Learning Outcomes

• Understand how effective scheduling and runcutting influences the success of a transit system
• Engage in conversation with thorough scheduling knowledge
• Develop knowledge of core scheduling and runcutting concepts to enable further learning
• Conduct simple scheduling and runcutting tasks
• Learn from and networking with peers

 

Target Audience

• Transit professionals, such as schedulers, who are new to scheduling looking to learn the fundamentals of scheduling and runcutting.
• Experienced scheduling and runcutting professionals looking for a refresher to their skills.
• Supervisors, managers, or other leadership positions who work alongside scheduling and runcutting who wish to understand and relate more to the employees they manage.

Course Structure

Module 1 – The scheduling process

Scheduling and runcutting has a distinct place in the process of translating designs and plans to transit service within the community. This module is an introduction and exploration of how scheduling can help meet transit goals such as through enhanced reliability, cost efficiency and customer understanding.

Module 2 – Your first schedule

This module will introduce the core elements of schedules and schedule design and construction. Topics covered in this module include routes and patterns, time points and stops, trip running time, reliability through schedule design, and a walk through of the process to creating a timetable.

Module 3 – Blocking

This module will focus on the practice of blocking which is dividing parts of a scheduled route among drivers and vehicles to create assignments. Learners will develop an understanding of the fundamentals of a block, why it is critical to scheduling, and considerations that affect blocking.

Module 4 – Scheduling adjustments

This module will explore the concept of headway runtime smoothing, directional demand, transfers, and deadhead optimization, and the impact on scheduling. Learners will understand the techniques to headway smoothing and creating transitions between running times and headways as well as the complexity of scheduling and blocking within the larger context of the network.

Module 5 – Runcutting fundamentals

Runcutting is the process of developing operator assignments. This topic explores the iterative nature of runcutting, how runcutting intersects with blocking, how to set-up the runcutting process, and why runcutting is important.

Module 6 – Schedule implementation

In this final module, students will learn about rostering fundamentals and communicating schedules. Learners will participate in a guided activity utilizing runcutting solutions developed in Module 5 to create a simple set of rosters. Learners will also explore the practices for effectively communicating schedule information and scheduling in general.

The program is fully virtual with guided facilitation. It is offered as a series of virtual sessions between 3 – 4 hours each spread out over a course of 3 weeks typically.