Some thoughts on adaptive stop tables for TransMilenio services

Passenger overcrowding on station platforms and buses of Bogota's Bus Rapid Transit (TransMilenio - TM) is becoming a critical factor causing discomfort in its user base. We reflect on this problem motivated on the idea that the current strategy of using fixed routes and bus schedules can be improved with a dynamic strategy allowing bus stop tables to adapt according to commuter demand and affluence. Following this line of thought we describe a simple heuristic for stop table adaptation intended to yield more timely-effective service for passenger mobility. The heuristic considers a simplified model based on several aspects of the system: the origin-destination trip matrix, the distribution of destination's demand, the capacity and headways of buses on express and frequent (all-stops) services. Some infrastructure aspects required for a practical simulation or implementation of the heuristic are discussed in passing.