Developing, Enhancing, and Sustaining Tribal Transit Services

Developing, Enhancing, and Sustaining Tribal Transit Services
Author: Albert T. Stoddard
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 235
Release: 2012
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309258170

This report provides an overview of the tribal transit planning process and detailed guidance about the various steps for planning and implementing a tribal transit system. The steps that are described may be used for planning a new transit system, enhancing an existing service, or taking action to sustain services. While the guidebook is primarily aimed at tribal transit planners, it will also be of interest to tribal transportation planners and liaisons at all levels of government. In the research effort, data were collected from 67 tribes during Phase 1 and more detailed information was collected from 48 tribes during Phase 2. Fifteen tribes were visited for the development of case studies. Data were collected regarding the type of transit services, the size and scope of the transit programs, and funding approaches.

Transportation Planning Handbook

Transportation Planning Handbook
Author: ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers)
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 1204
Release: 2016-08-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1118762355

A multi-disciplinary approach to transportation planning fundamentals The Transportation Planning Handbook is a comprehensive, practice-oriented reference that presents the fundamental concepts of transportation planning alongside proven techniques. This new fourth edition is more strongly focused on serving the needs of all users, the role of safety in the planning process, and transportation planning in the context of societal concerns, including the development of more sustainable transportation solutions. The content structure has been redesigned with a new format that promotes a more functionally driven multimodal approach to planning, design, and implementation, including guidance toward the latest tools and technology. The material has been updated to reflect the latest changes to major transportation resources such as the HCM, MUTCD, HSM, and more, including the most current ADA accessibility regulations. Transportation planning has historically followed the rational planning model of defining objectives, identifying problems, generating and evaluating alternatives, and developing plans. Planners are increasingly expected to adopt a more multi-disciplinary approach, especially in light of the rising importance of sustainability and environmental concerns. This book presents the fundamentals of transportation planning in a multidisciplinary context, giving readers a practical reference for day-to-day answers. Serve the needs of all users Incorporate safety into the planning process Examine the latest transportation planning software packages Get up to date on the latest standards, recommendations, and codes Developed by The Institute of Transportation Engineers, this book is the culmination of over seventy years of transportation planning solutions, fully updated to reflect the needs of a changing society. For a comprehensive guide with practical answers, The Transportation Planning Handbook is an essential reference.

Benefits, Burdens, and Prospects of the American Community Survey

Benefits, Burdens, and Prospects of the American Community Survey
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 207
Release: 2013-02-26
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0309268001

In June 2012, the Committee on National Statistics (sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau) convened a Workshop on the Benefits (and Burdens) of the American Community Survey (ACS)-the detailed demographic and economic survey that began full-scale data collection in 2005 and that replaced the traditional "long form" in the 2010 census. ACS data are used by numerous federal agencies to administer programs, yet the ACS only moved from abstraction to reality for most users in 2010, when the first ACS estimates for small areas (based on 5 years of collected data) were made available. Hence, the workshop marked the opportunity to develop a picture of the breadth of the nonfederal user base of the ACS-among them, the media, policy research and evaluation groups (that distill ACS results for the media and broader public), state and local agencies, businesses and economic development organizations, and local and regional planning authorities-and to gather information on users' experiences with the first full releases of ACS products. In addition to covering innovative uses of the information now available on a continuous basis in the ACS, the workshop gave expression to the challenges and burdens associated with the survey: the time burden places on respondents, the challenges of explaining and interpreting estimates with increased levels of variability, and the privacy and confidentiality implications of some of the ACS content. Benefits, Burdens, and Prospects of the American Community Survey: Summary of a Workshop provides a factual summary of the workshop proceedings and hints at the contours of the ACS user constituency, providing important input to the ongoing review and refinement of the ACS program.

Implementation and Outcomes of Fare-free Transit Systems

Implementation and Outcomes of Fare-free Transit Systems
Author: Joel Volinski
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 105
Release: 2012
Genre: Transportation
ISBN: 030922361X

The purpose of this synthesis was to document the past and current experiences of public transit agencies that have planned, implemented, and operated fare-free transit systems. The report concentrates on public transit agencies that are either direct recipients or sub-recipients of federal transit grants and provide fare-free service to everyone in their service area on every mode they provide. The report will be of interest to transit managers and staffs, small urban and rural areas, university, and resort communities, as well as stakeholders and policy makers at all levels who would be interested in knowing the social benefits and macro impacts of providing affordable mobility through fare-free public transit. A review of the relevant literature was conducted for this effort. Reports provide statistics on changes in levels of ridership associated with fare-free service. White papers or agency reports identified by the topic panel or discovered through interviews with fare-free transit managers were also reviewed. Through topic panel input, Internet searches, listserv communications, and APTA and TRB sources, the first comprehensive listing of public transit agencies that provide fare-free service in the United States was identified. A selected survey of these identified public transit agencies yielded an 82% response rate (32/39). The report offers a look at policy and administrative issues through survey responses. Five case studies, achieved through interviews, represent the three types of communities that were found to be most likely to adopt a fare-free policy: rural and small urban, university dominated, and resort communities.

Public Transportation - Federal Role Key to Rural and Tribal Transit

Public Transportation - Federal Role Key to Rural and Tribal Transit
Author: U.s. Government Accountability Office
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2017-07-28
Genre:
ISBN: 9781973960690

" Public transportation in rural areas can be critical to connecting people to jobs, shopping, and health services. FTA awarded approximately $600 million in grants in both fiscal year 2013 and 2014 to support rural transit, including tribal transit. The current surface transportation authorization, enacted in 2012, increased funding for tribal transit from about $15 to $30 million per year and changed how these funds are allocated. The committee asked GAO to review FTA's rural transit program. This report examines (1) FTA's funding, oversight, and other support for the rural transit program; (2) changes in services, ridership, and costs since 2009; and (3) challenges that rural and tribal transit providers face and possible actions to address them. To address these topics, GAO reviewed program documentation and conducted about 50 interviews with FTA officials, national groups that have a relationship with rural transit providers, state transportation officials, and officials from rural and tribal transit providers. GAO selected state officials and providers based on grant amounts, the types of services offered, the size of transit systems, and geography, among other factors. Results are not generalizable to all states and providers. Additionally, GAO analyzed FTA data on transit services, ridership, and costs from 2009 through 2012, the latest year data were available. This report contains no recommendations"

Effective Approaches to Meeting Rural Intercity Bus Transportation Needs

Effective Approaches to Meeting Rural Intercity Bus Transportation Needs
Author: KFH Group
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2002
Genre: Bus lines
ISBN: 0309067634

This report presents results of research conducted under Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Project B-21, "Effective Approaches to Meeting Rural Intercity Bus Transportation Needs." The project identified strategies for initiating, preserving, and enhancing effective rural intercity bus transportation. To identify recent projects and to identify barriers or issues affecting implementation, the research effort included surveys of state rural transit program managers, state rail program managers, and intercity bus carriers. The report includes three parts. Part I contains a review of recent developments affecting the intercity bus industry, an overview of potential funding sources, and a review of barriers to implementation of rural intercity projects. Part II provides strategies for rural intercity service improvements, including methods of identifying intercity carriers and services, planning, program development, operating assistance, capital assistance, marketing assistance, and combining approaches. Each strategy is described, and implementation examples are presented. Part III presents 50 project descriptions based on additional survey interviews with project contacts.