Times are displayed in (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) Change
Findings from TCRP Project B-48, The Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies
Session Date: Thursday, September 15, 2022
Session Time: 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Elizabeth (Buffy) Ellis, Senior Transportation Planner, KFH Group |
Presenter Biographical Statement |
| Buffy Ellis is a specialist in paratransit and transit planning and system design, needs assessment, and performance evaluation. Beginning her career in 1978, she has managed numerous consulting projects for public and private agencies. She is a member and Past Chair of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Committee on Paratransit and a member of the TRB Committee on Transit Capacity and Quality of Service. She has also served as a member and Chair of the Taxi Advisory Committee in Montgomery County, Maryland. Ms. Ellis is a certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). |
Presentation Abstract |
| For many years, U.S. transit agencies have provided alternative services, such as taxi-based subsidy programs, to enhance the mobility of their ADA paratransit riders by providing them with an affordable and more responsive, on-demand option. An additional motivation has been to reduce the overall costs for ADA paratransit. More recently, and with the advent of on-demand technologies and apps, transit agencies have been utilizing on-demand ride-sourcing providers, such as Lyft and Uber, to provide alternative services in addition to or instead of taxis. TCRP Project B-48 was funded to answer two core questions: (1) To what extent do alternative services, in particular those that use new ride-sourcing providers, meet the travel needs of the riders and particularly those who use wheelchairs? and (2) To what extent do alternative services reduce overall paratransit costs? Also expressed as an additional reason for the project: the need to research relevant regulatory issues, including the requirement for service equivalence (under the ADA), Title VI compliance, driver drug and alcohol testing, liability, and NTD reporting, noting that alternative services must meet certain requirements but do not have to adhere to the strict criteria governing ADA paratransit. The team of KFH Group and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute were selected to undertaken this TCRP research project. Buffy Ellis from KHF and Will Rodman were the primary researchers. The report provides an overview/primer of alternative services, how relevant regulations and polices impact its provision and outcomes, and the findings from a targeted survey of 18 transit agencies and several best-practice case studies. The project also involved preparing a guidebook for transit agencies interested in implementing an alternative service or re-designing an existing service. As part of the guidebook, the research team developed an interactive Excel-based tool for estimating cost savings. This tool benefits from some of the methodologies developed by the transit agencies featured in the case studies, and is designed to help transit agencies make decision on certain design aspects and policies. Will Rodman and Buffy Ellis will present Project B-48's findings, guidebook and tool. Primary audiences for this presentation include: The transit industry. Many transit agencies have been grappling with increasing demand and cost for ADA paratransit (before the current pandemic) and have looked to alternative services for their ADA riders not only to reduce overall paratransit costs but also to provide a more responsive transportation option. The disability community. In cities where alternative services are now offered or where transit agencies are considering such services, people with disabilities and particularly ADA paratransit riders as well as other stakeholders need assurances that the service is fully accessible, particularly to riders who use wheelchairs. Our research tells us that this is not always the case. Government agencies as well as governing bodies and policy makers that develop and promulgate regulations that affect alternative services. These entities may possibly look at their regulations in a new light based on the findings of this research project. On-demand service partners, interested in new approaches, practices and strategies. Download Abstract |
Presentation Visual Aid |
Download PDF |