Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs (2013)

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22 APPENDIX A Survey Questionnaire Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs The purpose of this survey is to determine the state of the practice of programs that encourage organizations and individuals to adopt transit stations and stops. You are receiving this survey because we believe you can contribute to this project, based on your agency’s experience operating such a program either now or in the past. We have tried to keep the survey as brief as possible, while allowing us to collect the data needed to prepare a synthesis of practice. We ask for your contact information so that we may follow up, as needed, with additional questions. The survey findings will be summarized in a report that will be published by the Transportation Research Board’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). If you believe that someone else in your organization is better suited to respond to this survey, please forward this email to them, and please cc me on the email. Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, please let me know. When the final report is available from TRB, we will be sure to forward a copy to you. Kathryn Harrington•Hughes tel: 443•385•0300 kathryn@harrington•hughes.com 1. Please provide your contact information so that we may call or email you if we need clarification or more details. Name and Title: Agency/Organization: Email Address: Phone Number:

23 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 2. What modes does your system operate? (check all that apply) fec Bus fec Bus rapid transit fec Light rail fec Commuter rail fec Metro fec Bicycle Share fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 3. What is the annual ridership on your system? 5 6 4. What type of community do you serve? (check all that apply) fec Urban fec Suburban fec Rural fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

24 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 5. Does your system currently have an adopt-a-stop/stationprogramin place? Yes Not now, but had program in the past _)_ No Comments/Details 6

25 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs If your program was canceled... 6. Why was the program canceled? (check all that apply) fec Cost/budget fec Lack of community support fec Lack of agency support fec Concerns about safety and security fec Too difficult to manage fec Don't know fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

26 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs For agencies that currently have an adopt•a•stop/station program... 7. How long has your adopt•a•stop/station program been in existence? mlj Less than 1 year mlj 1•5 years mlj 6•10 years mlj More than 10 years Comments/Details 5 6 8. How many stops and/or stations are currently available for adoption? mlj Fewer than 10 mlj 10 • 100 mlj 101 • 500 mlj More than 500 Comments/Details 5 6

27 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 9. What is the total number of stops and/or stations in your system? mlj Fewer than 10 mlj 10 • 100 mlj 101 • 500 mlj More than 500 Comments/Details 5 6 10. What was the reason for initiating the program? (check all that apply) fec Enhance station/stop appearance fec Engage community fec Augment staff fec Improve safety and security at stations and stops fec Save money fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

28 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 11. Who has primary responsibility for organizing and managing the program? mlj Transit agency mlj Local government mlj State department of transportation mlj Civic or nonprofit organization (please specify below) mlj Private•sector entity mlj Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 12. What types of stops and stations are included in your adopt•a•stop/station program? (check all that apply) fec Street•side stops (no furniture) fec Furnished stops (with benches and/or enclosures) fec Open•access facility (such as a bus hub, light rail station, or multimodal station) fec Closed•access facility (such as a below•ground metro station) fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

29 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 13. Who is eligible to apply to adopt a stop/station? (check all that apply) fec For•profit organizations (nearby commerical establishments, etc.) fec Not•for•profit organizations (churches, schools, civic leagues, etc.) fec Individuals fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 14. How are the stops/stations to be included in the adoption program determined? (check all that apply) fec Input from the community/nearby businesses fec Agency assessment of need (e.g., dirtiest stops) fec Location fec Through the application process fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

30 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 15. Since the program's inception, how many organizations (not individuals) have adopted a stop or station? mlj None mlj Fewer than 10 mlj 11 • 25 mlj More than 25 Comments/Details 5 6 16. Since the program's inception, how many individuals (not associated with an adopting organization) have adopted a stop or station? mlj None mlj Fewer than 10 mlj 11 • 25 mlj More than 25 Comments/Details 5 6

31 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 17. How do you promote/publicize your adopt•a•stop/station program? (check all that apply) fec Advertising at station stops and stations and on vehicles fec Press releases to community newspapers and other media fec Emails to transit advisory boards fec Presentations at community events (Rotary lunches, etc.) fec Website fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 18. What is the annual budget of your adopt•a•stop/station program? mlj Less than $5,000 mlj $5,000 • $20,000 mlj $21,000 • $50,000 mlj More than $50,000 Comments/Details 5 6

32 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 19. What items are included in the budget? (check all that apply) fec Tools and materials (brooms, trash bags, etc.) fec Rewards and incentives (e.g., transit passes) fec Staff labor fec Insurance specific to program fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 20. What is the source of funding for your program? (check all that apply) fec Maintenance budget fec Customer service budget fec Operations budget fec Community sponsorship fec Business sponsorship fec Advertising income fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

33 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 21. Do you have a full•time position(s) devoted to your adopt•a•stop/station program? mlj Yes mlj No mlj Not yet, but planning to Comments/Details 5 6 22. Approximately how many total staff hours per month are dedicated to your adopt•a• stop/station program? mlj None mlj Fewer than 8 mlj 8 • 16 mlj 17 • 24 mlj 25• 40 mlj More than 40 Comments/Details 5 6

34 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 23. Approximately how many volunteer hours (total) are contributed each month? mlj Fewer than 8 mlj 8 • 16 mlj 17 • 24 mlj 25 • 40 mlj More than 40 Comments/Details 5 6 24. Are volunteers required to submit time sheets or to otherwise record their time spent working at a stop or station? mlj Yes mlj No mlj Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

35 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 25. What is the expected time commitment for an organization or volunteer applying to adopt a stop or station? mlj Less than 1 year mlj More than 1 year mlj No commitment specified Comments/Details 5 6 26. Do most of your volunteers (organizations and individuals) apply to extend their commitment past the original agreement? mlj Yes mlj No mlj Not applicable Comments/Details 5 6

36 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 27. Are volunteers (organizations and individuals) required to sign a contract or other document outlining their responsibilties and commitment? mlj Yes mlj No Comments/Details 5 6 28. What activities are volunteers typically responsible for? (check all that apply) fec Picking up/ removing trash fec Cleaning station furniture fec Removing graffiti fec Reporting vandalism or other damage fec Shoveling snow fec Weeding planting beds fec Updating community information bulletin boards fec Suggesting enhancements to the station or stop fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

37 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 29. What activities, if any, are volunteers restricted or discouraged from doing? (check all that apply) fec Picking up/removing trash fec Cleaning station furniture fec Removing graffiti fec Reporting vandalism and other damage fec Shoveling snow fec Weeding planting beds fec Updating community information bulletin boards fec Suggesting enhancements to the station or stop fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

38 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 30. How do you prepare volunteer organizations and individuals for their responsibilities? (check all that apply) fec Regularly scheduled orientation/training sessions fec One•on•one training sessions scheduled as each volunteer comes on board fec Printed procedures and guidelines fec Video instruction fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 31. Are volunteers provided with guidance/training in how to avoid or defuse confrontations with trespassers or vandals? mlj Yes mlj No mlj Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

39 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 32. What incentives or rewards do you provide your volunteers? (check all that apply) fec Complimentary or reduced fare transit passes fec Public recognition at events, in media, and/or on website fec Certificate of appreciation fec Plaque at stop/station, recognizing their contribution fec None fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 33. If a plaque is installed at the stop/station, who pays for it? mlj Transit agency mlj Sponsor (civic group, etc.) mlj Volunteer organization or individual mlj Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

40 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 34. Do you provide incentives for organizations or individuals to adopt multiple stops/stations? If so, what are they? mlj Yes (please specify below) mlj No Comments/Details 5 6 35. Do you limit the number of stops/stations a volunteer (organization or individual) can adopt? mlj Yes (please explain why, below) mlj No Comments/Details 5 6

41 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 36. Do you have policies in place to monitor potential abuses of the incentive/reward system? mlj Yes (please describe below) mlj No Comments/Details 5 6 37. Are individuals or organizations who apply to adopt a stop/station required to submit a fee with their application? mlj Yes (please list the fee amount below) mlj No Comments/Details 5 6

42 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 38. Are individuals (either acting on their own or through an organization) required to pass a background check? mlj Yes mlj No Comments/Details 5 6 39. Are volunteers (organizations and/or individuals) required to sign a waiver of responsibility for injury? mlj Yes mlj No Comments/Details 5 6

43 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 40. Do you insure against risk of injuries resulting from volunteer work? mlj Yes mlj No Comments/Details 5 6 41. Are volunteers provided with identification badges, reflective vests, or other means of identifying them as official ambassadors for your agency? mlj Yes (please describe below) mlj No Comments/Details 5 6

44 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 42. Since the inception of the program, have any volunteers been injured while working? mlj Yes mlj No mlj Information not available Comments/Details 5 6 43. Has the adopt•a•stop/station program affected the work of your maintenance department? mlj Yes (please explain below) mlj No Comments/Details 5 6

45 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 44. What type of feedback have you had from your maintenance department? fec Positive feedback (please describe below) fec Negative feedback (please describe below) fec Mixed feedback (please describe below) fec None Comments/Details 5 6 45. Has the union rep raised any concerns about the program? mlj Yes (please specify below) mlj No mlj Not applicable Comments/Details 5 6

46 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 46. How do you monitor how well the program is working? (check all that apply) fec Scheduled checks of adopted stations and stops fec Unscheduled checks of adopted stations and stops fec Feedback from the community/ nearby businesses fec Feedback from volunteers fec Feedback from riders fec Do not measure performance fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 47. Does your agency consider your program to be a success? mlj Yes mlj No mlj Other (please explain below) Comments/Details 5 6

47 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 48. What measures are used to rate the program's success? (check all that apply) fec Feedback from community/businesses fec Staff assessment of cleanliness of stops/stations fec Number of stops/stations adopted fec Cost savings fec Feedback from riders fec Public's increased perception of safety at stops/stations fec Fewer reports of vandalism (including graffiti) at stops/stations fec Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 49. How do you solicit feedback about the adopt•a•stop/station program from your riders? (check all that apply) fec In•person surveys at stations and stops and onboard vehicles fec Feedback cards distributed to riders fec Public meetings fec Website fec Other (please specify below) fec Not applicable Comments/Details 5 6

48 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 50. What do you consider the biggest challenge to setting up an adopt•a•stop/station program? mlj Funding the program mlj Getting community buy•in/recruiting sufficient volunteers mlj Monitoring program performance mlj Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6 51. What do you consider to be the biggest benefit from an adopt•a•stop/station program? mlj Cleaner, safer stations and stops mlj Improved relations with the community mlj Better use of the organization's resources mlj Attracting choice riders to the system mlj Other (please specify below) Comments/Details 5 6

49 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs 52. Have yourealized any unexpected benefits from your adopt-a-stop/station program? Yes (please describe below) _)_ No Comments/Details

50 Copy of Transit Station and Stop Adoption Programs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thank you page Thank you for taking this survey, which is being conducted as part of TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program Synthe is Project SB-21. Your input is important to TRB and the transit industry. We appreciate your input, and we will call or email you if we have any follow-up questions. If you have any questions, please call or email Kathryn Harrington-Hughes at 443-385-0300 (kathryn@harrington- hughes.com)