Bus Route Optimization Calculator

Calculate optimal bus headways and fleet size based on route length, speed, and ridership demand.

Route Length (miles, one-way)

Average Speed (mph)

Peak Ridership/Hour

Bus Capacity

Tab to move between fields

Round Trip Time (min)

Required Headway (min)

Active Buses Needed16

Total Fleet (with spares)19

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Route Length (miles, one-way), Average Speed (mph), and Peak Ridership/Hour.
Set Bus Capacity.
Review Round Trip Time (min) and Required Headway (min).
Use Active Buses Needed and Total Fleet (with spares) to inform your decision.
Use the chart to visualize the results and explore different scenarios by adjusting inputs.

How the result changes with Average Speed (mph)

Route Length (miles, one-way): One-way route length in miles
Average Speed (mph): Average operating speed including stops and traffic (typically 10-20 mph in urban areas)
Peak Ridership/Hour: Peak hourly ridership demand in one direction
Bus Capacity: Seated + standee capacity of each bus

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Route Length (miles, one-way) = 12, Average Speed (mph) = 15, Peak Ridership/Hour = 600, Bus Capacity = 60 = 4 input(s) provided
Calculate Round Trip Time
Round Trip Time
96 = 96
Calculate Required Headway
Required Headway
6 = 6
Calculate Active Buses Needed
16 = 16
Calculate Total Fleet
Total Fleet
19 = 19