Research Project:

Research and Training of Private Transportation Providers for Efficient and Effective Provision of Transportation Services

Final Report

PDF version 984k
HTML version 25k

Principal Investigator

Ray Mundy
University of Missouri - St. Louis
(314) 516-7270
rmundy@umsl.edu

External Project Contact

Dave Plazak
Iowa State University
(515) 296-0814
dplazak@iastate.edu

Project Objective

To review the roles of public and private transit operators, increase coordination, and develop training that supports a more efficient and effective interface through the use of suburban transit centers.

Project Abstract

A considerable portion of urban public transportation is provided by private transportation operators. Overall, 1.8% of urban transportation research/training dollars are spent on research and training needs of the privately provided public transportation sector. The imbalance is striking considering the amount and type of urban public transportation service offered by the private sector. Private providers offer most of the service for special sporting events and the majority of the tourism transportation, and they also generate significant employment when all aspects are taken into consideration.

The objectives of this project were to undertake research and training programs that support more efficient and effective public transportation services from both the public and private sectors with the purpose of sharing findings and providing recommendations to the large number of private transportation officials engaged in providing public transportation.

Task Descriptions

Develop three full-day seminars focusing issues relative to maintenance of private sector assets, recruitment, and community involvement.
Provide two presentations of each seminar.
Summarize the benefits of each relative to asset management.
Provide a literature review of the use of private systems to support public transit.
Develop a summary of previous programs, costs, and successes as they relate to the development of urban transit centers.
Provide technical support and data monitoring in the development of a demonstration project to implement (work-oriented) suburban transit centers.

Milestones, Dates

Project Start: July 2001
Develop seminars: December 2001
Present seminars: December 2003
Summarize benefits: March 2003
Literature Review: May 2002
Summarize Programs: July 2002
Demonstration Project: May 2003
Final Report: June 2003
Project End: June 2003

Student Involvement (e.g., Thesis, Assistantships, Paid Employment)

(3) M.S. Graduate Research Assistants

Relationship to Other Projects

The project is primarily focused on the "demand" side of transportation in that it evaluates what is needed to implement more effective interactions between public and private transit operators. Integrating broader understanding, more involvement, and better coordination among the private sector will allow better "tail end" distribution of transit passengers using the assets that are best suited to that purpose (taxicabs as opposed to buses). At the same time, it directs attention toward better utilization of public sector assets that are more appropriately designed for longer-range high volume distribution of transit passengers.

Technology Transfer Activities

The deliverables of this project will include the provision of training indicated, active involvement of participants in the demonstration project, and summarization and distribution of project reports.

Potential Benefits of the Project

The project will focus attention on the role of public/private partnerships and the interactions necessary to better interface the two.

Budget

$256,898

TRB Keywords

Training, transit, public private partnership, asset management, suburban transit center