01472716

Component

Community paratransit provides life-enhancing transportation to those most in need of such support, namely the transportation disadvantaged. In the current economic recession, however, paratransit providers nationwide have struggled to cope with increasing service demand amidst escalating operational and capital costs and reduced funding opportunities. To address these dilemmas, many paratransit agencies and other providers have reduced costs through service reductions and eliminations – strategies that negatively impact customers. This paper presents the context of the funding constraints faced by paratransit providers and explores innovative strategies pursued and the associated challenges encountered by providers in their quest to maintain and enhance services, as determined through a unique 2011 nationwide survey effort. Survey findings demonstrate that respondents have indeed faced challenges in the current economy, with service reduction or elimination reported by 42% of respondents. Fortunately, innovative approaches to raise funds, lower costs, and/or improve efficiencies have also been utilized. Coordination efforts, vehicle advertising, and the pursuit of foundation or other charitable support were alternatives used by the greatest number of respondents, with strategies including feeder service to transit and use of volunteer drivers less frequently pursued. Funding entities, policy makers, and the transit community can greatly benefit from considering the reported difficulties respondents encountered in pursuing these innovative coping mechanisms so that successful usage of these and other related strategies can be increased among paratransit providers who are desperately searching for viable options to support transportation in an increasingly limited funding environment.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP060 Paratransit.

01470560

13-4346

English

18p

2013

Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

References; Tables

Financing; Paratransit services; Quality of service; Recession; Strategic planning; Transportation disadvantaged persons

Community transportation

Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2013 Paper #13-4346

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Feb 5 2013 12:50PM