RURAL TRANSIT Description Rural transit describes public trans- portation services in areas with pop- ulations of 50,000 or fewer. Rural transit providers operate common transit modes such as local bus, commuter bus, demand-response, Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit, and vanpool/rideshare programs. Rural transit services provide access to education, employment, and vital services for transit-dependent popu- lations. Rural transit services also provide an alternative commute mode for non-transit-dependent riders. Target Market Rural transit works best in areas with long-haul suburban or rural commuters traveling into congested corridors. Long-haul commuter-oriented services (commuter buses and vanpool/rideshare services) have the most potential for congestion reduction. Such services can easily allow commuters to transfer to other modes at park-and-ride facili- ties or stations in urban areas. How Will This Help? • Decreases personal vehicles on the road by providing alternative commute options such as commuter bus, vanpool, and rideshare services on overcrowded corridors. • Increases municipal cost savings over the long term through fewer vehicles on the roadway, delaying significant roadway improvements and more frequent maintenance. • Increases personal cost savings by reducing a commuter’s daily vehicle-related costs through the shared expense. • Reduces emissions and fuel use through fewer vehicles on the roadways, improving environmental quality. Implementation Issues Jurisdictional Boundaries Transit providers of all sizes are limited by jurisdictional boundaries. Lack of Community Buy-In Without a supportive community (riders and funding), transit service struggles. More Information: tti.tamu.edu/policy/how-to-fix-congestion SUCCESS STORIES SHORT-LONG COST TIME IMPACT SPOT L O C A L C O R R I D O R R E G I O N A L S T A T E CITY/STATE/ TRANSIT AGENCY HURDLES WHO FUNDING AND PUBLIC SUPPORT The Ben Franklin Transit Vanpool program in Benton and Franklin Counties, Washington, removed at least 3,232 vehicles from local roadways in 2008. Substantial local demand led to the program’s consistent growth. Distances The longer distances in rural transit result in increased costs (fuel, maintenance, and staff) and longer wait times for riders. Often rural areas are many miles from desirable destinations. Treasure Valley Transit in Idaho: provided 145,000 trips on 15 unique commuter-specific routes in 2010. Transit

RURAL TRANSIT ST TI · 2017. 1. 4. · Rural transit services provide access to education, employment, and vital services for transit-dependent popu-lations. Rural transit services

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RURAL TRANSIT

DescriptionRural transit describes public trans-portation services in areas with pop-ulations of 50,000 or fewer. Rural transit providers operate common tran-sit modes such as local bus, commuter bus, demand-response, Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit, and vanpool/rideshare programs.

Rural transit services provide access to education, employment, and vital services for transit-dependent popu-lations. Rural transit services also pro-vide an alternative commute mode for non-transit-dependent riders.

Target MarketRural transit works best in areas with long-haul suburban or rural commut-ers traveling into congested corridors. Long-haul commuter-oriented services (commuter buses and vanpool/ride-share services) have the most potential for congestion reduction. Such services can easily allow commuters to transfer to other modes at park-and-ride facili-ties or stations in urban areas.

How Will This Help?• Decreases personal vehicles

on the road by providing alternative commute options such as commuter bus, vanpool, and rideshare services on overcrowded corridors.

• Increases municipal cost savings over the long term through fewer vehicles on the roadway, delaying significant roadway improvements and more frequent maintenance.

• Increases personal cost savings by reducing a commuter’s daily vehicle-related costs through the shared expense.

• Reduces emissions and fuel use through fewer vehicles on the roadways, improving environmental quality.

Implementation IssuesJurisdictional BoundariesTransit providers of all sizes are limited by jurisdictional boundaries.

Lack of Community Buy-InWithout a supportive community (riders and funding), transit service struggles.

More Information: tti.tamu.edu/policy/how-to-fix-congestion SUCCESS STORIES

SHORT-LONG

COST

TIME

IMPACT

SPOT

LOCAL

CORRIDOR

REGIONAL

STATE

CITY/STATE/TRANSIT AGENCY

HURDLES WHO

FUNDING AND PUBLIC SUPPORT

The Ben Franklin Transit Vanpool program in Benton and Franklin

Counties, Washington, removed at least 3,232 vehicles from local roadways in 2008. Substantial local demand led to the program’s consistent growth.

DistancesThe longer distances in rural transit result in increased costs (fuel, mainte-nance, and staff) and longer wait times for riders. Often rural areas are many miles from desirable destinations.

Treasure Valley Transit in Idaho:provided

145,000 trips on 15 unique

commuter-specific routes in 2010.

Transit