Abstract

Buses are the most utilized mode of public transportation worldwide. However, existing investigations show that they are major contributors to transit noise and vibration in urban areas, leading to environmental concerns, adverse health effects on riders and residents, reduced ridership, and lower transit sustainability. With the growing shift towards electric buses as quieter and more sustainable alternatives, it is imperative to assess their vibroacoustic performance under real-world conditions. Thus, this study evaluates the vibroacoustic levels of conventional and electric buses in Montreal. It also analyzes the influences of eight operational factors, namely bus age, average speed, road surface conditions, road network characteristics, day and time of operation, passenger occupancy, and distance travelled, on vibroacoustic generation. Data was collected using validated mobile measurement tools (Sound Meter Pro and iDynamics) and rider interviews. Descriptive statistics and machine learning models, including XGBoost and Ridge Regression, were applied to analyze the relationships between operational factors, vibroacoustic emissions, and rider comfort perceptions. Results show that electric buses consistently exhibit lower noise and vibration levels than conventional buses. Furthermore, operational factors such as rougher road conditions, higher average speeds, and older buses significantly increased vibroacoustic emissions across both bus types. Using these results, vibroacoustic policy implications were established. These policy implications provide transit agencies with practical guidance for improving rider comfort, improving bus fleet operations, and supporting sustainable transit planning. The study contributes to new insights by integrating empirical vibroacoustic measurements with multi-factor operational analysis, offering a comprehensive foundation for future transit noise and vibration mitigation strategies. Further research is encouraged to validate and implement the proposed policies across diverse transit systems.