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per mile for vehicle-miles traveled, the vanpool program is a Coordination with Regional Entities
conscious strategy to increase revenues for DART.
Ridesharing services are often funded, planned, operated,
Initially vanpoolers were required to pay 100% of the cost or marketed by different agencies or groups. In particular,
of operating the van. They also received an identification card regional planning agencies and COGs tend to be involved
entitling them to ride frees on all DART buses. However, with in ridesharing programs; nearly all transit agencies surveyed
vanpool expenses rising, particularly because of fuel costs, reported that they coordinate with regional entities. Close
DART acted to prevent the loss of vanpools by stabilizing to two-thirds of the agencies (17) said they attend regional
fare increases. The DART Board recently changed its policy meetings to plan ridesharing, and nearly half (13) said they
when setting vanpool fares by crediting the federal funds that participate in activities sponsored by the regional entity
the vanpools generate for a reduction in the fare. Although (see Table 9).
the vanpool program is low-cost compared with fixed-route
service, it has a high value to DART's overall revenues.
Challenges
FTA Section 5307 Some transit agencies are ambivalent about integrating ride-
sharing with transit. Nearly half of respondents noted that
The FTA Urbanized Area Formula Funding Program, they think some people in their transit agency consider ride-
or Section 5307, is a grant program that provides capital,
operating and planning assistance for mass transportation in sharing a threat (48%); 43% do not think it is important to
urbanized areas. For areas with 50,000 to 199,999 people, their mission (see Table 10).
funds are allocated using a formula based on population and
population density. Additional factors such as bus passenger Transit agencies cited several other challenges. For
miles and fixed guideway revenue vehicle miles are factored
into the formula for areas with at least 200,000 people. example, some said transit customers do not easily accept
Vanpool miles may be included in this calculation. ridesharing as a substitute for full transit service (30%)
and staff competency does not include ridesharing (13%).
Table 9
How Do You Coordinate with Other Entities Regarding Ridesharing?
Response Count Percent
We attend regional rideshare meetings to plan and/or coordinate. 17 61
We participate in activities sponsored by the regional entity, such as 13 46
regional events and/or information tables at businesses.
We report the results of our ridesharing program to the regional entity. 11 39
The regional entity runs a complementary ridesharing program in our area. 8 29
We run the ridesharing program for our agency, and a regional entity 3 11
representative sits on our board.
Our coordination is limited to occasional feedback on documents or 3 11
programs
Not applicable 1 4
Other 9 32
Total Responses 28 100
Answers exceed 100% because respondents could choose multiple answers.
Table 10
What Challenges Have You Faced Integrating Ridesharing
as a Complement to Transit?
Responses Count Percent
Some consider ridesharing as competition for transit riders 11 48
and resources.
Not everyone considers ridesharing important to our mission. 10 43
Customers do not easily accept ridesharing as a substitute for full 7 30
transit service.
Staff competency does not include ridesharing. 3 13
Another agency provides ridesharing and/or transit services. 3 13
Staff competency does not include transit expertise. 1 4
Other (please specify) 7 30
Total responses 23 100
Answers exceed 100% because respondents could choose multiple answers.
