved from
http://www.schoolbusfleet.com/channel/management-training/articles/2010/09/tips-for-enhancing-effi-ciency.aspx

6.

The Institute of Transportation Engineers Manual of Transportation Studies, 2nd Edition, 2010, & Traffic Impact Analyses for
Site Development, 2010. (2010). Traffic study fact sheet. Retrieved December 12, 2014, from
http://library.ite.org/pub/e2652bd6-2354-d714-5149-580789217232

7.

Park, J., & Kim, B. (2010, January). The school bus routing problem: A review. Retrieved from
http://www.researchgate.net/publication/46491509_The_school_bus_routing_problem_A_review

8.

Schittekat, P., Sevaux, M., & Sorensen, K. (2006). A mathematical formulation for a school bus routing problem. Retrieved
from http://www.researchgate.net/publication/224060004_A_mathematical_formulation_for_a_school_bus_routing_problem

9.

Wagner, K. (n.d.). Buses line up outside Lakeshore Middle School waiting to pick up students [Photograph found in Grand
Haven Tribune, Grand Haven, Michigan]. Retrieved from http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/policefire/303471
(Originally photographed 2013, January 29)

10.

White, J. (2014, January 18). Illinois school districts using GPS to track buses. Rockford Register Star. Retrieved September
16, 2014, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/command/detail?sid=86293207-08ad-40d1-a8c4d38488d44286%40sessionmgr4004&vid=6&hid=4201&bdata=#db=nsm&AN=APf035d8bbfd1e4b3b9bf3108838f9a74d

Source: Eli Horner

Source: See Citation 8