Cost-Effective Accessible Cost-Effective Accessible Transportation Alternatives in Transportation Alternatives in Rural Areas: Examples from Rural Areas: Examples from the USthe US

Transed 2012Transed 2012Delhi, IndiaDelhi, IndiaSeptember 17-21, September 17-21, 2012 2012

Rural Transportation in the U.S.Rural Transportation in the U.S.

40% of Rural Counties Have No Public Transportation40% of Rural Counties Have No Public Transportation 21% of Population in Rural Areas21% of Population in Rural Areas 5% of Federal Transit Funding to Rural Areas5% of Federal Transit Funding to Rural Areas

Transportation ExperiencesTransportation Experiences

123

222

1018

1444

0 10 20 30 40 50

1 - Not a problem at all23456789

10 - A significant problem

Percent of Respondents

Impacts on EmploymentImpacts on Employment

02

423

2910

1454

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

1 - Not a limitation23456789

10 - A significant limitation

Percent of Respondents

Service Provider IssuesService Provider Issues

Limited FundingLimited Funding High Cost of ServiceHigh Cost of Service

– Long distancesLong distances– Low population densitiesLow population densities

Limited Number of Accessible Limited Number of Accessible VehiclesVehicles

Driver Training Capacity and Driver Training Capacity and Materials Materials

Innovative Service DesignsInnovative Service Designs

Lake Transit (CA)Lake Transit (CA)Route DeviationRoute Deviation 7 regional routes7 regional routes Deviate up to 1 mileDeviate up to 1 mile $1.25 fare$1.25 fare $0.75 surcharge for $0.75 surcharge for

deviationsdeviations 60,000 population60,000 population 180,000 trips per year180,000 trips per year 5.87 trips/hr (dev. rtes) 5.87 trips/hr (dev. rtes)

3.0 trips/hr pure DR3.0 trips/hr pure DR

Innovative Service DesignsInnovative Service Designs

PRTC (VA)PRTC (VA)Route Dev. & Route Dev. &

Request StopRequest Stop Limited Number Limited Number

of Request Stops of Request Stops (guaranteed)(guaranteed)

Deviations in Deviations in Defined Areas (if Defined Areas (if possible)possible)

14 trips/hr.14 trips/hr. 12% of trips 12% of trips

include deviationinclude deviation

Innovative Service DesignsInnovative Service Designs

LINK Transit (WA)LINK Transit (WA)Zone RoutesZone Routes Intercity Routes (Up Intercity Routes (Up

to 50 Miles)to 50 Miles) Supplemental Supplemental

Paratransit Paratransit PT Vehicles PT Vehicles

Operates in DR Operates in DR Mode Along CorridorMode Along Corridor

Time Points Along Time Points Along Corridor Advertised Corridor Advertised to Ridersto Riders

Paratransit “Schedule”Paratransit “Schedule”

Figure 9. Wenatchee-Chelan-Mason Zone Route Times (MONDAY – FRIDAY) Leave

Manson Chelan Entiat Wenatchee

Dialysis Wenatchee

Valley Clinic Columbia

Station Central WA

Hospital 7:15 7:30AM 7:45AM 8:10AM 8:20AM 8:30AM 8:40AM 9:15 9:30AM 9:45AM 10:10AM 10:20AM 10:30AM 10:40AM

11:15 11:30AM 11:45AM 12:10PM 12:20PM 12:30PM 12:40PM 1:15 1:30PM 1:45PM 2:10PM 2:20PM 2:30PM 2:40PM 3:15 3:30PM 3:45PM 4:10PM 4:20PM 4:30PM 4:40PM 5:15 5:30PM 5:45PM 6:10PM 6:20PM 6:30PM 6:40PM

Leave Central WA

Hospital

Columbia Station

Wenatchee Valley Clinic

Wenatchee Dialysis

Entiat Chelan Arrive Manson

6:20AM 6:30AM 6:35AM 6:40AM 6:55AM 7:30AM 7:45AM 8:20AM 8:30AM 8:35AM 8:40AM 8:55AM 9:30AM 9:45AM

10:20AM 10:30AM 10:35AM 10:40AM 10:55AM 11:30AM 11:45AM 12:20PM 12:30PM 12:35PM 12:40PM 12:55PM 1:30PM 1:45PM 2:20PM 2:30PM 2:35PM 2:40PM 2:55PM 3:30PM 3:45PM 4:20PM 4:30PM 4:35PM 4:40PM 4:55PM 5:30PM 5:45PM

Effectiveness of Flex-Route Effectiveness of Flex-Route ServicesServices

2012 Survey of 2012 Survey of 674 Transit 674 Transit AgenciesAgencies146 Responses Re: 146 Responses Re: Flex-Route ServiceFlex-Route Service44 Incorporate 44 Incorporate Flex-Route Concept Flex-Route Concept in Routesin Routes21 Support Local 21 Support Local Communities That Communities That Operate Flex-RoutesOperate Flex-Routes62% Rated as 62% Rated as Effective Effective 0

3

6

9

12

15

Not Effective (1) Very Effective (5)

4%6%

21%

32%30%

Numb

er of

Resp

onse

s

Rider IssuesRider Issues

Limited Trip Purposes (Medical)Limited Trip Purposes (Medical) Client-Only TransportationClient-Only Transportation Limited Days and Hours of Limited Days and Hours of

Service (Little Evening and Service (Little Evening and Weekend Service)Weekend Service)

Lack of Information About Lack of Information About ServicesServices

Voucher ProgramsVoucher Programs Provide Individuals with Vouchers to Use Provide Individuals with Vouchers to Use

Local ServicesLocal Services Can Define Eligibility and Number of Can Define Eligibility and Number of

Vouchers to Match Needs and Available Vouchers to Match Needs and Available FundingFunding

Can Include VolunteersCan Include Volunteers Allow Riders to Choose Provider (“Self-Allow Riders to Choose Provider (“Self-

Directed”)Directed”) Model Developed By Assn. of Programs Model Developed By Assn. of Programs

for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) – for Rural Independent Living (APRIL) – “Traveler’s Cheque” Program“Traveler’s Cheque” Program

ReportReport

Easter Seals Project Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA), ACTION (ESPA), “Transportation “Transportation Services for People Services for People with Disabilities in with Disabilities in Rural and Small Urban Rural and Small Urban Communities.”Communities.”

www.projectaction.org/ResourcesPublications