Transit Systems in College and University Communities (2008)

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Transit Systems in College and University Communities is an update of TCRP Synthesis 39, published in 2001. The previous report, Transportation on College and University Campuses, surveyed 30 campus communities, offering information on the planning, implementation, and operation of campus transit systems. This 2008 synthesis broadens the scope of the subject by moving from a campus-based focus to a focus on the communities in which schools are located. The study is more extensive including other types of transportation systems—both local and regional—serving college and university campuses. Colleges and universities and their surrounding communities are often well-served by a diverse and growing array of transportation options, of which transit is a significant element. These communities may be served by transit that is operated by a school-run system, a munic- ipal or regional system, a combination of these, or some other type. This study is an inquiry into the current state of the practice for transit systems that serve college or university communities. Through a review of literature, a survey distributed to transit systems, and focused case studies of a number of systems’ best practices in key topic areas, this report presents information about practices and trends in the areas of transit operations, campus policies, and planning, with a special focus on technology and environmental innovations. A profile of the transit systems surveyed is also included. A survey was distributed to transit providers serving college and university communities and a total of 94 responses were received from a wide variety of schools, local transit systems, and government agencies, which yielded a response rate of 50%. Among the key findings of the survey are: • Operations – Almost all respondents report that transit ridership has recently increased, in some cases very substantially; among the frequently cited causes are increased available ser- vice, pass agreements and price incentives, parking issues, and increasing cost of fuel. – Operational challenges include provision of accessible services, the seasonality of service (summer’s lower volume) and related workforce issues, and rising costs for fuel and other services. One of the successful means of addressing some of these issues is the use of student drivers. – Accessibility is an issue for some transit operators, and respondents often reported challenges in meeting the needs of disabled riders. • Policies and Planning – Consideration for transit in the campus planning process varies—public transit oper- ators and local governments report higher rates of transit consideration than schools do. However, campus transit systems have sometimes included the participation of a varied group of stakeholders in the transit planning process. – Public transit systems are increasingly looking for opportunities to partner creatively with other entities, both for direct service provision as well as for subsidy of existing services. Many systems describe themselves directly as a partnership between two or more agencies or groups; others described novel approaches to the challenge of sup- plying campus transportation solutions at an affordable price. SUMMARY TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COMMUNITIES

– Unlimited access to transit services (known as a U-Pass), often through a fee agreement between a school and a local transit operator, is a frequently used method of struc- turing the fare for members of the school community. • Technology – New technologies have been embraced, and there are clear favorites. Global position- ing system (GPS) technologies are growing in popularity, both for vehicle tracking and customer information purposes. Public announcement systems and radio communica- tions are also widely used. Many systems plan to expand use of technologies in the next 5 years. – Use of a wide variety of alternative fuels is prevalent. The most popular are low-sulfur diesel and biodiesel. Many fleets use a combination of differently fueled vehicles. On the whole, there has been a reconsideration of the role of transit within the broader picture of campus transportation options, and a number of schools and communities have taken a multi-modal approach to providing transportation. Although systems have generally aimed to increase ridership on transit, many survey respondents indicated that the goal is ultimately to shift mode-share away from single-occupant vehicle trips to other modes, regard- less of what alternative mode is used. To support this, transportation demand management measures are becoming popular. The most popular among them are carpooling-related pro- grams such as preferential carpool and vanpool parking, Guaranteed Ride Home services, and ridematching programs to link potential carpoolers. Investments in transit improvements such as roadway enhancements, transit stop amenities (such as benches and information signs), and on-vehicle systems (such as GPS technologies), as well as programmatic improvements such as high-frequency and late-night service, indicate a strong intention to entice riders through provision of high-quality service that competes with the comfort of travel by car. 2