New software and technology is making it easier than ever before for public transportation planners to evaluate how quickly residents can reach jobs and other destinations. Because in the past it was difficult to measure access to opportunities, these concepts remained primarily in the theoretical and academic realms of research. This thesis reviews methods that could be used to evaluate routine bus service improvements and performs a comparative analysis of different methods in the context of New Orleans. There are many different variables in how the analysis could be performed, but this thesis focuses on the role that time of day plays in analyzing service changes. The results show that accessibility can be a very useful metric to evaluate the effectiveness of transit service changes. It goes on to explore techniques that could assist transit planners and schedulers to identify service gaps and prioritize service changes.

Open-source software development is becoming increasingly popular in the public sector due toits potential for innovation and technology integration. This study investigates the possibilities of developing an open-source trip planner using OpenTripPlanner (OTP) for the Uppsala region's growing public transport needs. This thesis aims to increase understanding of the opportunitiesand challenges of open-source software development within the public sector and what lessons can be learned from previous implementations of OTP. The methods used were the development of a stand-alone web-based Proof of Concept of an OTP solution as well as a case study including public organizations that have worked with open-source software development and specifically implementations of OTP. The implementation of the Proof of Concept shows the work effort put in to set up a web-based OTP solution, how it can be used and adapted to the Uppsala region's needs. The results from the case study show that open-source applications can be developed through cooperation within and between regions and countries, resulting in innovative solutions with more transparency and flexibility. The use of OTP has the potential for creating a less complex, streamlined system with flexible and efficient data processing. Challenges include the administration of the data sets used, changing the work culture to more open ways of working and understanding ones needs to develop the right product. The need for a comprehensive system review and the establishment of competent teams or suppliers are identified as critical factors in successful open-source development.