Posts categorized under "Research"
Additional Webcasts Planned
SURTC will conduct a webcast of Fargo-Moorhead Metro COG's public meeting Nov. 22 regarding its 9th St East/Veteran's Boulevard corridor study. The meeting takes place from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the West Fargo Sheyenne 9th Grade Center Commons Area, and the webcast will begin at 5:30.
SURTC is also conducting a webcast of Metro COG's public input meeting on Nov. 30 regarding its Transit Development Plan (TDP). The webcast, which will begin at approximately 11:45, will include a presentation on the draft TDP.
Recordings of the webcasts will be posted afterwards. Links for viewing the live webcasts are as follows:
Webcasts Recordings Posted
SURTC conducted webcasts of Fargo-Moorhead Metro COG's public input meetings Nov. 15 and Nov. 16 regarding its Main Ave, TH 10, TH 75, Center Ave corridor studies. The Nov. 15 meeting focused on Main Ave. in Fargo (from 25th St. to the Red River), while the Nov. 16 meeting addressed Center Ave. and Highways 10 and 75 in Moorhead and Dilworth. The webcasts were recorded and can be viewed at the following links:
SURTC to Conduct Webcasts of Public Input Meetings
SURTC will be conducting webcasts of public input meetings for the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (Metro COG). Metro COG is hosting public input meetings Nov. 15 and 16 for its Main Ave, TH 10, TH 75, Center Ave corridor studies. The objective of Metro COG's study is to identify existing conditions along the corridor, establish planning conditions, identify and analyze issues and needs, and develop and analyze alternatives. Those unable to attend the meetings can view the live webcasts. Webcast participants will be able to submit questions and comments online. Afterwards, recordings of the webcasts will be posted on Metro COG's website that can be viewed at any time. SURTC is conducting the webcasts as part of its Transit, Technology, & Public Participation Project to test the use of webcasting technology for increasing public participation in transportation planning.
The webcasts will take place Tuesday, Nov. 15 and Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 6:00 pm and can be viewed at the following link:
Developing Input to "Best-Value" Vehicle Procurement Practice: An Analysis of Supplier Evaluation and Selection in the U.S. Public Transportation Industry
A new SURTC study conducted by Marc Scott titled "Developing Input to 'Best-Value' Vehicle Procurement Practice: An Analysis of Supplier Evaluation and Selection in the U.S. Public Transportation Industry" has been published and is available online.
This research studies vehicle procurement decision-makers at public transportation agencies to determine which criteria, or supplier attributes, they perceive to be the most important when evaluating vehicle suppliers. Results indicate that the top five attributes are quality, reliability, after-sales support, warranties and claims, and integrity. The order of these top five attributes changed according to the type of supplier being evaluated, i.e., conventional fuel vehicle supplier versus alternative fuel vehicle supplier. The reason for this change was explained as being due to the increased engineering and technological expertise required of alternative fuel vehicle suppliers.
Transportation Seminar: Marginal Cost Pricing and Subsidy of Transit
As part of UGPTI's Transportation Seminar Series, SURTC researcher Jeremy Mattson will present a seminar on Marginal Cost Pricing and Subsidy of Transit. This seminar, which is based on a recently completed study, will present results from a survey of small urban transit agencies regarding recent changes in service levels, fares, and funding; discuss the rationale for subsidizing transit; present cost data for small urban transit systems; focus on economies of scale, marginal cost pricing, and transportation externalities; and present results from a cost model. The seminar will be held Nov. 1, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 422 of the IACC building on the campus of North Dakota State University. Shortly after the conclusion of the seminar, links to the presentation and a recording of the presentation will be posted online on the Transportation Seminar Series website.
Transportation Seminar: Transit Ridership and the Built Environment
The built environment and its effect on transit ridership will be discussed during the Transportation Seminar Series on October 18th. The presentation will focus on recently published findings from the report: Transit Ridership and the Built Environment. The objective of this research was to determine what variables (e.g., land-use mix, walkability) play an important role in determining the built environment/transit ridership relationship in the Fargo-Moorhead community.
Tribal Transit Assessment Study Completed
A new report titled "5311(c) Tribal Transit Funding: Assessing Impacts and Determining Future Program Needs" by SURTC associate research fellow Jon Mielke has been posted online.
The study assesses the impacts of the federal 5311(c) tribal transit program and future program funding needs.
Over 100 tribal entities were identified as having received start-up or enhancement program funding since 2006. Grantees were surveyed to identify impacts associated with the receipt of program funds, all of which are available for operating and capital purposes with no local match requirements. Program funding increased from $8 million for FY 2006 to $15 million for FY 2009, 2010, and 2011.
The study reviews prior work regarding personal mobility need indicators as they pertain to Indian reservations, as well as prior and ongoing work concerning the growth in local tribal transit services since the late 1990s.
Survey responses were analyzed to identify former and current ridership levels, trip purposes, and funding sources. Results were also compared to National Transit Database findings on performance measures related to passenger trips per mile, operating expenses per trip and per mile, and farebox recovery.
The study assesses how dependent tribal transit operators are on 100% 5311(c) funding. These assessments, along with projections regarding the initiation of new services around the country, can serve as the basis for projecting future program funding needs.
Marginal Cost Pricing and Subsidy of Transit in Small Urban Areas
A SURTC study conducted by Jeremy Mattson and David Ripplinger found that small urban transit agencies experience increasing returns to scale and density. This implies that increasing service levels will result in lower average costs. The report, titled "Marginal Cost Pricing and Subsidy of Transit in Small Urban Areas," has been published and is now available online.
This study analyzes economies of scale and density as a rationale for subsidizing transit agencies in small urban areas. A long-run cost model is estimated using data for 168 transit agencies that directly operate fixed-route bus service in small urban areas. Using vehicle revenue miles as transit output, results show that small urban transit agencies experience economies of scale and density. A full cost model was estimated that included the addition of external costs, such as environmental effects, and benefits. A benefit of increasing service levels is a reduction in rider waiting times. The study attempted to quantify this benefit. Results from the model were used to estimate the marginal social cost of providing service. Setting the fare equal to marginal social cost would maximize social welfare.
The results provide justification for subsidizing transit. The needed subsidy is calculated as the difference between the revenue generated by the optimal fare and that needed to maintain efficient levels of production. The rationale for subsidies is an important issue as many agencies have experienced recent reductions in operational funding.
Included in the report is a survey of transit agencies in small urban areas regarding recent changes in fares, service levels, and funding. The survey found that nearly half of these transit providers have either reduced service or increased fares over a two-year period, primarily because of decreases in operational funding.
For more information, contact Jeremy Mattson at jeremy.w.mattson@ndsu.edu. The publication can be downloaded at the following link: Marginal Cost Pricing and Subsidy of Transit in Small Urban Areas (pdf)
Transit Ridership and the Built Environment
SURTC has published a new report that focused on evaluating the the built environment and its influence on transit ridership. In relation to travel behavior, there has been a focus on improving our understanding of how the built environment influences one's travel mode choice. Planners need evidence showing how land use matters as they advocate for the adoption of different planning principles. This is especially true in small urban areas where planners seldom utilize innovative land-use principles, such as smart growth, within their planning process.
The objective of this research was to determine what variables play an important role in determining the built environment/transit ridership relationship in the Fargo-Moorhead community. Socio-economic and level of service variables were also considered. The publication can be downloaded at the following link: Transit Ridership and the Built Environment.
Preliminary Results from Mobile Electronic Device Surveys Posted
SURTC has conducted two rounds of onboard surveys using mobile electronic devices. Droid smartphones and a Samsung Galaxy tablet were used to conduct the surveys. The first round of surveys occurred last winter on routes heavily used by North Dakota State University students. The second round of surveys were conducted on a number of different routes throughout the metro area last spring. These surveys were conducted in conjunction with a rider survey developed by the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments for its transit development plan. Preliminary results from these surveys, including a discussion of experiences with these devices, can be found in the following PDF documents: