This synthesis will be of interest to transit agency maintenance managers and other maintenance and operations personnel, including general managers, who are concerned with the need to maintain clean, efficient bus operating equipment. It will also be of interest to equipment suppliers, consultants, and others concerned with bus maintenance operations. This synthesis provides a variety of approaches to transit bus service line and cleaning functions so transit agencies can evaluate the effectiveness of their own operations. This report of the Transportation Research Board updates material contained in the previous TRB synthesis series, National Co-operative Transit Research and Development Program (NCTRP) Synthesis 1: "Cleaning Transit Buses: Equipment and Procedures" (1982) (see TRIS 361904). In addition it addresses daily servicing and mechanical inspections, areas that were not originally covered. It contains discussion on defining a clean bus, defining a properly serviced bus, and on labour and equipment costs. Exterior washing, interior cleaning, and graffiti prevention and removal are discussed in detail based on the results of a survey for this synthesis. Case study examples highlight unique service line and cleaning conditions at New Jersey Transit, Phoenix Transit, and Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines. (A)
Abstract