External link: http://trrjournalonline.trb.org/doi/abs/10.3141/2543-03

Publication date: December 1, 2016

Capsule summary: This study paper identified methods to bridge the gap of transit demand and service provided by agencies in North Dakota.

Author(s): Mattson, Jeremy; Godavarthy, Ranjit; Hough, Jill

Publisher(s): TRB

Definition: Planning practices for pedestrians, bikes and transit
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/research-theme/bikeped/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definition: Data analysis techniques for transportation planning
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/research-theme/data/
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Definitions: Passenger transportation services
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/transit/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definitions: The movement of people
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/mode/personal/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definition: A public agency that operates and maintains passenger transportation services
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/org/transit/
Corresponding TRID/TRT Terms
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Definition: A federally funded transportation policy-making organization, comprised of local government representatives and transportation authorities
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/org/mpo/
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Definition: Governmental agency focused on transportation
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/org/dot/
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Definition: Article from an academic or professional journal
Digest Search Results Page: https://www.planningdigest.com/resource-type/article/
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Description: In order to create new transit infrastructure and policies in rural areas, a thorough analysis of community transportation needs and potential is necessary. There is a lack of such holistic data in the National Transit Database (NTD) for more rural areas where there is not already large amounts of development in transit for data collection. This study paper seeks methods of bridging the gap in information by finding ways to generate data through surveys, etc. The paper also investigates how to effectively analyze the data from the NTD (supplemented by the collected data) to determine future investment and development plans.

Objectives: The objective of this study paper is to supplement the data available in the National Transit Database with local and current information in order to find a methodology to holistically analyze transit need and compare it to transit demand. With this analysis state and local transit agencies can prioritize the needs of revamping or further development of their transit infrastructure and policies and effectively determine the use of funding. This paper highlights that there it is difficult to find complete data of transit conditions for rural areas, but the developing a methodology would allow better means of collecting needed data.

Findings: The study exemplifies a method for states and local transportation agencies to collect data through surveys. This method is simple for state and local transportation agencies to use and modify to cater to their own needs.

Recommendations: The paper recommends that the method be revised for future use to take into account new factors like population growth and higher demand for transit infrastructure as urbanization continues. Although these studies were done specifically to cater to rural areas and small urban cities in South Dakota, the paper notes that the findings and methods can be applied to other places with similar factors and situations.

Research Theme: Innovative Data Analysis, Planning for Pedestrians, Bikes, and Transit

Community Type: City, Rural, Small City

Transportation Mode: Personal, Transit

Planning Scope:

Organization Type: DOT, MPO or RPO, Transit

Planning Subject: Analysis, Evaluation and Assessment, Forecasting, Needs Assessment, Performance Management, Planning Methods, Strategic Planning