Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program (2023) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 179-249
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From page 179... ...
Planning the Alternative Service Planning efforts were conducted by senior GRTC staff, including the chief of transit operations, the CEO, and the COO, with support from the Procurement and Legal Departments. As part of its planning efforts, GRTC reached out to several other transit agencies that had implemented ADA paratransit alternatives, particularly those using TNCs, to learn about their experience.
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From page 180... ...
Roundtrip, which began by providing healthcare transportation with a web-based reserva tion service, also has agreements with a network of transportation providers, including those with accessible vehicles. The addition of Roundtrip expanded the service hours for CARE On-Demand particularly in the early months of the service, offering trips later in the evening than UZURV.
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From page 181... ...
Data GRTC reports that obtaining data needed to monitor and assess the service has not been an issue. The transit agency tracks the following data for CARE On-Demand: • Total passenger trips provided/subsidized • Number of unique customers
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From page 182... ...
Performance Metrics for Monitoring Service GRTC reports that it reviews the following metrics to monitor CARE On-Demand: • Overall cost (combined cost of the ADA paratransit service and the alternative service) • Cost per passenger trip (combined cost of the ADA paratransit service and the alternative service)
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From page 183... ...
GRTC reports that some riders have developed a comfort level with the same-day service and may not want to return to traditional ADA paratransit service. Source: UZURV.
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From page 184... ...
However, GRTC has set the subsidy limit for CARE On-Demand at a modest level, roughly half of what its ADA paratransit trips cost, which helps protect the transit agency from potential "new" costs for the alternative service. Achievement of Goals and Objectives GRTC believes that CARE On-Demand has achieved its objectives for the service.
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From page 185... ...
These individuals were identified and contacted by the GRTC Eligibility Coordinator, with an objective of selecting a small number of riders who use the on-demand service and of riders who do not. Responses were received from nine ADA paratransit riders who use CARE On-Demand and four who do not.
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From page 186... ...
, VIA operates fixed-route and express bus service, a general public on-demand service in northeast San Antonio, vanpool service, and ADA paratransit service known as VIAtrans. VIAtrans: ADA Paratransit VIAtrans is provided directly by VIA (Figure A-31)
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From page 187... ...
In addition to VIAtrans, VIA operates a same-day, on-demand taxi subsidy program for ADA paratransit riders. This taxi subsidy program was operated by a local taxi company -- Yellow Cab -- until August 2021, when the company went out of business and was purchased by another transportation company.
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From page 188... ...
Thus, the taxi subsidy program has provided a way to take some pressure off VIAtrans. According to the survey response, VIA faced the following issues and challenges in planning and implementing the program: • Providing equivalent service, including service response times, to customers requiring WAVs • Limited number of taxi companies in the area • Limited number of taxi companies in the area with WAVs • Limited number of local taxi companies willing to participate in the program, e.g., reluctance due to high insurance coverage requirements or other transit agency requirements or issues • Concerns about data collection for NTD reporting or transit agency performance monitoring The issues revolving around accessible service were a particular concern for VIA, including whether the taxi-based service could provide equivalent response times for riders needing a WAV.
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From page 189... ...
Same-Day Subsidy This is an alternative service for VIAtrans taxi subsidy program riders, whose stated purpose is "to enhance quality of service for ADA paratransit-eligible customers by providing VIAtranseligible customers the option to travel same-day." The RFP stated that transportation providers for the service may include taxis, TNCs, and private transportation providers, and that the FTA's taxicab exception would not apply. Drivers for the same-day subsidy must meet FTA drug and alcohol testing requirements.
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From page 190... ...
While VIA requires zTrip to use white vehicles branded with the VIA logo for the ADA para transit service, zTrip has already introduced some of its zTrip branded vehicles (Figure A-33) for its other services, including the taxi subsidy program.
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From page 191... ...
This assessment is a variant of reviewing the difference in service levels for ADA paratransit riders who use a taxi sedan versus those ADA paratransit riders who need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, and in particular, any differences in response time. It is this latter assessment that would review whether the taxi subsidy program meets ADA's service equivalency requirements for response time.
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From page 192... ...
It may sometimes be an issue for a rider to get a trip during peak hours, but there is invariably another driver willing to respond. Data In the research project's survey, VIA reported that a number of data elements are tracked, including: • Total passenger trips provided • Total fare revenue collected
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From page 193... ...
• Overall customer ridership • Number of passenger trips requiring a WAV • Customer satisfaction/complaint frequency ratio The transit agency reports that an emphasis for data monitoring is the division of trips between ambulatory and wheelchair and differences in response times. Overall, the taxi subsidy program is a relatively small component of VIA's services for its ADA paratransit riders without a major impact on VIAtrans, the ADA paratransit service.
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From page 194... ...
The taxi subsidy program is a small but nonetheless important and beneficial component of VIA's services for its ADA paratransit riders. VIA reports that should use of the program rebound to levels pre-pandemic and begin con sistently reaching the daily trip caps and if funding is available, the transit agency could consider plans for its expansion.
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From page 195... ...
• Carry over your agency's standards for service to the subsidy program's service. • Monitor the service carefully and particularly watch for driver fraud; include in the agreement the ability to remove a driver from the program.
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From page 197... ...
APPENDIX B Sample Materials Provided by Transit Agencies Appendix B can be found on the National Academies Press website (nap.nationalacademies .org) by searching for TCRP Research Report 239: Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program.
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From page 199... ...
Survey Administration and Response The survey was provided as an online questionnaire using SurveyMonkey (Figure C-1) and sent to 24 transit agencies known to have an alternative service for ADA paratransit riders.
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From page 200... ...
C-2 Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program Figure C-1. Screenshot of the survey introduction on SurveyMonkey. Figure C-2. What were the goals associated with implementing an Alternative Service?
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From page 201... ...
n 5 15 Challenges Related to the Regulatory Framework ADA Requirements ADA regulations for public transit agencies are many and prescriptive; some apply to alternative services, and some do not. Findings from the Survey Transit agencies responding to the project's survey indicated various and considerable concerns with meeting ADA's equivalent service requirements as presented below.
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From page 202... ...
These transit agencies reported a concern specifically with meeting requirements of Title VI in general and/or reported concerns with ensuring equivalent service for those without a smartphone, without access to the Internet or who are unbanked. Findings from Provider Interviews According to the provider interviews, all five alternative service providers, including the taxi company, have at least two methods for riders to book trips -- through a call center and through an app.
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From page 203... ...
National Transit Database Findings from the Survey Concerns related to NTD data reporting or performance monitoring were the third most frequently reported challenge by transit agency respondents to the project's survey. A related question later in the survey asked the transit agencies if the data they tracked and/or was provided by their alternative service providers were included in the transit agency's NTD report under purchased transportation service.
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From page 204... ...
n 5 15 Transit agency survey respondents indicated that safety considerations were a key challenge when planning and implementing their alternative service: ensuring passenger safety was the most frequently reported challenge and ensuring safe vehicles was the third most frequently reported challenge. Safety for transit riders can be supported with such strategies as driver training, drug and alcohol testing for drivers, and fingerprint background checks.
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From page 205... ...
n 5 14 Fingerprinting. Are drivers providing Alternative Services required to undergo fingerprint background checks? See Figure C-6, and the corresponding table in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section.
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From page 206... ...
Responses included: • Limited number of local taxi companies in the area with wheelchair-accessible taxicabs: 6 responses • Limited number of local taxi companies in the area: 4 responses • Limited number of local taxi companies willing to participate in the program, e.g., reluctance due to high insurance coverage requirements or other transit agency requirements or issues: 3 responses • Limited number of TNCs in the area or portions of the area: 1 response • Limited number of TNCs willing to participate in the program, e.g., reluctance due to high insurance agency requirements, reporting challenges versus data privacy issues, or other tran sit agency requirements or issues: 1 response State and Local Regulations on Taxis and TNCs Five transit agencies reported that burdens of compliance with state and local agencies regulat ing taxis and TNCs were a challenge when planning and implementing their alternative service. • Two of the five are in areas with significant taxi regulations.
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From page 207... ...
Would like to increase amount each month that is allowed on the card." • "Insurance coverage from the TNCs." Survey Findings: Program Design, Operation, and Evaluation Service Design Key features of the alternative service programs provided by transit agency survey respondents are outlined here. Types of Agreements with Providers The survey listed three types of formal or less formal agreements that transit agencies may have with their alternative service providers as well as "Other." A service contract was the most frequently listed option, with several transit agencies reporting more than one response option (15 respondents)
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From page 208... ...
• Other: – "Transit agency contracts with one of the major transportation contractors, which has agreements with Lyft for provisions of service at this time." – "We moved away from contracts once we moved away from vouchers to a card-based system." – "There are no contracts with transportation providers. Customer chooses any company that can accept the card and use it as any general-public rider would." – "Reimbursement agreement." Program Start and Status Most of the alternative service programs began as pilots, particularly those using TNCs.
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From page 209... ...
However, there appears some acknowledgment that the WAV service may not always provide an equivalent response time, given the typical greater density of sedan vehicles than WAV vehicles in the service area. One of the transit agency respondents provides this advice to its ADA paratransit Figure C-9. If you checked TNC-based subsidy program in question 14, what TNC services are available to your alternative service customers?
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From page 210... ...
Reasons for Trip Limits Responding transit agencies may have limited budgets for their alternative service and in some cases have determined they did not want to subsidize a significant number of new trips that would otherwise be made on ADA paratransit (seven respondents)
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From page 211... ...
Responses are shown in table format in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section. Data and Data Sharing Particularly in the early years of transit agency and TNCs partnerships, the issue of data sharing was a topic of concern, as the TNCs were generally not providing transit agencies with Figure C-10. How do your alternative service customers book trips?
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From page 212... ...
Five transit agencies reported tracking data on passenger trips by vehicle type -- sedan versus WAV. Only two reported tracking on-time performance data showing response times broken down by trips provided by sedans versus trips provided by WAVs.
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From page 213... ...
See Figure C-13 and these data in table format in the "Data Tables for Bar Charts" section. Figure C-13. Reporting details: what alternative service data is tracked by your transit agency and/or contractually required to be provided by the alternative service providers?
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From page 214... ...
Table C-1 presents two key alternative service statistics reported by the transit agency survey respondents -- the total passenger trips and total subsidy for their alternative service. From these two data points, the subsidy per alternative service passenger trip is computed.
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From page 215... ...
$21.25 * $47.23; taxi $46.86 Monterey, CA MST 2,789 2,789 51,000 $35.66 Contra Costa Co., CA ECCTA-Tri Delta Transit 3,700 2,700 43,936 $491,532 $11.19 $27.23; taxi $10.95 Richmond, VA GRTC 5,306 3,000 31,382 $433,241 $13.81 $20.51 Broward Co., FL BCT 16,000 7,700 19,639 $253,659 $12.92 $33.34 Columbus, OH COTA 5,200 1,800 15,169 $467,589 $30.83 $38.59 Pinellas Co., FL PSTA 10,000 3,575 13,267 $22.22; taxi $14.68 Flagstaff, AZ Mountain Line 426 200 8,070 $102,888 $12.75 $52.12 9,000– Las Vegas, NV RTC 21,000 4,856 $45.04 12,000 Chicago, IL Pace 40,000 40,000 $41.95; taxi $42.12 Denver, CO RTD 120,000 8,500 $45.26 Phoenix, AZ Valley Metro 22,000 9,452 $55.75 San Antonio, TX VIA 17,000 8,000 $73,364 $41.47; taxi $15.78 San Bernardino, CA Omnitrans 4,000 2,500 $45.74 Washington, DC WMATA 49,000 26,000 $70.58; taxi $137.08 *
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From page 216... ...
6. Based on the consistency of passengers taking their regularly scheduled trips, e.g., work, dialysis, to the alternative services, the transit agency can confidently use fewer dedicated vehicles and save money on the difference.
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From page 217... ...
• Alternative services such as TNCs often don't provide shared ride and productivity efficiencies are lost. • Agencies should add a security component to app-based TNC options to ensure confirmation can be made that services are provided to the intended recipient.
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From page 218... ...
n=15 Goals Responses Reduce overall cost and/or unit cost per trip of transporting paratransit customers 14 Provide an on-demand/same-day mobility option for paratransit customers 14 Reduce demand for our paratransit service 12 Provide a mobility option that allows paratransit customers to travel beyond the ADA paratransit 5 service area Provide a mobility option that allows paratransit customers to travel outside of ADA paratransit 4 service hours Other (please specify) 2 Transit agency board direction/support or in-house champion for collaborating with TNCs and/or 1 taxi companies Table for Figure C-3.
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From page 219... ...
(check all that apply) n=15 Vehicle Insurance Responses Yes, required insurance is higher, but transit agency makes exception for providers showing 1 requirements above minimum state levels are too much of a burden Yes, required insurance coverage is higher & consistent with insurance coverage required for 2 in-house or contracted ADA paratransit service Other (please specify)
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From page 220... ...
Reporting details: what alternative service data is tracked by your transit agency and/or contractually required to be provided by the alternative service providers? Aggregated data (check all that apply)
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From page 221... ...
7 Total passenger trips requested/served for each customer 10 Table for Figure C-14. Which of the following metrics are you using to evaluate the alternative service?
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From page 223... ...
Abbreviations and acronyms used without definitions in TRB publications: A4A Airlines for America AAAE American Association of Airport Executives AASHO American Association of State Highway Officials AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials ACI–NA Airports Council International–North America ACRP Airport Cooperative Research Program ADA Americans with Disabilities Act APTA American Public Transportation Association ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials ATA American Trucking Associations CTAA Community Transportation Association of America CTBSSP Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program DHS Department of Homeland Security DOE Department of Energy EPA Environmental Protection Agency FAA Federal Aviation Administration FAST Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (2015) FHWA Federal Highway Administration FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration FRA Federal Railroad Administration FTA Federal Transit Administration GHSA Governors Highway Safety Association HMCRP Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ISTEA Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 ITE Institute of Transportation Engineers MAP-21 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (2012)
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From page 224... ...
Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ISBN 978-0-309-69854-2 90000 9 780309 698542
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