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Do More with Less: The Reality of Paratransit

Sep 19, 2016
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Do more with less.

That’s the reality that transit agencies across North America have been facing for quite some time.

Since 1990, paratransit trips in the U.S. have increased by at least 10% year after year, all while the average operating costs of a paratransit trip have exploded from $9.15 to $33.45. This situation has been made even more difficult by the lack of funding available to agencies. Some have sought taxpayer funding but have failed, and others have had to reduce service available to clients.

But there is hope. Some agencies have turned to creative operational solutions such as Orange County Transportation Authority partnering with us to integrate PASS with Transportation Network Companies (like Lyft and Uber) to economically find lower priced solutions for trips on the day of service. Meanwhile, others are leveraging technology to improve their operational efficiencies.

Innovative agencies do both.

Think of agencies like WMATA and NJT who have implemented real-time determination of a comparable fixed route journey and applied the results to the ADA trip request in order to offer the best possible demand response service.

Then there’s also PRTC’s innovative use of deviated fixed route service and MCAT’s “feeder-to-fixed” service which are creative technical/operational responses to better utilize fixed route service in order to reduce paratransit costs. These agencies are leading the charge in to the future with their innovative solution, leaving most thinking, “what can my agency do?”

On Tuesday, September 27th and Wednesday September 28th, I’ll be answering that question during my sessions at the International Conference on Demand Responsive Transportation.

I’ll be speaking alongside other industry experts on the Planning, Performance and Service Innovation in the U.S. and Europe panel on “Maximizing Efficiency and Productivity of Agency Resources, Assigning Trips to Alternative Providers.”

The session will explore innovative ways that your paratransit service can do more, while dealing with tight budgets and staying in coherence with the ADA Act.

In this session, I will discuss:

  • How your agency can tighten the coin purse and save on spending
  • How strictly adhering to the “comparable service” rule can help your paratransit operations
  • The benefits you can accrue by leveraging your agency’s conventional transit
  • How to utilize subcontractors
  • The importance of reinvesting in human capital
  • And more
     

Don’t get left behind, just 15 minutes at this session could improve your paratransit services efficiency by 15%.

I’ll also be speaking on Wednesday September 28th’s session “Technology Forum – A Look Inside the Crystal Ball.” Make sure to stop by if you want a glimpse into the future of paratransit.

How is your agency doing more with less? Comment below or come find me at the conference to discuss.


 
Jeff Zarr has over 30 years of transit experience and 20 years of project management experience in the public transportation industry, as well as providing Paratransit consulting services for over 100 Paratransit agencies across North America, Europe, and the UK. As the Industry Solutions Manager for Trapeze Demand Response, Jeff shares his Paratransit expertise and experience throughout the North American Demand Response industry.
 
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