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OCR for page 196
Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
APPENDIX D
Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2
TABLE D-1 Question 1: Please tell us about the types of services that you provide. What services are directly operated, and which ones do you contract?
Type of Service
Directly Operated
Responding Systems
Bus
151
200
DR (ADA)
91
187
DR (dial-a-ride)
62
115
Commuter rail
1
7
Heavy rail
10
10
Light rail
12
12
Vanpool
18
30
Ferryboat
6
10
Other
10
18
Total responding
237
NOTE: DR=demand-responsive service.
TABLE D-2 Number of Systems Reporting Contracted Service by Type of Service
Type of Service
Responding Systems
Bus
77
DR
123
Ferry
1
Commuter rail
1
Total responding systems with contracted service
144
NOTE: Some systems contract for more than one service.
OCR for page 197
Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-3 Question 2: Does your agency have a specific unit to monitor the performance of contracted services? If “Yes,” then how many employees does this unit employ?
Special Monitoring Unit
Number
Percent
Average No. of Employees
Yes
91
63%
4.2
No
53
37%
0
Total responding
144
100%
TABLE D-4 Question 3: Do you monitor overhead costs for contracted services? If so, please check off the areas that you monitor.
Areas Monitored for Overhead Cost
Responding Systems
Contract administration
52
National Transit Database reporting
51
Vehicle inspection
50
Maintenance
49
Driver instruction
36
Cash counting
35
Operations management
31
Internal audit
28
Dispatch
26
Liability
25
Street supervision
23
Accounts payable
19
Workers compensation
18
Depreciation
11
Human resources
11
Other
11
Total responding
144
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-5 Question 4: We want to know your general views on contracting transit services. Rate the following areas in terms of the issues or benefits that you have experienced when contracting.
Responding Systems
Area
Large Problems
Minor Problems
Neither/Depends
Some Benefits
Large Benefits
Operating costs
4
9
14
58
48
Cost-efficiency
3
12
8
68
45
Amount of service
5
10
40
33
38
Labor-management relations
4
14
50
24
25
Labor productivity
3
19
40
42
18
Ridership
2
7
60
46
9
Time demands on staff
12
32
38
22
22
Service quality
10
41
29
42
12
Employee morale
1
27
68
15
9
Accidents
7
13
81
18
4
On-time performance
13
38
47
28
5
Contract disputes
8
34
60
8
6
Customer service
17
51
23
29
10
Employee turnover
15
31
50
13
3
Workforce retention
20
32
37
11
9
NOTE: Each respondent was asked to check one response per area.
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-6 Question 5: Please describe the positive effects of contracting in more detail below.
Positive Effects
Responding Systems
Reduced operating cost
79
Reduced administration
35
Flexibility
29
Expertise of contractor
28
More service
23
Contractor handles all
14
Avoid capital costs
14
Competitive environment
12
Reduces hiring/staff
10
Public image/political
10
Only way to start ADA
8
Total responding
144
NOTE: Written answers were coded into categories by the committee.
TABLE D-7 Question 6, Part 1: Please describe the negative effects of contracting in more detail below.
Negative Effects
Responding Systems
Limited control
59
Quality/customer service
48
Contractor issues
22
Communication
21
Turnover/low wages
20
Need to monitor
19
Personnel issues
14
Public/political issues
13
Diminishing returns
12
Union issues
7
Total responding
117
NOTE: Written answers were coded into categories by the committee.
OCR for page 200
Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-8 Question 6, Part 2: Please describe any actions you took to mitigate these negative effects.
Action
Responding Systems
Improved contract
22
Communication
10
Personnel/training
7
Additional monitoring
7
Enforcement
2
Agency actions
2
Total responding
40
NOTE: Written answers were coded into categories by the committee.
TABLE D-9 Question 7, Part 2: In your opinion, how have the results of transit service contracting met your expectations?
How Did Contracting Meet Expectations?
Responding Systems
Fully met
79
Partially met
54
Did not meet
6
Total responding
139
TABLE D-10 Question 7, Part 2: If contracting did not meet or only partially met your expectations, please explain in more detail.
Why Contracting Fell Below Expectations
Responding Systems
Contractor issues
23
Service quality/customer service
23
Benefits not fully realized
13
Not enough control
6
Too few bidders
3
Personnel issues
4
Total responding
49
NOTE: Written answers were coded into categories by the committee.
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-11 Question 8: What advice would you give to an agency considering contracting for the first time?
Advice
Responding Systems
Outline specific duties/responsibilities
54
Specify performance requirements
47
Monitor contract performance
38
Scrutinize contractors beforehand
24
Talk to other agencies
23
Teamwork/communication with contractor
20
Competitive procedure, not low cost
19
Combine rewards and penalties
18
Clear mechanism to make changes
14
Identify elements to contract re agency goals
14
Specify wage rates/cost escalation
13
Penalty clauses/liquidated damages
12
Begin with internal cost analysis
12
Provide vehicles/facility/maintenance/eligibility
10
Be flexible
10
Broad involvement in RFP process
10
Contractor provides vehicle/fuel/routing
5
Other
18
Total responding
117
NOTE: Written answers were coded into categories by the committee.
TABLE D-12 Questions 9 and 14: What year did your agency first begin contracting for fixed-route bus or demand-responsive services?
Year Began Contracting
Bus
DR
Other
Percent
1980 and prior
18
21
0
21%
1981–1985
18
19
0
20%
1986–1990
13
22
0
19%
1991–1995
13
39
1
29%
1996–2000
11
10
0
11%
Total responding
73
111
1
100%
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-13 Questions 10 and 15: To the best of your knowledge, what factors did you consider when deciding to contract for fixed-route bus or demand-response services?
Factors Considered
Major Reason
Important Factor
Minor Factor
Not a Factor
FIXED-ROUTE BUS
Start new services
33
14
5
23
Reduce costs
30
20
7
18
Improve cost-efficiency
26
21
8
20
Competitive environment
13
16
10
36
Expand services
12
19
5
39
More flexibility
10
16
14
35
Board direction
11
16
7
41
Higher-quality service
10
10
15
40
State mandate or law
3
5
4
63
Federal emphasis
2
3
13
57
DEMAND-RESPONSIVE
Start new services
50
25
7
35
Reduce costs
47
25
11
34
Improve cost-efficiency
49
22
14
32
Competitive environment
21
26
16
54
Expand services
22
26
11
58
More flexibility
13
34
17
53
Board direction
14
21
21
61
Higher-quality service
8
26
23
60
State mandate or law
14
7
6
90
Federal emphasis
6
7
17
87
TABLE D-14 Questions 11 and 16: How do you obtain these bus or demand-responsive services?
How Services Obtained
Bus
DR
Other
Percent
Competitive bidding
36
57
1
47%
Negotiated procurement
10
22
0
16%
Combination
27
32
0
30%
Other
4
9
0
7%
Total responding
77
120
1
100%
OCR for page 203
Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-15 Questions 12 and 17: How has the number of bidders changed overtime?
Change in Number of Bidders
Bus
DR
Total Contracts
Increased
11
11
22
Stayed about the same
53
78
131
Declined
9
22
32
Total responding
73
111
185
TABLE D-16 Questions 13 and 18: If you do not competitively bid these services, why not?
Why Not Competitively Bid?
Bus
DR
Total Contracts
Satisfied with current
5
7
12
Few qualified firms
3
5
8
Board policy direction
1
3
4
Other
3
3
6
Total responding
12
18
30
TABLE D-17 Question 19: Why do you not contract for transit services?
Reason for Not Contracting
Major Reason
Important Factor
Minor Factor
No Factor
Maintain control
33
18
9
27
Not cost-effective
22
25
6
34
No reason to change
18
23
9
37
Lack of qualified firms
11
9
9
58
Board direction
10
10
5
62
Union contract
7
9
4
67
Section 13c prevents
8
5
4
70
Too few bidders
7
6
0
74
Proposed bids too high
6
3
1
77
State laws limit ability
0
2
1
84
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-18 Question 20: Did your agency contract for transit services in the past?
Contract in Past?
Responding Systems
Yes
30
No
63
Total responding
93
TABLE D-19 Question 20, Part 2: Why did you stop contracting?
Why Stop Contracting
Responding Systems
Regain control
7
Improve service quality
7
Cost savings in house
6
Contractor issues
6
Contractor opted out
6
Escalating costs
4
Few qualified contractors
3
Internal changes
2
Other
3
Total responding
30
TABLE D-20 Question 21: If you had to do it all over again, and the choice were solely yours, would you contract for transit services now?
Would You Contract Now?
Responding Systems
Yes
104
No
65
Unsure
13
Total
182
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
TABLE D-21 Responses to Question 21 by Whether Systems Currently Contract or Do Not Contract
Would You Contract Now?
Currently Contract
Do Not Contract
Yes
89
15
No
16
49
Unsure
9
4
Total responding
114
68
TABLE D-22 Question 21, Part 2: Why would you contract now (for those who answered yes to Part 1 of Question 21)?
Why Contract Now?
Responding Systems
Cost/cost-effectiveness
32
Positive experience
15
Flexibility
13
Minimizes administration
9
Timely/logical for ADA
7
Process works
7
Higher level of service
4
Political/public benefits
4
Other
9
Total
64
TABLE D-23 Question 21, Part 2 (for those who answered no to Part 1 of Question 21): Why would you not contract now?
Why Not Contract?
Responding Systems
Direct control
12
System in place works
13
Service quality
8
Collaboration with union
2
Too many problems
6
Few qualified contractors
7
Not cost-effective
8
Total
40
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Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience
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