National Academies Press: OpenBook
« Previous: Appendix C: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 1
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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%

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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%

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×

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

Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
This page in the original is blank.
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 196
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 197
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 198
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 199
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 200
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 201
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 202
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 203
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 204
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 205
Suggested Citation:"Appendix D: Tabulations of Responses to Survey Part 2." Transportation Research Board and National Research Council. 2001. Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/10141.
×
Page 206
Next: Study Committee Biographical Information »
Contracting for Bus and Demand-Responsive Transit Services: A Survey of U.S. Practice and Experience: Special Report 258 Get This Book
×
MyNAP members save 10% online.
Login or Register to save!

In the interest of learning more about contracting as a method of transit service delivery, the 1998 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) called on the Transportation Research Board (TRB) to conduct a study of contracting by recipients of federal transit grants. TEA-21 called for an examination of the extent and practice of transit service contracting and its effects on operating costs, customer service, safety, and other aspects of service quality and quantity. To conduct the study, TRB convened a 12-member committee of experts in public transportation management, labor, economics, and public policy. In carrying out the study, the committee reviewed previous reports on transit service contracting; conducted its own nationwide survey of public transit systems and their general managers; and interviewed transit managers, labor union leaders, contractors, and members of transit policy boards. Resulting findings and conclusions are summarized in this report, along with additional insights and ideas for follow-on study. The contents are organized as follows: (1) Introduction; (2) Public and Private Provision of Transit in the United States; (3) Conceptual Framework and Previous Studies on Contracting; (4) Transit Service Contracting in the United States: Extent and Practice; (5) Transit Contracting Experiences and Advice from General Managers; and (6) Summary and Assessment.

  1. ×

    Welcome to OpenBook!

    You're looking at OpenBook, NAP.edu's online reading room since 1999. Based on feedback from you, our users, we've made some improvements that make it easier than ever to read thousands of publications on our website.

    Do you want to take a quick tour of the OpenBook's features?

    No Thanks Take a Tour »
  2. ×

    Show this book's table of contents, where you can jump to any chapter by name.

    « Back Next »
  3. ×

    ...or use these buttons to go back to the previous chapter or skip to the next one.

    « Back Next »
  4. ×

    Jump up to the previous page or down to the next one. Also, you can type in a page number and press Enter to go directly to that page in the book.

    « Back Next »
  5. ×

    Switch between the Original Pages, where you can read the report as it appeared in print, and Text Pages for the web version, where you can highlight and search the text.

    « Back Next »
  6. ×

    To search the entire text of this book, type in your search term here and press Enter.

    « Back Next »
  7. ×

    Share a link to this book page on your preferred social network or via email.

    « Back Next »
  8. ×

    View our suggested citation for this chapter.

    « Back Next »
  9. ×

    Ready to take your reading offline? Click here to buy this book in print or download it as a free PDF, if available.

    « Back Next »
Stay Connected!