Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program (2023) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Appendix C - Findings of the Survey
Appendix C - Findings of the Survey
Pages 199-224
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 199... ...
Survey Administration and Response The survey was provided as an online questionnaire using SurveyMonkey (Figure C-1) and sent to 24 transit agencies known to have an alternative service for ADA paratransit riders.
|
From page 200... ...
C-2 Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program Figure C-1. Screenshot of the survey introduction on SurveyMonkey. Figure C-2. What were the goals associated with implementing an Alternative Service?
|
From page 201... ...
In addition, two transit agencies also reported "Other concerns" about meeting ADA requirements. One of these two transit agencies did not specify the particular "other" ADA concern, while the second reported concerns related to the ADA's requirement that a directly contracted service contractor "stands in the shoes" of the transit agency.
|
From page 202... ...
These transit agencies reported a concern specifically with meeting requirements of Title VI in general and/or reported concerns with ensuring equivalent service for those without a smartphone, without access to the Internet or who are unbanked. Findings from Provider Interviews According to the provider interviews, all five alternative service providers, including the taxi company, have at least two methods for riders to book trips -- through a call center and through an app.
|
From page 203... ...
National Transit Database Findings from the Survey Concerns related to NTD data reporting or performance monitoring were the third most frequently reported challenge by transit agency respondents to the project's survey. A related question later in the survey asked the transit agencies if the data they tracked and/or was provided by their alternative service providers were included in the transit agency's NTD report under purchased transportation service.
|
From page 204... ...
n 5 15 Transit agency survey respondents indicated that safety considerations were a key challenge when planning and implementing their alternative service: ensuring passenger safety was the most frequently reported challenge and ensuring safe vehicles was the third most frequently reported challenge. Safety for transit riders can be supported with such strategies as driver training, drug and alcohol testing for drivers, and fingerprint background checks.
|
From page 205... ...
n 5 14 Fingerprinting. Are drivers providing Alternative Services required to undergo fingerprint background checks? See Figure C-6, and the corresponding table in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section.
|
From page 206... ...
Responses included: • Limited number of local taxi companies in the area with wheelchair-accessible taxicabs: 6 responses • Limited number of local taxi companies in the area: 4 responses • Limited number of local taxi companies willing to participate in the program, e.g., reluctance due to high insurance coverage requirements or other transit agency requirements or issues: 3 responses • Limited number of TNCs in the area or portions of the area: 1 response • Limited number of TNCs willing to participate in the program, e.g., reluctance due to high insurance agency requirements, reporting challenges versus data privacy issues, or other tran sit agency requirements or issues: 1 response State and Local Regulations on Taxis and TNCs Five transit agencies reported that burdens of compliance with state and local agencies regulat ing taxis and TNCs were a challenge when planning and implementing their alternative service. • Two of the five are in areas with significant taxi regulations.
|
From page 207... ...
Would like to increase amount each month that is allowed on the card." • "Insurance coverage from the TNCs." Survey Findings: Program Design, Operation, and Evaluation Service Design Key features of the alternative service programs provided by transit agency survey respondents are outlined here. Types of Agreements with Providers The survey listed three types of formal or less formal agreements that transit agencies may have with their alternative service providers as well as "Other." A service contract was the most frequently listed option, with several transit agencies reporting more than one response option (15 respondents)
|
From page 208... ...
Which TNCs Are Used for the Alternative Service? Transit agencies respondents were asked to identify which TNCs they use as providers for their alternative service; see Figure C-9 and the data in table format in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section.
|
From page 209... ...
However, there appears some acknowledgment that the WAV service may not always provide an equivalent response time, given the typical greater density of sedan vehicles than WAV vehicles in the service area. One of the transit agency respondents provides this advice to its ADA paratransit Figure C-9. If you checked TNC-based subsidy program in question 14, what TNC services are available to your alternative service customers?
|
From page 210... ...
• One serves the ADA paratransit service area plus a limited number of transit agency-designated destinations beyond the ADA paratransit service area. • Four described "Other" approaches that are particular to the transit agency, including one agency that allows eligible riders to take trips anywhere as long as the trip starts or ends in the transit agency's defined service area boundary.
|
From page 211... ...
Responses are shown in table format in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section. Data and Data Sharing Particularly in the early years of transit agency and TNCs partnerships, the issue of data sharing was a topic of concern, as the TNCs were generally not providing transit agencies with Figure C-10. How do your alternative service customers book trips?
|
From page 212... ...
Findings from Provider Interviews According to the provider interviews, all five providers reported no issues with providing data to their transit agency clients. The typical response was "we give the transit agency the data they want." One of the TNCs stated that it recognizes that transit agencies need data for their alterna tive services and that data privacy is not as important with service for paratransit riders as it is with microtransit.
|
From page 213... ...
See Figure C-13 and these data in table format in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section. Figure C-13. Reporting details: what alternative service data is tracked by your transit agency and/or contractually required to be provided by the alternative service providers?
|
From page 214... ...
, differentiated between ambulatory and wheelchair trips – Complaint frequency Thirteen of the responding transit agencies provided data, though in most cases, only partial data were reported. Total passenger trips provided was the most frequently reported data item, followed by total subsidy.
|
From page 215... ...
$21.25 is cost per alternative service trip that is paid to the paratransit contractor; additional cost for contractor and agency.
|
From page 216... ...
6. Based on the consistency of passengers taking their regularly scheduled trips, e.g., work, dialysis, to the alternative services, the transit agency can confidently use fewer dedicated vehicles and save money on the difference.
|
From page 217... ...
• A formal agreement with providers is important to memorialize responsibilities and to protect the transit agency. • Provide as many transportation options as possible for your customers to help ensure consumer choice.
|
From page 218... ...
n=15 Goals Responses Reduce overall cost and/or unit cost per trip of transporting paratransit customers 14 Provide an on-demand/same-day mobility option for paratransit customers 14 Reduce demand for our paratransit service 12 Provide a mobility option that allows paratransit customers to travel beyond the ADA paratransit 5 service area Provide a mobility option that allows paratransit customers to travel outside of ADA paratransit 4 service hours Other (please specify) 2 Transit agency board direction/support or in-house champion for collaborating with TNCs and/or 1 taxi companies Table for Figure C-3.
|
From page 219... ...
(check all that apply) n=15 Vehicle Insurance Responses Yes, required insurance is higher, but transit agency makes exception for providers showing 1 requirements above minimum state levels are too much of a burden Yes, required insurance coverage is higher & consistent with insurance coverage required for 2 in-house or contracted ADA paratransit service Other (please specify)
|
From page 220... ...
Reporting details: what alternative service data is tracked by your transit agency and/or contractually required to be provided by the alternative service providers? Aggregated data (check all that apply)
|
From page 221... ...
14 Table for Figure C-13. Reporting details: what alternative service data is tracked by your transit agency and/or contractually required to be provided by the alternative service providers?
|
From page 223... ...
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)
|
From page 224... ...
Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ISBN 978-0-309-69854-2 90000 9 780309 698542
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.