Transit Watch – Bus Station Video Monitors: Customer Satisfaction Evaluation, Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative, Seattle, Washington

This report presents the results of an evaluation of public use of the King County Department of Transportation's (Metro) bus station video monitors, known as Transit Watch. This research was sponsored by the US Department of Transportation to assess customer satisfaction with the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) products and services in selected metropolitan areas under the Federal Highway Administration's Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative (MMDI) program. This report documents the results of a survey of a representative sample of transit riders at two Transit Centers in the Seattle, Washington metropolitan region. Telephone surveys were conducted between January and March 1999, resulting in a total of 505 completed questionnaires. Additional information about Transit Watch can be obtained at a web site maintained by the University of Washington, at the following URL: http://www.its.washington.edu/transitwatch/. This survey had four primary objectives: (1) To characterize both the passengers who use the transit center and the Transit Watch users; (2) To analyze the use of the monitors and to explore possible improvements to the monitor-based system and provide guidance in that planning; (3) To assess the satisfaction, value and behavioral responses of transit riders based on use of Transit Watch and access to real-time bus status information; (4) To assess the potential influence of Transit Watch on ridership, particularly rider retention. This report concludes that Transit Watch is widely used and found useful by most of the transit riders who pass through either of these two Transit Centers where Transit Watch had been deployed. While most respondents to the survey found the information displayed about bus schedules and real-time departure status was comprehensive and accurate, they also offered many useful suggestions for improvements to the system. Finally, while Transit Watch was perceived to be of a real benefit by its users, users did not think that it altered their overall satisfaction with their transit experience. However, new frequent riders, who are likely to be most at risk of leaving public transportation when given the opportunity, reported the highest levels of satisfaction with Transit Watch. It is hoped that increased satisfaction associated with travel information innovations like Transit Watch can help retain ridership on the bus system.