Perceptions of Bicycle-Friendly Policy Impacts on Accessibility to Transit Services: The First and Last Mile Bridge, MTI Report 12-10

The coordination of bicycle and transit modes has received close attention from public transit planners and researchers in recent years, as transit agencies around the world have installed bicycle racks on transit vehicles, implemented bicycles-on-trains policies, and made other efforts to facilitate bicycle-transit integration. Many planners presume that the catchment area for transit is enlarged by these efforts, but geographic changes in the size of catchment areas have not been effectively documented. This research project was designed to assess the distances travelled on bicycle by cycle-transit users (CTUs), both those who use bicycles as a means of access to transit stops and stations and those who bicycle to and travel on transit with their bicycles. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using a literature review, a survey of cyclist-transit users in Philadelphia and San Francisco, and telephone interviews with a subset of survey respondents. Responses provided by CTUs in the two cities allow us to define their characteristics and behaviors in detail. What is more, they highlight two intriguing conclusions: that transit catchment areas can be much larger for cycle-transit users than for traditional transit users who access transit buses and rail on foot, and that the very concept of a cycle-transit catchment area is quite complex because of the variety of travel opportunities that cycle-transit coordination policies present transit riders. CTUs take advantage of larger catchment areas to reduce their travel costs, and they use those catchment areas in curious, less predictable and more varied ways

Residential On-Site Carsharing and Off-Street Parking Policy in the San Francisco Bay Area, Research Report 11-28

In light of rising motorization, transportation planners have increasingly supported alternatives to the indiscriminate use of the car. Off-street parking policy and carsharing have emerged as credible alternatives for discouraging car ownership. This report explores an initiative that could connect these policy fields and build on their synergy: the provision of on-site carsharing service in residential developments. It evaluates the performance of on-site carsharing programs in the San Francisco Bay Area by interviewing developers, planners, and carsharing service providers. Interviews were conducted in four Bay Area cities that support the provision of carsharing as an alternative to the private automobile. Based on these interviews, this report identifies the principal factors contributing to the success or failure of on-site carsharing: the unbundling status of off-street parking in residential developments; ties to off-street parking standards; financial constraints; and the level of coordination among stakeholders. The interviews revealed that on-site carsharing has been accepted by developers, planners, and service providers, particularly in densely-populated, transit-rich communities. Nevertheless, there appears to be a gap between on-site carsharing programs and off-street parking standards, and between carsharing programs and carsharing business operations. The authors recommend that a few models for establishing carsharing policy be tested: a model designed to serve high-density cities with traditional carsharing; and another designed to serve moderately-dense communities, with new carsharing options (e.g., peer-to-peer). In the case of the latter, trip reduction can be achieved through the promotion of alternative modes along major corridors

Amenity or Necessity? Street Standards as Parking Policy, Research Report 11-23

This paper explores the rationales underlying the use of minimum street width requirements to mandate street parking. A survey of 97 cities reveals that this mandate is not a technical necessity based on safety concerns or an amenity reflecting market demand, two common beliefs held by decision-makers. Many residents are likely unwilling to pay for street parking if it is unbundled from housing. The hidden parking policies should be made transparent and subject to public oversight, the double standard between private and public streets should be eliminated, and parking on residential streets should be optional

Examination of Regional Transit Service Under Contracting: A Case Study in the Greater New Orleans Region, Research Report 10-09

Many local governments and transit agencies in the United States face financial difficulties in providing adequate public transit service in individual systems, and in providing sufficient regional coordination to accommodate transit trips involving at least one transfer between systems. These difficulties can be attributed to the recent economic downturn, continuing withdrawal of the state and federal funds that help support local transit service, a decline in local funding for transit service in inner cities due to ongoing suburbanization, and a distribution of resources that responds to geographic equity without addressing service needs. This study examines two main research questions: (1) the effect of a “delegated management” contract on efficiency and effectiveness within a single transit system, and (2) the effects of a single private firm—contracted separately by more than one agency in the same region—on regional coordination, exploring the case in Greater New Orleans. The current situation in New Orleans exhibits two unique transit service conditions. First, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) executed a “delegated management” contract with a multinational private firm, outsourcing more functions (e.g., management, planning, funding) to the contractor than has been typical in the U.S. Second, as the same contractor has also been contracted by another transit agency in an adjacent jurisdiction—Jefferson Transit (JeT), this firm may potentially have economic incentives to improve regional coordination, in order to increase the productivity and effectiveness of its own transit service provision. Although the limited amount of available operation and financial data has prevented us from drawing more definitive conclusions, the findings of this multifaceted study should provide valuable information on a transit service contracting approach new to the U.S.: delegated management. This study also identified a coherent set of indices with which to evaluate the regional coordination of transit service, the present status of coordination among U.S. transit agencies, and barriers that need to be resolved for regional transit coordination to be successful

Examination of Regional Transit Service Under Contracting: A Case Study in the Greater New Orleans Region

Many local governments and transit agencies in the United States face financial difficulties in providing adequate public transit service in individual systems, and in providing sufficient regional coordination to accommodate transit trips involving at least one transfer between systems. These difficulties can be attributed to the recent economic downturn, continuing withdrawal of the state and federal funds that help support local transit service, a decline in local funding for transit service in inner cities due to ongoing suburbanization, and a distribution of resources that responds to geographic equity without addressing service needs. This study examines two main research questions: (1) the effect of a “delegated management” contract on efficiency and effectiveness within a single transit system, and (2) the effects of a single private firm—contracted separately by more than one agency in the same region—on regional coordination, exploring the case in Greater New Orleans. The current situation in New Orleans exhibits two unique transit service conditions. First, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) executed a “delegated management” contract with a multinational private firm, outsourcing more functions (e.g., management, planning, funding) to the contractor than has been typical in the U.S. Second, as the same contractor has also been contracted by another transit agency in an adjacent jurisdiction—Jefferson Transit (JeT), this firm may potentially have economic incentives to improve regional coordination, in order to increase the productivity and effectiveness of its own transit service provision. Although the limited amount of available operation and financial data has prevented us from drawing more definitive conclusions, the findings of this multifaceted study should provide valuable information on a transit service contracting approach new to the U.S.: delegated management. This study also identified a coherent set of indices with which to evaluate the regional coordination of transit service, the present status of coordination among U.S. transit agencies, and barriers that need to be resolved for regional transit coordination to be successful

Examination of Regional Transit Service Under Contracting: A Case Study in the Greater New Orleans Region

Many local governments and transit agencies in the United States face financial difficulties in providing adequate public transit service in individual systems, and in providing sufficient regional coordination to accommodate transit trips involving at least one transfer between systems. These difficulties can be attributed to the recent economic downturn, continuing withdrawal of the state and federal funds that help support local transit service, a decline in local funding for transit service in inner cities due to ongoing suburbanization, and a distribution of resources that responds to geographic equity without addressing service needs. This study examines two main research questions: (1) the effect of a “delegated management” contract on efficiency and effectiveness within a single transit system, and (2) the effects of a single private firm—contracted separately by more than one agency in the same region—on regional coordination, exploring the case in Greater New Orleans. The current situation in New Orleans exhibits two unique transit service conditions. First, New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) executed a “delegated management” contract with a multinational private firm, outsourcing more functions (e.g., management, planning, funding) to the contractor than has been typical in the U.S. Second, as the same contractor has also been contracted by another transit agency in an adjacent jurisdiction—Jefferson Transit (JeT), this firm may potentially have economic incentives to improve regional coordination, in order to increase the productivity and effectiveness of its own transit service provision. Although the limited amount of available operation and financial data has prevented us from drawing more definitive conclusions, the findings of this multifaceted study should provide valuable information on a transit service contracting approach new to the U.S.: delegated management. This study also identified a coherent set of indices with which to evaluate the regional coordination of transit service, the present status of coordination among U.S. transit agencies, and barriers that need to be resolved for regional transit coordination to be successful

EL PAPEL DE LA INTEGRACIÓN EN LA LICITACIÓN DEL TRANSPORTE PÚBLICO: LOS CASOS DE CHILE Y SUDÁFRICA

SÍNTESISEl principal objetivo de este artículo es explorar el papelde la integración intermodal en la licitación de serviciosde transporte público en dos países de medianos ingresos:Chile y Sudáfrica. Se examina la estructura reglamentariade cada país, destacando similares esfuerzos por facilitar elmovimiento de pasajeros entre modos de transporte en lasciudades Santiago (Chile) y Ciudad del Cabo (Sudáfrica).Se concluye que ambas ciudades han enfrentado seriasbarreras institucionales. Es necesario que mantengan susobjetivos para el transporte público, estableciendo criteriospara crear un sistema integrado a través de la licitación deservicios. Estos objetivos deberían reflejar los valores decada ciudad. Por su parte, los contratos de servicio deberíanexigir que los operadores garantizen un mejor nivel detraslado entre vehículos de transporte público. El tema deeste artículo fue uno de los enfoques de mi tesis doctoralsobre la política del transporte intermodal.ABSTRACTThe principal objetive of this article is to explore the role ofintermodal integration in the tenderín of public transportservices in two middle-income countries: Chile and SouthAfrica. If examines the regulatory structure of each country,highlighting similar efforts to facilitate the movement ofpassenger between modes of transport in Santiago (Chile)and Cape Town (South Africa). The article concludes thatboth cieties have encountered institutional constrains. It isnecessary for them to implement their existing objetivesfor public transport employing the tendering process toestablish a set of criteria for an integrated system. Theseobjetives should reflect the values of each city. At the sametime, service contracts should be structurated to requirethat operators provide a better level of integration betweenpublic transport modes. The subject of this article was oneof the central themes of my doctoral dissertation on intermodaltransport policy

Three perspectives on the role of competitive tendering in the integration of public transport

Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 14 - 16 July 2003 "National issues affecting the movement of people and goods - strategic approaches", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT: The principal objective of this study is to review the role of competitive tendering in the integration of public transport services in industrialised and developing countries, specifically, South Africa, Chile and Britain. It proposes to analyse the regulatory structure and identify some of the implications that the tendering process has for facilitating seamless travel within major urban areas. One of the objectives of the competitive tendering process in London has been to preserve public transport integration, as the deregulation of public transport outside of London has led to a significant decrease in the number of inter-operator services. Similarly, many developing country cities, such as Santiago (Chile) and Cape Town, have introduced competitive tendering schemes where privatised markets have been established, arguing that it will give the public sector greater control over specific service features, such as systemwide integration. Whilst it is true that tendered routes can be structured to maximise the transfer of passengers at key points of intersection, this paper argues that there are key tradeoffs between integration and service innovation that must be accounted for in the development of these schemes. Authorities will want to facilitate informational and institutional integration, but avoid becoming too prescriptive. This study can provide important insights into the difficulties faced in promoting integration, and will identify some of the necessary conditions for widespread inter-operator coordination in a privatised environment. It will begin by reviewing integrated transport strategies in London, Santiago and Cape Town. Next, it will assess the impacts of competitive tendering on integration in the first two cities, and explore the objectives behind ongoing efforts to introduce a tendering scheme in Cape Town. Finally, this paper will discuss the prospects of seamless travel in these cities and will present recommendations for improving integration within the tendering process. This study can provide important insights into the difficulties faced in promoting integration, and will identify some of the necessary conditions for widespread inter-operator coordination in a privatised environment. It will begin by reviewing integrated transport strategies in London, Santiago and Cape Town. Next, it will assess the impacts of competitive tendering on integration in the first two cities, and explore the objectives behind ongoing efforts to introduce a tendering scheme in Cape Town. Finally, this paper will discuss the prospects of seamless travel in these cities and will present recommendations for improving integration within the tendering process.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material on the CD ROM was published using Adobe Acrobat technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.doctech.co.z

The San Francisco Emergency Transport Handbook : a practical guide for small businesses

Paper presented at the 21st Annual South African Transport Conference 15 - 18 July 2002 "Towards building capacity and accelerating delivery", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.This paper was transferred from the original CD ROM created for this conference. The material on the CD ROM was published using Adobe Acrobat technology. The original CD ROM was produced by Document Transformation Technologies Postal Address: PO Box 560 Irene 0062 South Africa. Tel.: +27 12 667 2074 Fax: +27 12 667 2766 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.doctech.co.z