Transit Agency Relationships and Initiatives to Improve Bus Stops and Pedestrian Access (2021)

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A-1 Survey Instrument A P P E N D I X A

TCRP J-07/SD-06 Survey Q1 The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been conducting research for the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) on bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. The research, TCRP Synthesis SD-06: Transit Agency Relationships and Initiatives to Improve Bus Stops and Pedestrian Access, will document transit systems’ current practices and programs in bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements and will provide an overview of: 1. Bus stop improvement goals, 2. Relationships with local governments and development permitting, 3. Tools and software for tracking and maintaining improvements, and 4. An assessment of benefits realized given infrastructure investments. This survey is the first step in the research project and needs to be completed by February 21, 2020. This survey will take approximately 15–20 minutes to complete. The survey saves your responses as you move from section to section. You can finish the survey later from the same IP address within a two-week period. This survey will ask questions about your agency’s bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements (such as sidewalks, crossings, curb ramps, detectable warnings near/adjacent to bus stops), including but not limited to the following: • Planning and objectives • Infrastructure considered • Tools and processes • Local agreements • Coordination with stakeholders • Accessibility and equity • Funding considerations • Benefits and lessons learned

The information you provide will be synthesized with information collected from other transit professionals. Your answers will be confidential to the extent permitted or required by law. Your participation is greatly appreciated. If you have questions, concerns or complaints regarding this study, you may contact Ipek Sener at 512-407-1119, i- sener@tti.tamu.edu. You must be at least 18 to participate in the survey. You may be contacted by TTI to help clarify your answers or gather additional information. Do you agree to participate in this research? oYes oNo – Skip to End of survey Start of Block: Introductory Questions Introductory Questions The following questions ask about the agency’s participation in bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs and confirmation of relevance. Q2 Please fill in the following information about you and your agency. oName: ________________________________________________ oEmail Address: oAgency Name: ________________________________________________ oAgency City & State: ________________________________________________

Q3 Do you personally have knowledge of the transit agency’s bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvements (including knowledge whether the transit agency has programs or initiatives in place)? oYes – Skip to Q6 oNo Q4 Do you know who has knowledge of the transit agency’s bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvements? oYes oNo – Skip to End of survey Q5 Please provide the contact information of the individual who has knowledge of the transit agency’s bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvements. oName: ________________________________________________ oEmail: ________________________________________________ oPhone: ________________________________________________ Skip to End of survey

For this survey, we are interested in any bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs within the transit agency or conducted by another local agency. These programs/initiatives could include the following activities: • Annual budgeting of capital funding for bus stop improvements • Periodic grant funding for infrastructure improvements • Local revenue programs to improve bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure • Planning and decision making of bus stop improvements • Tools and processes for determining bus stop improvement need • Agreements with developers for bus stop construction and maintenance • Other similar activities Q6 Does your transit agency have or participate in a bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvement program? oYes, we have our own program – Show ‘Scope of Bus Stops Programs’ Block oYes, we participate in another local agency’s program Show ‘Contact for Other Agency’ Block, then Skip to End of Survey oYes, we have our own program AND participate in another agency’s program Show ‘Contact for Other Agency’ Block, then ‘Scope of Bus Stops Programs’ Block oNo, we had a previous program OR participated in another agency’s program – Show ‘No Active Improvements Program’ Block oNo previous program or program participation – Show ‘No Active Improvements Program’ Block End of Block: Introductory Questions

Q7 Which of the following was a desired outcome in your agency’s program? Please check all that apply. ▢ Improve bus stop accessibility ▢ Lower trip demand on ADA paratransit service ▢ Bolster ridership on the bus network ▢ Improve maintenance practices of infrastructure ▢ Improve bus stops in transportation-disadvantaged areas ▢ Improve relationships/coordination with local agencies and developers ▢ Take advantage of available funding opportunities ▢ Improve safety and security for customers Start of Block: Scope of Bus Stop Programs Scope of Bus Stop Programs The following questions ask for general background information on your agency’s bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs.

Q9 Which department within the organization contributes to the bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement program? Please indicate “Program Lead”, “Support”, or “Other, specify”. Q8 Can you provide electronic copies of planning documents related to bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs upon request? oYes oNo ▢ Improve customer comfort ▢ Respond equitably to community requests for amenities and improved access at bus stops ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________

Lead Support Planning o o Operations – Fixed-route o o Operations – Demand Response/Paratransit o o Maintenance o o Facilities o o Capital Improvements o o Community Outreach o o Other, specify__________ o o Other, specify__________ o o Other, specify__________ o o End of Block: Bus Stop Programs

Start of Block: Contact for Other Agency Contact for Other Agency Q10 What areas of the bus stop and pedestrian pathway to the bus stop does the other agency’s program oversee and make improvements for? Please select all that apply. ▢Bus stop immediate area (bench, landing pad, shelter) ▢Sidewalks leading to the bus stop ▢Intersections and crosswalks near the bus stop Q11 Please provide the name of the agency that is responsible for other bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvement program that benefits your transit agency. If there are multiple other agencies, please pick the one that completes the most significant amount of pedestrian infrastructure in your service area. Please also provide information for a point of contact if you have it. oAgency name ________________________________________________ oAgency role in infrastructure improvements_________________________ oContact name ________________________________________________ oContact email ________________________________________________ End of Block: Contact for Other Agency Show Bus Stop Infrastructure Elements Block and so on.

Start of Block: No Active Improvement Programs No Active Improvement Programs Q12 Why did your transit agency discontinue its previous bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement program? Please check all that apply. ▢Agreements with local authorities were discontinued ▢Tools used were found to be dissatisfactory ▢Funding availability used for the program lapsed ▢Cost/benefits of the program were not realized ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________ Q13 Which of the following best describes the current status of bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements at your agency? o The agency makes infrastructure improvements on an ad hoc basis (when needed) – Skip to Scope of Bus Stops Programs Block o The agency relies on other local authorities to make infrastructure improvements – Skip to Participant Information Block o The agency has no program or plans to implement a program at this time – Skip to Participant Information Block, and then End of Survey End of Block: No Active Improvement Programs

Start of Block: Participant Information Further Participant Information We’d like to quickly ask a couple questions about other participants you believe should be included in this survey research. Q14 Do you know of any peer transit agencies that have bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs and may be interested in this survey? oYes oNo – Skip to End of survey Q15 Please provide contact information for the peer transit agency that may be interested in this survey. oAgency name ________________________________________________ oContact person name ________________________________________________ oContact Email ________________________________________________ End of Block: Participant Information

Start of Block: Bus Stop Infrastructure Elements Bus Stop Infrastructure Elements Q16 The next several questions will collect some details about the elements considered in your transit agency’s bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure improvements program. In order to maintain consistency, it is necessary to define some terms that will be presented in the survey. Source: Adapted from Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority – Bus Stop Planning & Design Guide (2018) • Shelter: a curb-side amenity designed to provide protection and relief from the elements and a place to sit while patrons wait for the bus. Shelters shall provide a minimum clear floor or ground space and shall be connected by an accessible route to a boarding and alighting area.

• Bench: standard seating for 2-to-4 persons located at the bus stop to wait for the bus, typically underneath the shelter (if present). • Landing pad: a clear, level, paved area that is provided for bus patrons and may connect to a bench or shelter, connected to the pedestrian pathway if possible. At least 5 feet wide and 8 feet deep, perpendicular to the curb and at curb height, according to ADA standards. • Rear-door area: an additional firm surface area located adjacent to the rear door of the bus, connected to the standard landing pad area and the pedestrian pathway. • Pathway: the pedestrian path to get to and from the landing pad serving the bus stop, preferably using a paved, continuous, and level sidewalk in order to ensure accessibility and ease of use for all riders. • Crossing: designated place for pedestrians to cross a street at an intersection or midblock, typically with markings on the road and pedestrian signals. • Curb ramp: a short ramp located at a street intersection cutting through a curb or built up to it, designed to safely transition from a roadway to a curbed sidewalk. Curb ramps at marked crossings shall be wholly contained within the markings, excluding any flared sides. • Lighting: overhead lighting at the bus stop area either on or adjacent to the landing pad. Adequate lighting is important for customer comfort, safety, and security. • Detectable warning: distinctive surface pattern of truncated domes on the curb ramp detectable by cane or underfoot to alert the pedestrian of the approaching street crossing.

Q17 Indicate which infrastructure elements are included in your transit agency’s bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement program. Please check all that apply All/most bus stops Some bus stops None/almost none of bus stops Shelters o o o Benches/other seating o o o Landing pad o o o Lighting o o o Sidewalks/pathways o o o Crossings o o o Curb ramps o o o Detectable warnings o o o Other, specify__________ o o o End of Block: Bus Stop Infrastructure Elements

Start of Block: Tools and Processes Tools and Processes The following questions ask about tools, and data associated with the agency’s bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs. Q18 What kinds of data or tools do you use to measure importance and prioritize improvements of bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure elements as part of the program? Please check all that apply. ▢Bus stop inventory data ▢Fixed-route on/off board ridership data ▢Paratransit ridership data ▢Anonymized customer home location data ▢Demographic data ▢Indexing or scoring system ▢Land use information ▢Proximity to community services ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________

Q19 How are improvements for bus stops prioritized? Rank the options that you are using. Please drag and drop the options that you are using and rank them. ______ Worst condition ______ Fixed-route ridership ______ Route type (e.g., high-frequency or network connective routes) ______ Paratransit ridership ______ Observed problems by operators/staff ______ Customer complaints ______ Street or bus corridor type ______ Adjacent land uses (senior centers, hospitals, schools, etc.) ______ Other infrastructure projects ______ Bus network redesigns ______ Costs ______ Space available ______ Other, specify End of Block: Tools and Processes

Start of Block: Agreements with Local Entities - starts Agreements with Local Entities The following questions ask for further information on agreements related to construction of new bus stop infrastructure, replacement of existing infrastructure elements, funding share for capital costs, planning and coordination, and construction. (Please do not include any agreements concerned with lower level bus stop maintenance, such as trash removal or graffiti clean-up). Q20 Does your transit agency have a formal or informal agreement with a local government entity (s), such as cities, counties, state departments of transportation, or private developers concerning bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements? oYes oNo - Skip to ‘Agreements with Local Entities ends’ Block Show if Q20 = Yes Q21 Please indicate how many agreements (maximum 5). ________________________________________________________________ End of Block: Agreements with Local Entities - starts IF Q20 = yes, and Q21>0, then show Agreements with Local Entities - LOOP

Start of Block: Agreements with Local Entities - LOOP Q22 Please provide the following information on the [Loop –First/Second/Third/Fourth/Fifth- Max 5] agreement. oEntity(s) ________________________________________________ oName (if applicable) ________________________________________________ o Formal agreement, yes or no___________________________________________ oStart year in YYYY format _____________________________________________ o Length of agreement_____________________________________________ oActive, yes or no_____________________________________________ Q23 Is this agreement one of the following? oMemorandum of Understanding (MOU) oMemorandum of Association o Informal, no official document oOther, specify ______________________________________________________

Q24 Does the entity in the agreement with the transit agency assume responsibility for making improvements to any of the following bus stop or pedestrian pathway elements? Please check all that apply. Partner responsibility Transit agency responsibility Both Shelters o o o Benches o o o Landing pad o o o Rear-door areas o o o Lighting o o o Sidewalks/pathways o o o Crossings o o o Curb ramps o o o Detectable warnings o o o Other, specify__________ o o o

Q25 Would you be able to share a copy of this agreement with the research team? oYes, allow upload oNo document or cannot share Show if Loop Q25 = Yes, allow upload Q26 Please upload the copy of this agreement. End of Block: Agreements with Local Entities - LOOP Start of Block: Agreements with Local Entities - ends

Q27 What are key issues in working with developers and inclusion of transit agency interests in developments and construction? Please check all that apply. ▢Limited right-of-way ▢Slope requiring extensive construction/reconstruction ▢DBE requirements ▢Environmental clearances ▢Finding qualified contractors ▢Procuring shelters quickly ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________ ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________ ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________ End of Block: Agreements with Local Entities - ends

Start of Block: Communication and Coordination Communication and Coordination The following questions ask how the transit agency communicates and gathers information about bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements. Q28 How does the transit agency communicate the following information. Please check all that apply. Share information on bus stop/ped. improvements, relocations, consolidations, or new locations Receive comments and feedback from the community on bus stop/ped. improvements Community meetings ▢ ▢ Workshop events ▢ ▢ Website announcements or portals ▢ ▢ Flyers and brochures ▢ ▢ Postings at bus stops/intersections ▢ ▢ N/A ▢ ▢ Other, specify______ ▢ ▢

Q29 Does the transit agency coordinate bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement projects (such as street reconstruction, utility upgrade, trail, or sidewalk projects) to coincide with/piggyback on other infrastructure projects? oYes oNo Q30 Does the transit agency coordinate with utility companies or private development projects to make bus stop and/or pedestrian pathway improvements? oYes, specify_________ oNo End of Block: Communication and Coordination

Start of Block: Accessibility and Equity Accessibility and Equity The following questions ask about accessibility and equity considerations of agency’s bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvement programs and importance of bus stop elements for persons with disabilities. Q31 Does the transit agency receive and act upon feedback from community organizations focused on persons with disabilities and seniors on bus stops? oYes oNo Section 810 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides requirements for transportation facilities, including sections on bus boarding and alighting areas, bus shelters, bus signs, rail platforms, and rail station signs. The requirements include minimum size requirements for bus stop elements and references of compliance to other sections of the ADA. Q32 Does the transit agency have an ADA transition plan which considers bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure? oYes oNo

Q33 Please rank the following infrastructure issues from most challenging to least challenging from a user perspective for persons with disabilities using fixed-route transit, based on your agency’s understanding. ▢Barriers in the pedestrian pathway ▢Missing/incomplete shelters ▢Missing/lack of seating areas ▢Broken/incomplete sidewalks ▢Lack of curb ramps ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________ Q34 How does the transit agency ensure equity of bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements throughout the service area? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ End of Block: Accessibility and Equity

Start of Block: Funding Considerations Funding Considerations The following questions ask about funding availability and use towards bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements at your agency. Q35 What local funding sources (non-federal or state) are used in bus stop and pedestrian improvements? Please check all that apply. ▢Sales tax ▢General local contributions from the municipality/county ▢Specified contributions from the municipality/county ▢Specialized sources (rental revenues, advertising, etc.) ▢Business contributions ▢Other, specify ________________________________________________ Q36 How much per year is allocated for bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure maintenance and improvements? Please enter the average amount from your current or most recent budget year. Please also enter the number bus stops and enter the answers in the boxes below. oBudget ________________________________________________ oBus Stops ________________________________________________ End of Block: Funding Considerations

Start of Block: Infrastructure Investment Benefits Infrastructure Investment Benefits The next few questions will focus on the benefits of bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure investment. Q37 For each of the following measure used at your transit agency (as applicable), please indicate using a scale of 1 (made significantly worse) to 5 (made significantly better) the effect bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure investment has had on the factors presented below. Made significantly worse Made somewhat worse No impact Made somewhat better Made significantly better N/A or not Measured Fixed-route ridership (higher) o o o o o o Paratransit ridership (lower) o o o o o o Actual changes in operating cost/trip (lower) o o o o o o Estimated changes in operating cost/trip (lower) o o o o o o Area business activity (higher) o o o o o o Customer complaints on amenities and access (lower) o o o o o o Other, specify_______ o o o o o o

End of Block: Infrastructure Investment Benefits Start of Block: Overall Lessons Learned and Challenges Overall Lessons Learned and Challenges For the remaining questions in the survey, we’re asking you about your overall experience with your bus stop and/or pedestrian infrastructure program, including all formal and informal agreements. Q38 Using a scale of 1 (not a problem at all) to 3 (major challenge), please indicate your agency’s experience with the bus stop improvement program issues presented below. Not a problem at all Slight problem Major challenge Generating buy in with all stakeholders o o o Maintaining goals and measurement in the context of changing priorities of the transit system, financial budget pressures, etc. o o o Coordinating with jurisdiction(s) that have right-of-way at neighboring bus stop pathways o o o Coordinating with other transit operators that use the bus stops o o o

Working with developers and private property owners o o o Ensuring equity of bus stop and pedestrian improvements in all parts of the service area o o o Not a problem at all Slight problem Major challenge Gathering and managing bus stop inventory data o o o Measuring benefit of bus stop and pedestrian improvements o o o Funding availability for bus stop and pedestrian improvements o o o Coordination within the agency on bus stop and pedestrian improvements o o o Establishing agency’s design criteria o o o Other, specify_____ o o o

Q39 What lessons learned could your agency share with the industry regarding bus stop and pedestrian infrastructure improvements? ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ End of Block: Overall Lessons Learned and Challenges Show Participant Information Block End of Survey Message End of Survey Message: Thank you for participating in this survey. Your responses have been recorded and your input is greatly appreciated. We may reach out to you in the future to obtain additional clarification or information. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this research, please contact the principal investigator, Todd Hansen, at t- hansen@tti.tamu.edu or 713-613-9205.