Ever wish the bus knew exactly where you needed to go—and skipped the stops you didn’t?

That’s the kind of question Md. Hishamur Rahman, a Ph.D. student at the University of Utah, is working to answer. His latest research explores how a smarter bus system—one that only stops when riders request it in advance—could make public transit faster, more efficient, and a lot more convenient.

Recently published in Transportation Science, Rahman’s research proposes a dynamic routing method where riders provide advance notice of their intended bus stops. The result would allow buses to skip unrequested stops and even take shortcuts when possible. The result? Transit routes that accommodate a higher density of stops without extending the overall tour duration.

The idea is simple in nature—just let buses skip stops no one needs and take shortcuts—but making it work in a real-world transit system is far from easy. To bring this concept to life, Rahman uses advanced optimization techniques and mathematical modeling, including mixed-integer linear programming, to design efficient bus routes that respond dynamically to rider requests while ensuring service reliability and minimizing overall travel time.

This innovation holds particular promise for improving service in low-density areas where traditional fixed-route transit may struggle to meet mobility needs.

“By providing practical strategies to optimize bus routes, this research will help bridge the gap between traditional transit and fully flexible systems, making public transportation more efficient, particularly in underserved areas,” Rahman explains.

A final year Ph.D. student in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Rahman chose the University of Utah for its strong emphasis on innovative transportation research and its collaborative academic environment. “The opportunity to work with prominent faculty like Dr. Nikola Markovic been instrumental in shaping my research,” he adds.

Rahman’s work exemplifies how forward-thinking research can directly contribute to more accessible and sustainable transportation systems. To see his concept in action, check out this short animation: Watch the YouTube Video

📖 Read the full paper in Transportation Science: