Synthesis of Information Related to Transit Practices. Topic SB-41. Microtransit Solutions in Rural Communities: On-Demand Alternatives to Dial-A-Ride Services and Unproductive Coverage Routes

With the advent of on-demand technology, on-demand transit services has provided a cost-effective immediate-fulfillment, shared-ride transportation service for the general public in areas where and/or when fixed-route service is not viable. On-demand services are provided directly with dedicated vehicles operated by transit entities, including paratransit contractors or the new crop of on-demand technology vendors, as well as by non-dedicated service providers (NDSPs) such as taxis and/or TNCs, or a combination thereof. On-demand dispatching technology can be licensed separately by a transit agency for the service or provided by a provider (sometimes called software-as-a- service). And, with the ADA requirement for service equivalence in mind, transit agencies have either required vendors to provide wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) service directly or through a subcontract, or directly operated WAVs. Research on state of the practice for on-demand transit in rural areas is needed for agencies to plan and operate/administrate service in their communities that better meets rider needs. The successes can serve as a guide to those transit agencies in rural communities who are contemplating introducing on-demand services to rural areas. Despite all the attention and research of on-demand, this is the one aspect that has lacked adequate research. The objective of this synthesis is to document the current state of practice of transit entities that have implemented on-demand services in rural settings.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5555

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $55,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project J-07, Topic SB-41

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Transit Cooperative Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001

  Federal Transit Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Griswold, Emily

• Performing Organizations:
  ,   Germany 

  Four Square ITP

  Rockville, MD  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  McKeeman, Alanna

• Start Date: 20231115
• Expected Completion Date: 20250523
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Demand responsive transportation; Micromobility; Paratransit services; Ridesourcing; Rural areas; Rural transit
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01884763
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project J-07, Topic SB-41
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 9 2023 7:17PM