Bus transport organisations need to conduct network reviews on periodical basis. This is meant to identify those bus routes that are weak performers as well as those that do not add significant value to the overall bus network. This research develops & adopts the slogan MISS TS which is an abbreviation for Multimodal Integrated Smart Sustainable Transport System, a transport system that is multimodal, integrated, seamless, smart and sustainable. Towards this end the research develops an innovative generic methodology that attempts to achieve an optimum bus network by taking into account all previously stated dimensions in assessing and rationalizing the performance of bus routes. The methodology starts by first categorizing the bus network into market segments i.e. CBD, Feeder, Express, Airport, Neighborhood etc. This is then followed by compiling operational and financial data on a route by route basis. Data includes operational costs, operational revenues, passengers, kilometers, passenger kilometers etc. This data is further manipulated to obtain 2 major indicators that are used to conduct an operational and financial screening of all routes, namely
Load Factor (LF) and Cost Recovery Ratio (CRR). Thresholds values for these indicators are then set either based on approved manuals or on cross-sectional average network performance. A comparison is conducted with the preset threshold limits where routes with LF & CRR below threshold limits are considered weak performers while routes with LF & CRR above threshold limits are considered high performers and other routes are considered middle performers. Such screening exercise is then followed by conducting a multicriteria scoping of those weak performing routes using criteria such as coverage, connectivity, integration, social, environment & energy, politically strategic, etc. Based on scoping results recommendations can be made to decision makers whether to retain, suspend, rationalize weak performing routes and hence achieve a more efficient bus network.