01551105

Component

https://doi.org/10.3141/2533-16

The true value of transit systems in rural and small urban areas in the United States has been largely unmeasured, and there are often effects that go unidentified. Many studies have documented the benefits of urban transit systems with benefit–cost analysis. However, not many have looked into the benefits of transit in rural and small urban areas, where there is a great need for public transit, especially for transportation-disadvantaged individuals. This study focused on evaluating the qualitative and quantitative benefits of rural and small urban public transit systems and analyzed the benefit–cost ratio for rural and small urban transit areas for fixed-route and demand-response services in the United States. Data for rural and small urban transit systems from the national transit database (NTD) and rural NTD were used for calibrating the transit benefits and costs. Results were presented at a national level to show the effects of transit investments in rural and small urban areas nationally. Transit benefits in the United States for 2011 were found to be $1.6 billion for rural transit and $3.7 billion for small urban transit, not including the economic effects. Results showed a benefit–cost ratio of 2.16 for small urban transit and 1.20 for rural transit in the United States. Sensitivity analysis showed that increasing the percentage of forgone trips to 50%, increasing the cost of forgone medical and work trips by 25%, and increasing the percentage of medical trips to 30% substantially increased the total transit benefits by 88%, 20%, and 158%, respectively.

01590197

15-2286

English

pp 141–148

2015

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

9780309369381

Print

Figures (1) ; References (18) ; Tables (5)

Benefit cost analysis; Demand responsive transportation; Fixed routes; Local transportation; Rural transit; Small towns; Transportation disadvantaged persons; Urban transit

United States

Economics; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 12:48PM

• Analytical Five-Phase Bus Rapid Transit Traffic Flow Model
• Effects of Multimodal Operations on Urban Roadways
• Evaluation of Bus Reliability Measures and Development of a New Composite Indicator
• Exploring Multiplier Effects Generated by Bus Lane Combinations
• How Land Use Affects Station Access Behaviors of Bus Rapid Transit Passengers in Bangkok, Thailand
• Improving Veterans’ Mobility in Small Urban and Rural Areas
• Integrated Real-Time Transit Signal Priority Control for High-Frequency Segregated Transit Services
• Measuring Bus Stops Toward a Sustainable Urban Environment
• Method for Assessing Bus Delay in Mixed Traffic to Identify Transit Priority Improvement Locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Modeling Bus Travel Time Reliability with Supply and Demand Data from Automatic Vehicle Location and Smart Card Systems
• Modeling Diesel and Hybrid Bus Fuel Consumption with Virginia Tech Comprehensive Power-Based Fuel Consumption Model: Model Enhancements and Calibration Issues
• Optimal Synchronized Transfers in Schedule-Based Public Transport Networks Using Online Operational Tactics
• Queue Jump Lane, Transit Signal Priority, and Stop Location Evaluation of Transit Preferential Treatments Using Microsimulation
• Understanding Platform Overcrowding at Bus Rapid Transit Stations
• Visioning the Bus System of the Future: Stakeholders’ Perspective
• Worker Attitude Toward Bus Rapid Transit: Considering Dhaka, Bangladesh