2006 Additions to NCTR Website

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NCTR is located at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida. CUTR is recognized as one of the country's Best Workplaces for Commuters^SM

2006 Additions to NCTR Website

National Center for Transit Research Selects Oliver Page as 2006 NCTR Student of the Year

Oliver Page, a Ph.D. candidate in Civil Engineering, has been selected as the 2006 NCTR Student of the Year. Oliver has made substantial contributions to a number of projects funded through the National Center for Transit Research, including “Developing Bus Transfer Centers for Maximum Transit Agency and Community Benefit” and “Transit Use Viability Among Older Drivers Losing Driving Privileges,” the latter being the topic of his doctoral dissertation. He provided substantive assistance in a recently completed Transit Cooperative Research Program report entitled “Guidebook for Evaluating, Selecting, and Implementing Suburban Transit Services" and co-authored a white paper on “Rapid Transit Options for Miami Beach." His paper entitled, “Equity Impacts and Challenges of Highway Access Management in an Emerging Economy - South Africa at the Crossroads” has been published in Transportation Research Record #1939, of the National Research Council. He has presented findings of his NCTR research at state and national professional transportation conferences. In addition to his research activities, Oliver was a teaching assistant for the course entitled “Transportation and Society” and served as President of the student chapter of ITE at USF. He plans to continue to conduct research and teach in the field of transportation.

“Oliver has made outstanding contributions in every phase of our work at NCTR. He has completed meticulous research, has assisted in teaching transportation courses to undergraduates, and has been a leader in our student chapter of ITE. He has set a very high standard for future applicants for this award. We thank him for his service, and congratulate him on this award,” said Joel Volinski, Director National Center for Transit Research at CUTR.

Using Local Transit On-Board Surveys for State-Level Measurement

This report examines the feasibility of using local transit on-board surveys for state-level measurement of a state's transit program policy objectives. It first sets up a general method using Florida as a case study for its specific policy objectives. It then reviews in detail the design and administration of transit on-board surveys in Florida. After comparing the general method and current practices, the report finally discusses the challenges to using local on-board surveys for state-level measurement and proposes potential solutions to overcome these challenges. Throughout the report, the focus is on those aspects of on-board surveys that directly affect the feasibility of using local surveys for state-level measurement. These aspects include survey questions, survey coverage, survey timing, and weighting of survey data for local estimates and state-level measurement. While much of the analysis uses Florida as a case study, the approach is applicable to other states that are interested in using local on-board surveys to monitor how well their transit programs are achieving the state policy objectives.

A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Xuehao Chu at xchu@cutr.usf.edu.

10.24.06

National Center for Transit Research at the University of South Florida Selected as a Tier 1 University Transportation Center

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has selected the University of South Florida (USF) as one of the ten (10) Tier I University Transportation Centers (UTC) in the country. The UTC Program was established in 1987 with the mission "to advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through the mechanisms of education, research and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence." Tier I UTCs are expected to work collaboratively with DOT and state and local transportation stakeholders, and provide leadership in making national and regional contributions to solving immediate and long-range transportation challenges.

"We couldn’t have done it without the great partners we have at Florida DOT, who have matched our federal UTC dollars for many years, the Florida Transportation Commission, and the member agencies of the Florida Public Transportation Association," said Ed Mierzejewski, Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at USF. more

9.29.06

Bus Incident Reporting, Tracking and Analysis System

Many Florida transit systems do little formal analysis of all accidents on an aggregate basis. In many transit systems, accidents and incidents are not being tracked or analyzed to identify common trends from types of incidents, location, driver, bus route, roadway characteristics and other variables that may reduce transit incident in the future.

The goal of the project was to develop a basic bus incident reporting system for bus transit accidents and security incidents for Florida's public transit agencies. This project will allow transit systems to easily enter and track types of accidents and incidents by developing incident forms, along with the ability to analyze and report common trends in accident data over time. Another goal of the project was to develop a system that in the future could easily transfer the database and data to a statewide web-based incident tracking system.

A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Deborah Sapper at sapper@cutr.usf.edu.

9.7.06

Guidebook for Start-up Transit Agencies

The objective of this project was to develop a guidebook for use by agencies in the process of initiating first time transit systems, as well as to provide a comprehensive overview of the planning and programming aspects of the public transportation environment. The guidebook is designed to act as a consolidated source to inform agency personnel of various activities, procedures and programs related to initiating and continuing to operate a public transit agency. By detailing the wide assortment of information related to starting and operating public transportation agencies, this document was also envisioned as a resource document and transit primer for those employees and policy makers new to the public transit industry.

The report provides an overview of the institutional environment that public transit systems must understand, including the Florida DOT and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Federal and state transit funding sources, regulations and requirements are summarized. The key steps involved in the initiation of new transit systems are detailed and general timelines are provided. A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Ann Joslin at joslin@cutr.usf.edu.

7.28.06

"The 411 on 511: How This Advanced Traveler Information System Complements and Competes with TDM" Netconference

On June 1, 2006, the National Center for Transit Research’s National TDM and Telework Clearinghouse at the University of South Florida and the Association for Commuter Transportation held a netconference entitled "The 411 on 511: How This Advanced Traveler Information System Complements and Competes with TDM".

Click here to view the streaming media replay
(You need Windows Media Player™ to view)

Overview: What is 511 and how does it relate to TDM? This session provided an overview of this free advanced traveler information system throughout the country from Pete Costello, chair of the 511 Deployment Coalition Working Group. He discussed how these telephone (dial 511) and web-based systems are being designed. Lynn Osborn, Program Manager for 511 Contra Costa and chair of ACT’s 511 Council, provided a case study on deployment of 511 in San Francisco Bay area and discussed what the introduction of 511 means to TDM programs in her region. She also provided tips on how to get involved with planning your local 511 systems to include more TDM information in those systems. Finally, both speakers addressed the challenges and opportunities that TDM agencies may face related to 511.

6.2.06

Incorporating TDM into the Land Development Process

Unfamiliarity with the plans, processes and procedures of the local government land development process, transportation demand management (TDM) professionals can be frustrated in their efforts to improve mobility and reduce traffic congestion. This report provides detailed information to transportation professionals regarding how to incorporate TDM strategies into the land development process. The report documents efforts to secure TDM strategies as part of development approvals, summarizes the long range planning groundwork that frames the land development process, provides several case study examples from Florida and nationwide and also identifies several institutional barriers to the use of TDM as part of the land development process. A major finding is that transportation professionals interested in using TDM in land development must get involved long before development proposals are submitted. This requires participation in review and updates of the MPO long range transportation plan and transportation improvement program as well as local government comprehensive plans. Further, it involves appraising how well the local government land development regulations implement the intent of the comprehensive plan and reviewing traffic analysis methodology and underlying assumptions. These ground laying activities will begin the integration of TDM principles and strategies into the land use and transportation planning processes resulting in physical infrastructure, regulatory tools and operations management to support TDM as part of the solution as land development proceeds. A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Sara Hendricks at hendricks@cutr.usf.edu.

10.28.05

Transit Use Viability Among Older Drivers Losing Driving Privileges - Final Report

Effective January 1, 2004, Florida Statute 322.18, subsection 5, requires drivers 79 years or older to pass vision tests when renewing their six-year licenses. Such a mandate is part of an "age-based" testing regime that several U.S. states have implemented in recent years with respect to enhancing the safety environment afforded to road users. Implementation of "age-based testing" produces a group of travelers who could provide a resource in understanding travel behavior changes and mode choice after driving cessation. The objective of this study is to provide additional insight into travel behavior changes for persons who lose their driving privileges, particularly their interest in, ability to, and subsequent use of public transit. First, a literature review of developments that have impacted senior travel behavior is presented. Developments such as the changing demographics of seniors, senior socio-economic status and the process of driving retirement (i.e., driving reduction ultimately resulting in driving cessation) are then discussed. A descriptive overview of senior travel behavior as derived from analyses of publicly available datasets is complemented by findings from focus group discussions on senior travel behavior. Recommendations originating from this study are as follows: increase the provision of information to seniors regarding their mobility options; continue the adaptation of vehicles to accommodate older travelers; explore additional roles for local transit providers and monitor trends in driving cessation and senior mobility as part of local public transportation planning functions. Knowledge gaps in our understanding of senior travel needs before and after driving cessation are also presented. In conclusion, there is, no doubt, a strong consensus on the desire to find more efficient and cost effective ways to serve the travel needs of older persons, but there is far less consensus regarding the extent of public resources that should be spent to attract more trips into the realm of public responsibility.

A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format (use this for color printing), pdf format (use this for b & w printing), and in HTML format. For more information, contact Steve Polzin at polzin@cutr.usf.edu.

5.25.06

Special Event Transportation Service Planning and Operations Strategies for Transit

The goal of this project was to meet the expressed needs of Florida transit agencies for the development of a guide for special event transportation services that could benefit transit agencies and the organizations they must coordinate with for the provision of services.

An overview of transportation planning and management for special events is presented. The current practices of Florida public transit systems involved in supporting special events in their communities is documented. An overview of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) charter regulations is provided, including an outline of the procedures for compliance. Also, a summary of recent pertinent FTA cases and rulings related to charter service provision and special events is provided. Best practices in planning guidelines and strategies are presented for use by transit agencies to improve their involvement in community planned special events.

A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Jay Goodwill at jaygoodwill@cutr.usf.edu.

5.11.06

Transit Use Viability Among Older Drivers Losing Driving Privileges - Technical Memorandum One

A copy of Technical Memorandum One is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Steve Polzin at polzin@cutr.usf.edu.

5.3.06

Strategies for an Intra-Urban Circulator System

Currently, there are several urban communities that have implemented trolley/circulators or are in the process of developing such services. In general, proponents of central business development and smart growth have been some of the supporters of circulator systems in downtown cores. Because of nostalgia and their historical experiences, one of the most favored modes has been the trolley (fixed and non-fixed guideway). However, while several urban communities have recently implemented trolley services, or are in the process of developing one, currently there are no such guidelines to use in the implementation and operation of the service. Therefore, the case studies in this report identifying key elements of successful practices can be an important resource for these entities. This study develops a synthesis of existing circulator systems in Florida and other select systems around the country. The study further identifies key characteristics for developing an effective circulator system as well as critical operating strategies. Finally, general guidelines are provided from which individual Florida communities and others across the country or elsewhere can develop systems unique to their needs.

A copy of the final report is available here in pdf format and in HTML format. For more information, contact Vicky Perk at perk@cutr.usf.edu.

2.8.2006