Analysis of Contracting for Fixed Route Bus Service

(Center Identification Number: 77923)   This study examines the potential for and issues surrounding private sector participation in providing public transportation in Florida. A comprehensive review of past studies and reports on the topic of contracting for service provides a valuable historical overview of data and trends as well as best practices employed by agencies to evaluate contracting fixed route bus service. The potential benefits of purchasing service as well as reasons to contract are discussed to provide transit managers with a thorough understanding of all aspects of contracting. An annual comparison of directly operated and purchased fixed route service from 1998 through 2009 identifies trends that have occurred in privatization over at least the past ten years in the U.S. and Florida. A detailed comparison of operating costs for three service metrics in 2008 versus 1998 illustrates how cost effectiveness can vary by size of agency, area of the country, and by type of service – directly operated and purchased. Download the final report.  For more information, contact Stephen Reich at reich@cutr.usf.edu or Janet Davis at davis@cutr.usf.edu.