Strategy Guide to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities (2014)

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178 D1 Methodology for Evaluating Bus Stop and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Efforts D2 Methodology for Evaluating Fare Incentive Programs D3 Methodology for Assessing the Effectiveness of In-Person ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination Processes, and the Use of Conditional and Trip-by-Trip Eligibility A p p e n d i x d Evaluation Methodologies

evaluation Methodologies 179 Ridership Change At Improved Stops—Riders With Disabilities Measure Analysis Method Data Sources Ridership change by riders using wheelchairs/scooters at stops receiving stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. While riders using wheelchairs/scooters are only a subset of riders with disabilities, stop/infrastructure improvements particularly benefit them. If lift or ramp deployments or boardings by stop are available, calculate the before-and-after number of lift/ramp boardings for one year before the improvements to one year after the improvements at each of the stops. Compare this change to the change in total lift/ramp deployments system-wide for the same before- and-after time periods. Ridership data by stop, disaggregated by lift/ramp deployments for time periods before and after the stop/infrastructure improvements. Total lift/ramp deployments system-wide for the same two time periods. Ridership Change At Improved Stops—All Riders Measure Analysis Method Data Sources Change in total boardings at stops receiving stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure improvements benefit all riders, as each bus stop trip begins and ends with a pedestrian trip. With boardings by stop, calculate the before-and-after number of boardings at the improved stops for one year before and one year after the improvements. Compare this change to the change in total boardings system-wide for the same before-and-after time periods. Boardings by stop for time periods before and after the stop/ infrastructure improvements. Total boardings for the same two time periods. Ridership Changes At Improved Stops by Riders with Disabilities Contrasted with Change in ADA Paratransit Ridership within Catchment Area of Improved Stops Measure Analysis Method Data Sources Change in number of lift/ramp deployments at the improved stops for a time period before the improvements to a similar time period after, contrasted with change in ADA paratransit ridership within ¼-mi. radius of the improved stops over the same time periods, focusing on riders who have conditional eligibility. For the stops receiving improvements, calculate the before- and-after number of lift/ramp boardings for one-year period before the improvements to the one-year period after. For ADA paratransit ridership change, GIS analysis is required to create a ¼-mile radius around the improved stops. ADA ridership (disaggregated by type of ADA rider if available—unconditionally eligible vs. conditionally eligible), is then calculated within the defined area around each improved bus stop for the same before and after time periods used to assess change in lift/ramp deployments. The change in the before-and-after time periods for lift/ramp deployments is then contrasted to the change in the before-and-after time periods for ADA conditionally eligible riders. Ridership data by stop, disaggregated by lift/ramp deployments for time periods before and after the stop/infrastructure improvements. ADA ridership within the defined area of the improved stops, disaggregated by type of eligible rider, for the same time periods. D1. Methodology for Evaluating Bus Stop and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Efforts (continued on next page)

180 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by people with disabilities Cost Analysis: ADA Paratransit Costs Deferred with New Trips on Fixed Route by Riders with Disabilities Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Sources Cost “savings” for ADA paratransit trips now on fixed route. If new fixed-route trips at the improved stops by riders using wheelchairs/scooters replace trips that would otherwise be taken on ADA paratransit, costs for ADA paratransit are deferred. Calculate the average operating cost per ADA paratransit trip and subtract the average operating cost per fixed- route trip for the net operating cost per ADA trip. Multiply this by the number of new fixed-route trips at the improved stops by riders with disabilities, as measured by number of lift/ramp deployments, for a defined time period. Total ADA paratransit operating costs Total ADA paratransit ridership (one-way trips) Total fixed-route operating costs Total fixed-route ridership (one- way trips) New trips at the improved stops as measured by lift/ramp deployments for selected time period. Cost Analysis: “Break-even” Number of Trips by Riders Who Use Wheelchairs/Scooters to Recover Cost for Stop/Infrastructure Improvements Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Sources At a certain number of trips by riders who use wheelchairs/scooters at an improved stop/infrastructure, the cost of the improvements will equal deferred ADA paratransit trip costs, and the costs can be considered “recovered.” Calculate the cost for a specific stop improvement or an average cost for selected improvements. Calculate the operating cost per ADA paratransit trip. Divide the cost of improvements by the average cost per ADA paratransit trip to determine the “break-even” number of trips by riders who use wheelchairs/scooters that equals the improvement cost. Cost per stop for stop/infrastructure improvements. Total ADA paratransit operating costs. Total ADA paratransit trips. D1. (Continued) Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Sources 1. Number of paratransit trips diverted to fixed-route as a result of fare incentive program. (Diverted trips.) Monitor ridership trends on both modes before and after implementation of incentive program. If no other changes made, diverted trips assumed to be difference in ADA paratransit ridership. For more thorough analysis, consider survey of current and former paratransit riders about mode changes. Ridership reports Paratransit rider survey Fixed-route rider survey 2. Number of induced fixed-route trips by disabled riders who would otherwise not have made the trip. (New trips.) (New fixed-route reduced fare ridership – Trips diverted from ADA paratransit) - (Prior fixed-route reduced fare ridership). Also consider rider survey. Fixed-route reduced fare ridership (before and after) Diverted trips (calculated above) 3. Number of continuing fixed-route trips by riders taking advantage of increased discount. (Continuing trips.) (New fixed-route reduced fare ridership) – (Trips diverted from ADA paratransit + New fixed-route discount fare trips). Also consider rider surveys about present and prior ridership. Fixed-route reduced fare ridership (before and after) Diverted trips (calculated above) New trips (calculated above) 4. Number of new requests for ADA paratransit eligibility (Applicable if fare incentive is tied to ADA paratransit eligibility). Analysis of trends in applications received before and after fare incentives introduced. Eligibility records D2. Methodology for Evaluating Fare Incentive Programs

evaluation Methodologies 181 Cost Analysis: Fare Incentive Programs Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Source Cost per paratransit trip. (Total annual operating and amortized capital costs) / (Annual passenger trips) Financial reports, operations reports. Cost savings per diverted trip. (Cost per paratransit trip) - (Difference between paratransit fare and ADA discount fixed-route fare). Measures computed below. Fare policies. Revenue gain from new discounted trips. (Number of new discounted trips) x (discounted fixed-route fare). Zero if free fare. Fare policy. Ridership analysis. Cost savings from diversion of paratransit passengers to fixed- route service. (Cost savings per diverted trip) x (Number of diverted trips). Measures computed above. Ridership analysis. Initial cost of setting up fare incentive program. Determine costs of initial planning, increased staff time for enhanced eligibility screening procedures, production costs of new farecards (if necessary), community education and marketing. Interviews with staff, budgets, financial reports. Cost of increased eligibility screening. (Number of additional monthly hours devoted to eligibility following program implementation) x (Hourly rate including fringes and overhead). Interviews with administrative staff, time sheets. Revenue loss from continuing discount trips. (Annual continuing trips) x (Difference between old discount fare and new discount fare). Ridership analysis. Total cost savings from fare incentives. (Cost savings from diversion of paratransit trips to fixed-route) + (Revenues from new discounted trips) minus (Initial cost of setting up fare incentive program) + (Cost of enhanced eligibility screening) + (Revenue loss from continuing discount trips) + (Revenue loss from diverted trips) + (Revenue costs from newly eligible trips). Measures computed above. Assumes zero dollars for marginal cost of each additional fixed-route passenger. Break-even volume of trip diversions for total cost savings. Determine number of trips that would need to be diverted from paratransit to fixed-route service at which cost savings would outweigh initial set-up cost. Results of measures computed above. D2. (Continued)

182 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by people with disabilities Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Sources 1. Effectiveness of process in explaining ADA paratransit eligibility Record the number of general information calls received regarding ADA paratransit service and the number of application packets sent in response to these calls. Note the number of callers who elect not to receive an application packet. Calculate percentage of callers who self- select out. Note: Not applicable if transit agency distributes application material broadly in the community and does not require individuals to call to get application materials. ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff. General information phone data and tabulations of applications sent. May require manual tabulation for a period of time by staff. Collect for a reasonable period (e.g. one week). 2. Effectiveness of public information materials in explaining ADA paratransit eligibility The difference between the number of application packets sent for a period of time and the number of “completed applications” received. If the process requires that individuals not only complete a paper application form, but appear in-person for an interview and/or assessment, a “completed application” would include submission of the form and participation in the interview/assessment. Note the difference not only in applications sent versus received, but any “self-selection” out of the process through interview no-shows or cancellations. ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff. 3. Accuracy and thoroughness of initial determination process Compare determination outcomes (percent unconditional, conditional, temporary, not eligible) to outcomes from “exemplary” systems. Also, calculate a per capita rate of eligibility (total eligible riders divided by total ADA paratransit service area population) and compare to peers ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff. Readily available service and area statistics (ridership, population) and other “exemplary” systems. Finally, calculate the annual ADA paratransit trips per capita (annual trips divided by total population in the ADA paratransit service area). This can also serve as a measure of eligibility determination effectiveness. 4. Accuracy and thoroughness of initial determination process Determine the number and percentage of initial determinations that are appealed. Compare to “exemplary” systems. Note: Appeal rates may increase during recertifications using new process and materials. Determine the number and percentage of initial determinations that are changed on appeal. Compare rate of changed decisions to “exemplary” systems. Note: Atypical rates of change could indicate issues with the appeal process as well as the accuracy of initial; determinations. ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff. 5. Trends in Annual ADA Paratransit Ridership Analyze trends in ADA paratransit ridership for several years prior to changes/improvements in the eligibility process. Use prior ridership to estimate likely ridership without eligibility changes. Compare predictions to actual ridership after the eligibility changes. Readily available ADA paratransit service statistics. 6. Number of trips taken by riders who are unconditionally eligible, and trip-making rate Sort trips provided for a period of time (e.g., one week or one month) by rider eligibility. Determine the total trips made by riders who have unconditional eligibility. Divide the total trips by the number of unconditional riders who made trips during that period to calculate a trip-making rate for those riders. Use in cost analysis detailed below. Special data run linking master rider file with trip file. D3. Methodology for Assessing the Effectiveness of In-Person ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination Processes, and the Use of Conditional and Trip-by-Trip Eligibility

evaluation Methodologies 183 7. Number of trips taken by riders who are conditionally eligible, and trip-making rate Same analysis as above for conditionally eligible riders. Determine the total trips made by riders who have unconditional eligibility. Divide the total trips by the number of unconditional riders who made trips during that period to calculate a trip- making rate for those riders. Use in cost analysis detailed below. Special data run linking master rider file with trip file. 8. Number of trips requested by conditionally eligible riders determined not ADA paratransit eligible If the transit agency reviews trip requests by riders who are conditionally eligible, determine: (1) the number of trips requested by conditionally eligible riders for a period of time (e.g., one month or one year); (2) the number of trips that were reviewed for trip eligibility, and; (3) the number and percentage of total trips requested that are determined not eligible. Use in cost analysis detailed below. Special data run linking master rider file with trip file. ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff records of trips evaluated. 9. Number of trips not requested by conditionally eligible riders and made instead by fixed route Estimate the number of trips being made on fixed route by conditionally eligible riders by comparing the trip-making rates of these riders to the trip-making rates of riders with unconditional eligibility. Take the difference in the trip-making rates (presumably les for conditionally eligible riders) and multiply by the number of persons with conditional eligibility that used the service in a given period of time (e.g., one year). This could be considered the number of trips made by conditionally eligible riders on fixed route. Use in cost analysis detailed below. Special data run linking master rider file with trip file to determine number of trips by conditionally eligible riders, and an unduplicated count of conditionally eligible riders using the service for the study period. Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Sources Cost Analysis: More Thorough ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determinations and Conditional/Trip-by-Trip Eligibility Determinations Measure or Issue Analysis Method Data Sources 1. Annual additional eligibility determination costs The difference in annual cost between the prior and new process would need to be calculated. This might include: in-house staff costs overhead and administrative costs contractor costs transportation costs for getting applicants to and from interviews/assessments technology or software costs to better record eligibility data costs associated with the handling of an increased number of appeals ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff 2. Annual trip review costs The annual cost associated with making these decisions would need to be calculated. This might include: staff time to review trips travel expenses if staff are required to do on- street assessments and get reimbursed for these travel costs any special technology or software modifications to implement trip-by-trip determinations ADA paratransit eligibility office/staff 3. Average subsidy per ADA paratransit trip The average total ADA paratransit trip cost minus the average ADA paratransit fare Readily available trip, cost and revenue data 4. Average subsidy per fixed- route trip Readily available trip, cost and revenue data D3. (Continued) (continued on next page)

184 Strategy Guide to enable and promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by people with disabilities 5. Annual savings resulting from a more thorough process in general ((Rpre – Ract) * ASpt) – ((Rpre – Rpost) * ASfr) - (DC + RC) where: Rpre = Predicted ADA paratransit annual ridership for the current year based on trends prior to the implementation of the more thorough eligibility process Ract = Predicted ADA paratransit annual ridership for the current year based on trends after to the implementation of the more thorough eligibility process ASpt = Average subsidy per ADA paratransit trip ASfr = Average subsidy per fixed-route trip DC = Additional annual costs of eligibility determination RC = Additional annual costs of trip reviews 6. Annual savings related specifically to determinations of conditional eligibility and trip-by- trip determinations, Option #1 (((TRunc – TRcon) * CR) * ASpt) - (((TRunc – TRcon) * CR) * ASfr) - (DC + RC) where TRunc = Trip-making rate for unconditionally eligible riders TRcon = Trip-making rate for conditionally eligible riders CR = Total number of conditionally eligible riders using service in the year ASpt = Average subsidy per ADA paratransit trip ASfr = Average subsidy per fixed-route trip DC = Additional annual costs of eligibility determination RC = Additional annual costs of trip reviews 7. Annual savings related specifically to determinations of conditional eligibility and trip-by- trip determinations, Option #2 (Tne * ASpt) – (Tne * ASfr) - (DC + RC) where Tne = Number of trips per year requested by riders who are conditionally eligible that are found to be not eligible ASpt = Average subsidy per ADA paratransit trip ASfr = Average subsidy per fixed-route trip DC = Additional annual costs of eligibility determination RC = Additional annual costs of trip reviews Measure or Issue Analysis Method D3. (Continued)

Abbreviations and acronyms used without definitions in TRB publications: A4A Airlines for America AAAE American Association of Airport Executives AASHO American Association of State Highway Officials AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ACI–NA Airports Council International–North America ACRP Airport Cooperative Research Program ADA Americans with Disabilities Act APTA American Public Transportation Association ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials ATA American Trucking Associations CTAA Community Transportation Association of America CTBSSP Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program DHS Department of Homeland Security DOE Department of Energy EPA Environmental Protection Agency FAA Federal Aviation Administration FHWA Federal Highway Administration FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FRA Federal Railroad Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration HMCRP Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers MAP-21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (2012) NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASAO National Association of State Aviation Officials NCFRP National Cooperative Freight Research Program NCHRP National Cooperative Highway Research Program NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NTSB National Transportation Safety Board PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration RITA Research and Innovative Technology Administration SAE Society of Automotive Engineers SAFETEA-LU Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (2005) TCRP Transit Cooperative Research Program TEA-21 Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (1998) TRB Transportation Research Board TSA Transportation Security Administration U.S.DOT United States Department of Transportation