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?
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 |
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.
TABLE D-6 Question 5: Please describe the positive effects of contracting in more detail below.
TABLE D-7 Question 6, Part 1: Please describe the negative effects of contracting in more detail below.
TABLE D-8 Question 6, Part 2: Please describe any actions you took to mitigate these negative effects.
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.
TABLE D-11 Question 8: What advice would you give to an agency considering contracting for the first time?
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% |
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% |
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 |
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 |
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 |