New GPS data reveals widespread unreliability
Metrobuses leave riders waiting on the curb more than a quarter of the time, according to July statistics — the first time Metro has collected data to quantify its poor on-time performance.
Using a new system that reads bus GPS tracking data, Metro officials are now able to gauge exactly how far Metrobuses deviate from their planned schedules.
The system, which is one symbol of the agency’s new focus on improving the quality of its bus service, showed that buses arrived on schedule a dismal 73 percent of the time in July, the only month for which Metro has data.
Metrobuses are considered to be on time if they arrive within two minutes before their scheduled time or within seven minutes after — a window Metrobus chief Milo Victoria said is reasonable for a region with the second-worst congestion in the nation, after Los Angeles.
Metro’s July on-time record is comparable with averages in other large transit systems, Victoria said.
Nevertheless, unreliable bus service is a constant source of chagrin to riders, who consistently lodge more complaints about it than about any other issue in the system.
“We are on par with the other transit agencies in the country, but we know we need to improve,” Victoria said. “All this is based only on the first month’s worth of data — we need to set some baselines and continue to study this to see what we can continue to do to make improvements.”
Metro is using the data to target the 10 worst-performing routes for improvement.
Those include the U5 Mayfair-Marshall Heights Line, which logged a 44.5 percent on-time rate in July, as well as the low-performing Y5 Georgia Avenue-Maryland Line, the 4B Pershing Drive-Arlington Line, and the 70 Georgia Avenue-7th Street Line.
Victoria said the agency is going to try several measures to improve the statistics, including increasing the accountability of bus supervisors by putting them in charge of groups of 20 operators, with authority to change schedules that aren’t working.
Bus supervisors currently are assigned to on-street locations and respond to bus incidents, but are not held accountable for schedule adherence or for specific drivers.
Supervisors will be able to use the GPS system to track the buses in real time and can radio drivers and make adjustments as necessary, Victoria said.
Bus yard supervisors are being assigned to focus on getting buses running and out of the yard on time to prevent drivers from starting their routes at a disadvantage, Victoria said.
Metro officials also are working with local transportation officials to increase the prevalence of bus-only lanes in the region, and in May announced a proposal to dramatically boost the number of express bus routes in the system.
