GIS Applications in Transit Planning and Operations: A Review of Current Practice, Effective Applications and Challenges in the USA

<title>ABSTRACT</title> Over the years, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has been implemented for a variety of purposes within the transit industry. With this have come many new uses, benefits and challenges. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of current practice, effective applications and challenges from a US perspective. The findings are based on a Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis project that researched the state-of-the-practice of GIS applications in transit in the USA. Completed in 2004, the Synthesis project is the most comprehensive survey and review of transit GIS ever undertaken in the USA. Drawing from a number of sources and methods including a literature review, surveys and case studies, the Synthesis analyzed the trends in GIS use from the early 1990s to the present day, and identifies trends and future growth areas. This paper summarizes the Synthesis findings and illustrates the value of GIS to transit agencies in service provision and in customer benefits. The article describes three levels of use of GIS within transit agencies and the range of applications that GIS is supporting. Its findings apply to transit practitioners and researchers including technical staff, transit managers and vendors of GIS solutions.