Improved Demand Response Productivity and Service Quality through Dispatch Strategies
Record Type: UTC

The ability of transit agencies to staff dispatch effectively and use technology to their full advantage is critical in responding proactively as service changes occur and in making sound routing decisions. Sound routing decisions result in improved productivity and cost effective service delivery. A modest 3% improvement in service productivity would save the average rural demand-response system approximately $65,000 annually in service costs. This project focuses on demand-response staffing, use of technology, managing the dispatch operation and challenges rural providers face in dispatching service. Researchers are conducting a data collection process of demand-response rural and small urban transit providers’ operations and their use of technology. A database of results was used to identify a cross-section of five transit providers for case studies of the dispatch operation. Case studies focus on 1) dispatcher goals and objectives, 2) dispatch-driver policies and procedures, 3) “team” responsibilities and expectations, and 4) reports and material collection. Researchers will conduct a staffing and performance analysis. A final report and guidebook entitled “Dispatching Demand-Response – Guidebook to Increasing Productivity and Saving Money,” includes setting dispatch goals and objectives, staffing according to goals and objectives, developing policies and procedures for effective operations, communicating “team” responsibilities, establishing and tracking performance measures, and identifying challenges in providing effective dispatching in rural areas. A briefing on project results will be presented during the semi-annual meeting of Texas public transit operators held at the Texas Department of Transportation in Austin. The final guidebook will be available on the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Transit Mobility Program web site and staff will request approval to post on TxDOT’s Regional Service Planning web site. Notification of the report will be made through e-mail to the Department of Transportation public transportation coordinators.
Start date: 2008/6/1
End date: 2009/1/31
Status: Active
Contract/Grant Number: DTRT06-G-0044
Secondary Number: 00014
Total Dollars: 45000
Source Organization: University Transportation Center for Mobility
Date Added: 03/07/2008
Index Terms: Demand responsive transportation, Public transit, Transit operating agencies, Quality of service, Cost effectiveness, Regional planning, Regional transportation, Texas, Research projects,

University Transportation Center for Mobility
http://utcm.tamu.edu
Texas Transportation Institute
Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU
College Station, TX 77843-3135
USA
Phone: (979) 845-2538
Fax: (979) 845-9761

Tooley, Melissa S
Phone: (979) 845-8545
Fax: (979) 845-9761
Email: m-tooley@tamu.edu

Texas Transportation Institute, Houston
http://tti.tamu.edu/groups/program.htm?p_org_code=HTM
Transit Mobility Program
Texas A&M University System
701 N. Post Oak, Suite 430
Houston, TX 77024
USA

Edrington, Suzie
Phone: (713) 686-2971
Email: s-edrington@tamu.edu