International Transit Studies Program; Report on the Fall 2000 Mission: Excellence in Transit Operations in Small and Medium European Cities

This digest summarizes the mission performed October 27-November 11, 2000, under Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Project J-3, International Transit Studies Program. The report includes transportation information on the cities and facilities visited, lessons learned, and discussions of policies and practices that could be applied in the United States. This 2-week mission involved visits and discussions with transportation providers in 11 small- to medium-sized cities in the Netherlands and Germany. The digest is based on individual reports provided by the team members. Key observations are made in the following areas: system administration and labor relations; system integration; ridership trends and customer-focused services; passenger information systems; system expansion; strategic planning; use of small vehicles and taxis; competition in public transport; and transit innovation in context.