ABSTRACT

This seminar will explore contemporary methodologies for the modification and updating of transit route networks and clusters, with a focus on enhancing service quality, efficiency, and sustainability in urban public transport systems. Participants will be introduced to a structured approach grounded in rigorous Transit Level of Service (LOS) and efficiency analysis, encompassing walking accessibility, connectivity between city areas, route productivity, duplication, and directness. The seminar will present a route cluster-based planning approach, demonstrating how grouping transit corridors can optimize resource allocation and improve user experience.

A comprehensive ridership analysis will illustrate how data-driven simulation of planning scenarios can assess impacts on both LOS and overall network efficiency. The session will also address the implementation of electric buses (E-Buses), outlining feasibility considerations, operational challenges, and proposed solutions to support low-emission transit strategies. Finally, the seminar will showcase the application of the “Better Than the Best” methodology, providing a practical demonstration of the analytical tools used for transit evaluation and planning. Attendees will gain actionable insights into modern transit system design practices that prioritize sustainability, efficiency, and user-centred service improvements.

SPEAKER

Mr. Gera Taubkin is a Principal Consultant and Technical Director in Transportation at WSP, with over 30 years of experience in the transit industry across Canada and internationally. He specialises in service planning, scheduling, operations, and the design of transit networks, including BRT and LRT systems. Gera has led major projects in Israel, Russia, Europe, and North America, supporting public agencies with passenger demand estimation, vehicle scheduling, and policy design.

Since joining WSP in 2009, Gera has played a key role in numerous transit planning and electrification studies, and he spearheaded the development of transKit and BOLT—WSP’s proprietary software tools for electric fleet deployment and transit modelling. His analytical tools are used globally to optimise service efficiency and infrastructure design.

Previously, Gera served as Transit Planning Manager at DAN Bus Company in Tel Aviv, overseeing the full planning cycle of a large metropolitan network. He has also taught public transport planning at the Higher School of Economics (Moscow), Almaty University of Management, and York University (Toronto).

He holds an M.Sc. and a Diploma in Systems Analysis from Moscow University, and is a member of CUTA and UITP.