Service quality addresses the primary standards for transit: on-time performance, frequency, and span of service.

Transit on-time performance (OTP) is crucial for several reasons, both for passengers and the broader transportation system. People are more likely to use public transportation if they can depend on it to get them where they need to go without delays. Maintaining a high OTP is important to maintain:

• Reliability and trust of riders.

• Efficiency within the transit network.

• Positive passenger experience.

• Operational cost savings.

TheRide’s OTP goal is a minimum of 90% of scheduled trips will be completed within 5 minutes of the scheduled time. Recent data shows that TheRide had an OTP of 84% in 2024.

The frequency of transit refers to how often the bus comes. Increased frequency leads to shorter wait times, increased flexibility, reduced crowding, and increased convenience and reliability for riders.

TheRide will operate high-frequency bus service on main corridors before 6pm. Main corridors are ones where high-frequency service is already somewhat viable and where intensification of land development is possible. Specifically, these corridors are Washtenaw Avenue, Plymouth Road, Huron, State Street, Main Street, and Packard.

Currently, the minimum service frequency for local routes is every 30 minutes during weekday peak hours and every 60 minutes at other times (midday, evenings and weekends). Weekday peak hours are from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

The commuter/express route between downtown Detroit to downtown Ann Arbor runs every 45 – 60 minutes during weekday and every 90 – 120 minutes on weekends. Additional Vanpool service program is also offered.

The span of service in public transit refers to the hours during which public transportation is available, from the first bus departure in the morning to the last one at night. Increasing the span of service supports different work and lifestyle schedules, particularly for people that don’t work a traditional 9am-5pm job. It also increases accessibility for everyone, encourages more people to take transit, promotes equity, accommodates social and cultural activities, and improves safety.

TheRide currently operates eight routes exclusively on weekdays (Monday through Friday), two routes that extend service to Saturdays, and twenty routes that run daily throughout the week.

Hours of Transit Service

• Monday–Friday: 6:00 AM – 11:50 PM

• Saturday: 7:00 AM – 11:50 PM

• Sunday: 8:00 AM – 9:40 PM

Transit travel time refers to the total amount of time it takes for a passenger to travel from one point to another using public transportation, including waiting time, transfer time, and the actual time spent in transit (i.e., time spent traveling on the bus). It's a critical factor in the overall effectiveness of a transit system because it directly influences how convenient and attractive the system is to potential passengers.

The rider experience in transit is critically important because it directly impacts how people perceive, use, and rely on public transportation. A positive rider experience can encourage more people to choose transit, while a negative one can drive them away in favor of other options like driving or ridesharing. Specifically, we are looking at bus stop spacing, accessibility, and passenger amenities.

Passenger loads in transit refers to the number of passengers on the bus at any given time. Managing passenger loads is an important aspect of maintaining efficient, comfortable, and safe public transportation. High passenger loads can affect service quality, while low loads may indicate inefficiency in resource use.

Placing bus stops within 0.25 miles of major destinations ensures connectivity within a generally accepted walking distance. Access to a majority of crucial destinations (Hospitals, grocery stores, post offices).

The accessibility of bus stops is a critical aspect of a well-functioning public transit system, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their physical abilities, can use the service comfortably and safely. Accessibility goes beyond just making sure people can physically reach a bus stop—it involves creating an environment that accommodates various needs, including those of people with disabilities, the elderly, parents with strollers, and others who might face mobility challenges.

TheRide plans to make all bus stops adjacent to sidewalks wheelchair accessible, so that anyone using an ADA-compliant wheelchair is able to access all buses and passenger terminals. In addition, TheRide provides printed and electronic translations of passenger information in Korean, Spanish and Chinese (Mandarin).

Bus stop amenities are the features and facilities provided at bus stops to improve the comfort, convenience, and safety of passengers. These amenities are designed to enhance the overall rider experience, making it easier for people to wait for and use public transportation. The right combination of amenities can encourage more people to rely on public transit, reduce wait times, and make the experience more enjoyable.

The availability of amenities as bus stops is primarily based upon average daily boardings. While TheRide used to use 50 or more boardings per day as the standard for shelters, the standard is more flexible post-Covid due to decreased transit usage. Other amenities may include seating, real-time information, and trash receptacles.

Transit service effectiveness refers to how well a public transportation system meets the needs of its users in terms of reliability, accessibility, affordability, and convenience. Effective transit service is crucial for encouraging ridership, reducing traffic congestion, and providing equitable transportation options.

Transit productivity refers to how efficiently a public transportation system utilizes its resources to deliver services. High transit productivity means that a transit system is effectively providing transportation services while minimizing waste and maximizing resource use. We are specifically measuring the number of boardings per hour per route.

Transit cost-effectiveness refers to how efficiently a public transportation system uses its resources to deliver services while achieving desired outcomes, such as ridership, accessibility, and environmental benefits. In simple terms, it measures the relationship between the costs of operating a transit system and the outcomes or benefits it generates, such as passenger miles, ridership, or reduced vehicle congestion.

Transit service availability refers to the extent to which public transportation services are accessible to people, in terms of both physical access (proximity to transit stops).

TheRide aims to provide bus stops within 0.25 miles of 80% of residents within our service area. 0.25 miles is the walking distance equivalent to 3-4 city blocks (~5 minute walk).

Transit areas of need refer to geographic regions or specific communities where transit services are insufficient, underdeveloped, or do not meet the demands of the population. These areas often face barriers to accessing public transportation, which can negatively impact residents' mobility, economic opportunities, and overall quality of life. These areas may include communities that have high percentages of senior citizens, disabled people, low-income residents, and households with either one or no vehicles available.

Given limited resources, transit service levels often represent tradeoffs between various service aspects, dependent upon priorities. To help us better understand our riders’ priorities, please answer the following questions on the right that require you to choose between two service alternatives.