Compass 2.1

COMPASS© Demand Forecasting System

This software is a comprehensive strategic policy planning tool to assist rail, highway, air, and transit management in planning their systems.

COMPASS© generates ridership and revenue forecasts for any set of socioeconomic, network, and competitive mode conditions. Outputs include traffic forecasts; revenue estimates; and rail, highway, air, and transit market shares over a given timeframe for a variety of conditions.

The COMPASS© model consists of a three-step analysis process that estimates:

• Total market growth by all modes and purposes of travel

• Induced demand due to changes in quality of service offered by any mode (air, bus, rail, auto)

• Modal Split / Route Split model that estimates market or route shares using a hierarchical mode choice analysis.

A key metric of the COMPASS© model is "generalized cost." The generalized cost function allows time, cost frequency, and service attributes to be combined into a single metric that can show how changes in speed, frequency, or fare will affect the use and market-share of any mode.

COMPASS© has been used for ridership forecasts of many major transportation-related projects, including regional multi-modal studies: Midwest Regional Rail Initiative: Federal Railroad Administration Northeast Corridor Project; Ontario-Quebec High- Speed Rail Study; Portland-Boston Intercity Rail Study; Athens-Thesseloniki High-Speed Rail Study; North-South Rail Link Study, Boston; Channel Tunnel; Florida High-Speed Rail Study; Cross London Rail Link; and Argentina National Rail Plan; and Pakistan Mainline Electrification Study.