Using Public Transportation to Reduce the Economic, Social and Human Costs of Personal Immobility (1998) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority's 24-Hour Rural Commute Service
Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority's 24-Hour Rural Commute Service
Pages 151-174
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From page 153... ...
MARION WORKS 24-HOUR COMMUTE SERVICE In 1995 the South Carolina legislature passed the Family Independence Act (FIA) , the state's welfare reform program.
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From page 154... ...
The DSS Project Administrator and the PDRTA Transportation Manager for Marion County formed a partnership to develop a program that would link those needing employment with the jobs in Myrtle Beach. For example, in May, 1997, DSS used some of its transportation allocation to charter a 41-passsenger PDRTA bus for a job fair at Myrtle Beach.
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From page 155... ...
Hi r7~Z ~ ~ ~ ~ -1 ON THURSDAY, MAY1, 1997, \~ON COW - DEPTH OF SOCIAL SPRUCES, MOON 1 DILLON PEE DEE REGIONS TRANSPORTATION, ANI) lemon / DILLON MELON SECURITY CONCUSSION WILL SPONSOR JOB Jim 199~.
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From page 156... ...
ARRIVE AT CORAL BEACH RESORT, SEA MIST RESORT, AM LAND RESORT (it \~ GET A J0R AT O~E Ot T~5G REPORTS THE ANITA RM5 CAL bROP hO~ Ott RETRACT g:15 A~b g:30 BALL hOR~l~.)
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From page 157... ...
However, DSS has told FlA riders that if they cause a disruption, and thus lose their transportation and their job, they will also be cut off from their welfare benefits. Employer Subsidies Three Myrtle Beach employers are willing to subsidize the PDRTA bus to insure that it will meet their schedules and not be canceled if ridership lags.
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From page 158... ...
lo ~ - - ~ IIJ 3 ~ ~ a ~ ~ _ `0 ~ d ~0 ~ t_ _ .
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From page 159... ...
~ . trand s gross retail sales curing the decade 1985-1995 increased over 130% and it has ~ I.3 Unemployment in Horry County is 5.4%, according to the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce 1997 Relocation Guide.
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From page 160... ...
MEASURING TEIE COSTS AND BENEFITS To further quantify the economic impact estimates reported above by PDRTA, the research team devised an on-board survey for all riders on the Marion County routes. Respondents included not only Family Independence Act recipients but also other residents who were riding the bus to jobs in Myrtle Beach.
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From page 161... ...
Their answers are summarized in Table ~ below: TABLE 1 SURVEY RESULTS OF PERSONAL EARNINGS AND SOCIETAL SAVINGS FROM MYRTLE BEACH JOBS Personal Earnings · Daily earnings based on an average of $6.56/hour $ 33.36 · Increase in daily earnings of 27% who formerly had a lower paying job $ 4.73 Societal Savings · Monthly unemployment benefits previously received (1 I.8%) · Monthly welfare benefits previously received (7.8%)
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From page 162... ...
TABLE 2 ANNUAL ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM PDRTA MYRTLE BEACH ROUTES Annual earnings (formerly unemployed riders and riders who formerly had another job Employer benefits (subsidies) Deduct riders' fare payments A
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From page 163... ...
PDRTA, on the other hand, has expanded rural commute services into three other areas of their service district, similar to the one in Marion County, totaling 10 To of its operations at 24,000 trips a month on welfare-to-work transportation. The agency has submitted a grant application to the Federal Transit Administration which specifically calls out assistance in welfare reform as one of the driving forces behind its Five Year Capitalization Project.
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From page 164... ...
The strength of the partnership is exemplified by the fact that the Marion County DSS Director brings along the PDRTA Transportation Manager as part of his team whenever he addresses groups, such as the local Chamber of Commerce. The PDRTA/Marion WORKS partnership extends beyond the Grand Strand routes.
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From page 165... ...
(12) "Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority Five Year Capitalization Project" (April 1997)
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From page 167... ...
3 ~ also received welfare funds of $O ~ also received food stamps of $_ O ~ was in job training. During my training, ~ also received 3 ~ had another job.
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From page 169... ...
TABLE A RUNS, RIDERSHIP, AND COST OF MYRTLE BEACH BUS SERVICE FromFrom ItemMarion Co.Florence Co.Total 1.
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From page 170... ...
1 1. Estimated annual reimbursement to PDRTA from Myrtle Beach employers: a.
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From page 171... ...
7. Learned about bus service from Friend 7.2 Social worker 7.3 Bus company 7.4 Flyer or ad 7.5 My employer 7.6 Other Total 8.
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From page 172... ...
Table C shows the benefit calculations for Myrtle Beach bus service, based on the previous two tables. To summarize the Table C calculations: Annual Benefits Earnings of passengers Employer benefits Less: bus rider fare payments Net benefits to passengers and employers Annual Costs Total bus operating costs Less: fare revenues Less: employer contributions Net cost to PDRTA Ratio of benefits to costs $2,516,000 60,570 400,000 $2,176,570 $540,000 -400,000 -60,570 $79,430 26.6 The resulting benefit/cost ratio is extremely high, partly because PDRTA has successfully minimized their out-of-pocket costs for the Myrtle Beach service through fares and employer contributions.
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From page 173... ...
(This amount is deducted from both benefits and costs, as it represents a transfer payment, an added cost to bus passengers and an offset to PDRTA operating costs to help arrive at net operating costs.) Not Included in Summary of Annual Benefits 5.
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From page 174... ...
that they are benefiting economically by the change. Nevertheless, these social welfare savings represent a significant public policy achievement, lessening the burden on taxpayers and improving the performance of the free enterprise system.
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