1. Overview for today Exam review Class transitioning Final project
From quantitative analysis to other research approaches and final projects
Final project

2. Final Project Topic – An evaluation of the Select Bus Service
Two to three groups per lab
Collect primary and secondary data
Analyze data
Present policy results

3. SBS?
Since 2008, the MTA and NYC DOT have been working to improve service on bus routes in New York City by implementing features of Bus Rapid Transit. These services are collectively known as Select Bus Service (SBS). Among other distinctions, SBS routes feature distinctive branding, off- board fare collection, articulated buses, improved boarding platforms, bus only lanes (in some sections) and longer distances between boarding.

4. SBS routes M23 SBS* B46 SBS M15 SBS Bx12 SBS M34 SBS Bx41 SBS M60 SBS
Q44 SBS
M86 SBS
S79 SBS
B44 SBS
*service begins in about a week

5. Project timeline Presentations in class Dec. 7th
Final reports due Dec. 12th
Work conducted during lab sessions and outside of class

6. Requirements Introduce the topic and your research question
Summarize your route
Analyze secondary data
Collect primary data
Examine BRT policies in other cities
Summarize your findings
Make a judgement
More detail on some items:
Summarize your route
Describe the route and features of SBS. Make a map of the route.’
Analyze secondary data:
For example, you may want to analyze ridership data. If you do this, you should compare: (1) Ridership on your route before and after SBS implementation. (2) Ridership on your SBS route compared with similar non-SBS routes. (3) Ridership on your SBS route compared with other SBS routes. (4) Ridership on all SBS routes and all non-SBS routes.
Instead of analyzing ridership, you could analyze other metrics about the performance of the bus routes (e.g. speed or on-time performance).
Collect primary data
Collect primary data using one of the following methods:
Survey target populations. This requires drafting questions, designing a survey technique, collecting responses and analyzing results.
Conduct interviews. Gather data from one or more of the following: passengers, residents and business, transportation planners, transportation advocates, or public officials.
Ethnographic approaches (e.g. participant observation)

7. Optional (but recommended)
Inferential statistics
groups may use inferential statistics to examine factors associated with higher bus ridership. This is not required but encouraged.
Interviews
Similarly, groups may want to interview passengers or other stakeholders (local businesses) to understand how these continents evaluate SBS.

8. Report specifications:
Length: The entire document should be no more than 20 pages
Spacing: Double-spaced text
Font: Times New Roman, size 12
Margins: 1-inch on all sides
Format: Turn in both a paper copy in lab and digital copy on CourseWorks
References: All citations should follow Chicago Manual of Style (author-date) format.

9. Presentations:
Length: Final presentations should be no more than 10 minutes
Speakers: Two speakers should present the work