2013 Session: 767

• Scrutinizing Weekly Travel Behavior Patterns in Paratransit: Results of a Big Data Experiment
  Abstract: Extracting structured knowledge from large datasets is a challenge that transportation planning faces more and more, particularly in the context of assisting policy decision-making. This paper takes advantage of the availability of 'BIG' operational archived data to scrutinize weekly travel variability of paratransit users and extract representative patterns of weekly travel behaviour. To that end, data mining techniques are used. The study is based on a one-year dataset which represents 1,393,291 trips made by 10,182 users. Empirical results show that the week structure regulates the activity rhythms of the paratransit system with more than 92% of successive daily trip chains performed inside a seven-day period. This study also confirms that weekly rhythms of paratransit are different from the weekly rhythms of the general population. In the future, paratransit planning should move towards a more data- and user-oriented paradigm if it intends to achieve an allocation of operational resources more commensurate with its ridership.
  Authors: Desharnais, Marie-Christine; Chapleau, Robert
  Authors: Desharnais, Marie-Christine; Chapleau, Robert
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-3790
• Community Paratransit and the Economic Recession: Challenges and Opportunities
  Abstract: ABSTRACT Community paratransit provides life-enhancing transportation to those most in need of such support, namely the transportation disadvantaged. In the current economic recession, however, paratransit providers nationwide have struggled to cope with increasing service demand amidst escalating operational and capital costs and reduced funding opportunities. To address these dilemmas, many paratransit agencies and other providers have reduced costs through service reductions and eliminations – strategies that negatively impact customers. This paper presents the context of the funding constraints faced by paratransit providers and explores innovative strategies pursued and the associated challenges encountered by providers in their quest to maintain and enhance services, as determined through a unique 2011 nationwide survey effort.Survey findings demonstrate that respondents have indeed faced challenges in the current economy, with service reduction or elimination reported by 42% of respondents. Fortunately, innovative approaches to raise funds, lower costs, and/or improve efficiencies have also been utilized. Coordination efforts, vehicle advertising, and the pursuit of foundation or other charitable support were alternatives used by the greatest number of respondents, with strategies including feeder service to transit and use of volunteer drivers less frequently pursued. Funding entities, policy makers, and the transit community can greatly benefit from considering the reported difficulties respondents encountered in pursuing these innovative coping mechanisms so that successful usage of these and other related strategies can be increased among paratransit providers who are desperately searching for viable options to support transportation in an increasingly limited funding environment. KEYWORDS: Paratransit, Transportation Disadvantaged, Public Transportation, Disability
  Authors: Lubin, Andrea; DiPetrillo, Stephanie; Fittante, Steve
  Authors: Lubin, Andrea; DiPetrillo, Stephanie; Fittante, Steve
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-4346
• Comparing Fixed-Route and Demand-Responsive Feeder Transit Systems in Real-World Settings
  Abstract: This research presents a method of comparing fixed-route transportation systems and demand-responsive feeder transit systems using passenger survey data, published transit schedules, and optimal routing techniques. Demand-responsive transportation can be utilized to improve transit service levels in low demand areas. Since cities can vary significantly in demand across the region and time of day, it is imperative that an effective means of determing when demand-responsive services can out perform fixed-route services and vice versa. This research builds upon existing comparison techniques, that are focused on gridded street systems, and expands the techniques to includes all types of street networks, transit schedules, and passenger demand levels. The generic techniques are presented and a case study is given for the city of Atlanta to determine where demand-responsive feeder systems might be implemented to improve customer satisfaction and reduce operating costs.
  Authors: Edwards, Derek; Watkins, Kari Edison
  Authors: Edwards, Derek; Watkins, Kari Edison
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-5185
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Development of Transportation Skill Assessment Tool for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum to Aid in Finding Safe and Accessible Paratransit Services
  Abstract: In order to assist individuals on the autism spectrum in accessing public paratransit services, the Transportation Skills Assessment Tool (TSAT) was developed. The tool was modeled after other assessments that are commonly used to evaluate individuals on the autism spectrum. The goal was to offer a reliable prediction on the ability of an individual to independently use public paratransit services based on their performance in a controlled testing environment. The tool developed by the researchers evaluates 37 separate tasks to determine the capability of an individual to use up to five different types of paratransit services. Of the 37 assessments, 36 were modified from previously validated assessment tools, and one was developed by Rutgers. The paratransit services evaluated are: hand-to-hand, door-through-door, door-to-door, curb-to-curb, and ADA complementary. The tool is designed with three hierarchical sections for the five different paratransit types as well as the trip planning and scheduling section. The TSAT is designed to simulate each of the necessary skills in order to evaluate the individual’s ability to independently travel using one or more of the paratransit services. A pilot test was conducted with five adults from the Rutgers Douglass Development Disabilities Center. Of the five individuals tested, three were determined to have the ability to ride hand-to-hand services independently and two were determined unable to ride paratransit independently. The pilot test indicated the TSAT was able to predict the capabilities of an individual in a simulated real-world environment based on the in-class results with 100% accuracy.
  Authors: Feeley, Cecelia; Szary, Patrick J.; Lee, Ken; Matlin, Alisa; Hoffman, Louis; Manente, Christopher; Matheis, Elizabeth
  Authors: Feeley, Cecelia; Szary, Patrick J.; Lee, Ken; Matlin, Alisa; Hoffman, Louis; Manente, Christopher; Matheis, Elizabeth
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-0553
• Development of Transportation Skill Assessment Tool for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum to Aid in Finding Safe and Accessible Paratransit Services
  Authors: Feeley, Cecelia
  Authors: Feeley, Cecelia
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-0553
• Community Paratransit and the Economic Recession: Challenges and Opportunities
  Authors: Lubin, Andrea
  Authors: Lubin, Andrea
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-4346
• Comparing Fixed-Route and Demand-Responsive Feeder Transit Systems in Real-World Settings
  Authors: Edwards, Derek
  Authors: Edwards, Derek
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-5185
• Scrutinizing Weekly Travel Behavior Patterns in Paratransit: Results of a Big Data Experiment
  Authors: Desharnais, Marie-Christine
  Authors: Desharnais, Marie-Christine
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: AICP Certification Maintenance Session; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation
  Session: 767
  Paper Number: 13-3790