The average advance reservation paratransit has an operating cost per passenger trips that generally ranges from 4-10 times that of a bus transit ticket. Agencies could provide feeder service and wait to ensure a safe transfer to bus or rail transit, provide the transit ticket and reduce the cost of the trip.
Vehicle to Vehicle transfers between paratransit and transit
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Comments (5)
I would be interested in how you came up with the 4-10 times figure if you are talking about public transit. The FTA allows paratransit to charge only two times the basic bus fare.
I understand that many systems like ours offer a discounted "flash pass" (or monthly rate) for the fixed route that is one half the regular rate, however at least with our paratransit system, giving someone unlimited rides for a full 30 days on a van for only $20.00 would be cost prohibitive. Fixed route buses can carry 8 or 10 times the number of passengers that a paratransit van system carries. The cost to operate a paratransit system is very expensive, and already highly subsidized through grants, but for urban systems grants normally are not available to pay for driver salaries, fuel and other operating costs for paratransit or the fixed route. These funds must come from the local taxes.
Bill, I was talking about the actual cost of providing the transportation. If an average paratransit system is operating at approximately $50 per vehicle hour and carrying 2-3 trips per hour, the cost per trip would be between $17.00 and $25.00 per vehicle trip. If fixed route transit is available, a fixed route operation costing $70.00 per operating hour and carrying 20 passengers per hour would cost $3.50 per trip. By putting a traditional paratransit rider on fixed route for example, 80% of a 30 minute trip, the paratransit agency can reduce the marginal cost of providing that trip by providing a subsidized transit ticket to the rider at a face value subsidized fare that might be less than $2.00, which makes the paratransit feeder plus transit trip much cheaper than doing it by paratransit.
Okay, I agree. My error for reading too fast and not catching the key word "operating cost." Thanks for clarifying it.
Steve, here's one experience that I think helps prove your point. I helped a community group in Southwest DC put together a neighborhood circulator that ran for 18 months while the old EPA building at Waterfront Metro was demolished and the site redeveloped. While this was a fixed route circulator, stops were convenient to the townhouses and residential highrises. The Shuttle-Bug ran during peak periods, evenings (the area has a nightlife) and middays on Tuesdays and Fridays. MetroAccess-certified residents would schedule their appointments on Tuesday (especially) and Fridays - taking the Shuttle-Bug to Waterfront Metro midday and returning midday or in the PM peak. The Shuttle-Bug ran fare-free, and MetroAccess-certified ADA paratransit users can ride Metro for free as well.
Steve, that is a great example of limited day feeder to transit. We need more of this kind of cost-effective approach to utilizing the existing transit trunk lines while extending the reach, whether it it be suburbs or underserved inner city neighborhoods.