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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Research Project Description
Center Identification Number:
Project Title: Lessons
Learned in Transit Efficiencies, Revenue Generation, and
Cost Reductions - Part II
Co-Principal
Investigators:
Joel Volinski, Deputy Director
Ph: (813) 974-9847
Fax: (813) 974-5168
E-mail: volinski@cutr.eng.usf.edu
Dennis Hinebaugh, Program Director
Ph: (813) 974-9833
E-mail: hinebaug@cutr.eng.usf.edu
Institution:
Center for
Urban Transportation Research
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida 33620-5375
External Project
Contact: Ed Coven, State Transit Office Manager
I. Project Objective
To identify the more creative actions
transit agencies of all sizes across the nation are taking to either
generate new revenues or reduce costs while retaining (and hopefully
increasing) their passengers.
II. Project Abstract
Securing sufficient revenues to provide
service is one of the fundamental requirements of every transit agency. In
times of tight budgets and great competition for scarce public funds,
transit agencies have learned they must do everything possible to maximize
their own capabilities to realize new revenues or reduce costs (without
losing passengers). Not only does this help each transit agency operate
within their own budget, it also helps promote their image in their
communities as efficient public agencies. The purpose of this project is
to gather and redistribute information on how transit agencies are
generating new revenues or reducing costs without harming the best
interests of their passengers. A report of the same name was produced in
1997 in which over 180 different techniques to make or save money were
identified. The findings were obtained through survey responses from 75
different transit agencies. This project would continue the effort of
finding the more creative and effective techniques being used at transit
agencies that were not surveyed in 1997. The first report developed in
1997 was extremely well received by the transit industry, and continues to
be the subject of presentations at the local, state, and national levels.
The findings from this research are also extremely useful to every transit
agency in the state of Florida when assisting with the development of
Transit Development Plans or when conducting performance reviews upon
their request.
III. Task Descriptions
Lessons Learned in Transit Efficiencies,
Revenue Generation, and Cost Reductions will consist of the following
tasks:
Task 1. Develop Survey Instrument
In this task, the investigators will
review and modify as necessary the survey instrument that was used for the
initial project conducted in 1996. Once completed, the survey will be sent
to 100 select transit agencies with instructions on how and when to
complete the survey.
Task 2. Conduct Literature Review
The investigators will search the
various sources of information that may be available through the CUTR
Resource Information Center, TRB, TCRP, the internet, and any other
sources that might include stories on what transit agencies are creatively
doing to supplement their revenues or decrease their costs, without
putting the burden of such measures on their customers.
Task 3. Complete Survey Analysis
This task will require investigators to
review all information received from returned surveys and follow up as
necessary to ensure information received is complete and understandable.
Task 4. Prepare Final Report
Investigators will prepare the final
report categorizing and summarizing the various ideas submitted from
transit agencies. Insights gained from national trends will also be
summarized as well as the individual techniques being practiced.
Task 5. Dissemination of Results
The report will be sent to the United
States Department of Transportation for publication through the Research
and Special Programs Administration to enable anyone to receive printed
copies for free. The report will also be posted to NCTR=s website. The
report will be summarized in a fashion to be presented at transit
conferences and to other research faculty at the National Center for
Transit Research.
IV. Project Schedule, Milestones
Project Start Date: December 1, 1999
|
Task |
Dec |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
|
1 |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
X |
X |
|
V. Total Project Budget
|
Budget Categories |
Federal Share |
State Share |
Total |
|
Institute Director Salary |
|
|
|
|
Faculty Salaries |
23,858 |
7,500 |
|
|
Administrative Staff Salaries |
1,500 |
800 |
|
|
Other Staff Salaries |
|
|
|
|
Graduate Student Salaries |
5,500 |
1,000 |
|
|
Undergraduate Salaries |
|
|
|
|
Staff Benefits |
10,867 |
2,490 |
|
|
Total Salaries and Benefits |
41,725 |
11,790 |
|
|
Permanent Equipment |
|
|
|
|
Expendable Equipment/Supplies |
1,000 |
887 |
|
|
Domestic Travel |
1,500 |
887 |
|
|
Computer Costs |
1,500 |
|
|
|
Other Costs |
|
|
|
|
Total Direct Costs |
45,725 |
13,564 |
|
|
Indirect Costs |
20,575 |
678 |
|
|
TOTAL COSTS |
66,300 |
14,242 |
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Notes: This budget does not reflect any
federal participation. The project team will include faculty, students,
and secretarial and other support staff who will work directly on the
project and whose costs are reflected in the direct costs of the project
as listed above.
VI. Student Involvement
Graduate students will be used to send
and review all surveys to transit agencies and assist in the development
of categorization of ideas submitted from the agencies. They will also
conduct the literature search, including scanning information available
over the internet for inclusion in the report. This project will serve as
an excellent introduction to operating and policy issues in typical
transit agencies.
VII. Relationship to Other Research Projects
As noted earlier, this project will be a
follow-up to the same titled project conducted in 1996 (published in
1997). This effort will update information gathered since that time, while
also focusing on agencies that did not respond to the surveys sent out in
1996.
VIII. Technology Transfer Activities
Please see item #3 - Task IV described
above. In addition, it is expected that the results of this report may be
broadcast via teleconference from the University of South Florida=s
facilities.
IX. Potential Benefits of the Project
The results of this project will be
immediately accessible to operating transit agencies throughout the
country and the world. Every agency can learn from the practices of
their counterparts, and select the techniques that they think have the
most application in their local circumstances. Hundreds of requests
were received for copies of the first report produced in 1997. It is
anticipated that a similar response will result with this report which
will be full of practical, relevant ideas. In addition to including
the ideas, the report will also include the names of those who have
submitted information, and how they can be contacted. In this fashion,
practitioners will be able to communicate with each other for more
in-depth information on any idea in the report.
X. TRB Keywords
Public
transit, efficiencies, revenue generation, cost reductions.
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813.974.5168 fax