About us

Advancing transit solutions through research

The Waterloo Public Transportation Initiative (WPTI) is a research group at the University of Waterloo providing expertise in the fields of urban transportation planning and engineering - with an emphasis on transit - to address the challenges relevant to Canadian and global cities.

Most broadly defined, WPTI’s research focuses on the intersection of public transit's three primary goals: (1) attracting riders, (2) improving transit operations, and (3) capturing the regional benefits where the transit agency operates.

 

WPTI's research team holds a wealth of experience in the transit industry and covers a broad range of research areas, including:

Attracting riders

1. Developing methods to quantify ridership impacts of potential capital investments or operational improvements
2. Determining the feasibility of transport / land use policy measures (e.g. fuel pricing, parking and zoning) as a means to yield optimal impacts on mode choice
3. Evaluating methodologies in assessing alternative transit modes in cities of varying land-use and socio-demographic characteristics
4. Evaluating information technologies for transit (e.g. trip planning software or real time arrival information) to attract and retain riders

Improving operations

1. Determining ways for transit planners to use data collected from new technology (e.g. Automated Passenger Collection, Automatic Vehicle Location) to optimize routes and schedules
2. Quantifying operating costs and travel time savings from the implementation of new transit technologies (e.g. Automatic Vehicle Location, Transit Signal Priority)
3. Examining best practices in monitoring and benchmarking system performance through the use of data from transit information technologies (e.g. Automated Passenger Collection, Automatic Vehicle Location)
4. Developing methods to evaluate the long-term impacts of new fare collection technologies, including reduced dwell times, lower fare evasion and reduced costs
5. Evaluating the optimal roles of private sector involvement in financing, supporting or operating transit service

Capturing regional benefits

1. Developing quantitative and qualitative models to document the achievement of environmental goals as a function of mode split or operational practices
2. Quantifying the benefits of transit in promoting sustainable land use patterns
3. Measuring land value increases adjacent to transit investments as a means to generate public revenue
4. Quantifying the benefits of transit in providing social mobility

Recent work performed by WPTI has advanced both the state of practice through applied research and the state of knowledge through innovations in theoretical understanding of stakeholders’ behaviours. WPTI is actively seeking highly qualified students to contribute to cutting edge research.

If you wish to find out how WPTI can help you develop solutions for efficient, competitive, socially-supportive public transit, please feel free to contact us.