Guidebook for Start-up Transit Agencies

The objective of this project is to develop a guidebook for use by agencies in the process of initiating first time transit systems, as well as for employees and policy makers new to the public transit industry. The guidebook is envisioned to be a consolidated source to inform the agency personnel on various initiatives, procedures and programs related to initiating and continuing to operate a public transit agency. The guidebook will also serve as a reference source to direct transit personnel to appropriate sources for more detailed information.

The proposed scope of services for this project consists of the following tasks.

In this task, CUTR will provide that the various federal regulations, polices and procedures with which public transit agencies must comply, such as various U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) circulars, federal registers, grant contracts, and certifications and assurances. An inventory of regulatory and procedural requirements applicable to transit agencies will be presented. This inventory will include grant management, fiscal, labor, civil rights, and safety regulations. In addition, various funding options available to new/existing transit agencies will be discussed. A timeline to comply with regulations and apply for appropriate grants and other funding will be provided. This timeline will also include dates to provide various statistics to FTA, complete and submit forms, and take other key actions to start a transit agency or acquire the necessary funding for a new/existing agency.

Similar to Task 1, this task will examine and document the additional regulations and funding options available for public transportation through the State of Florida, with specific focus on the Florida Department of Transportation.

Deliverable: Technical Memorandum 1 – Summary of Federal and State of Florida Public Transit Program Regulations, Procedures, Policies and Available Funding Sources

CUTR will conduct surveys, telephone interviews and on-site visits with representatives of up to ten transit agencies that initiated service during the past five years. The agencies will include those located in Florida as well as throughout the nation. These interviews and on-site visits will focus on each agency’s experience with the start-up process, lessons learned, and best practices identified. Some of the specific areas to be addressed include:

· chronology/timing of various steps (market demand analysis, preparation of transit development plan and other necessary documentation, securing funding, staffing, etc.);

Results of the surveys and interviews will be summarized to provide a discussion of various issues to consider in starting a new transit agency or in training new personnel.

Based on the findings of the previous tasks, as well as peer-to-peer discussions and based on input received from CUTR faculty with transit administration and operations background. CUTR will identify key issues and specific steps that must be accomplished for the successful initiation of new service.

In addition to the federal and state requirements and procedures that must be met, an overview of other related steps and actions related to initiation of transit service will be provided. Such items will include: marketing programs, design and production of timetables, bus stop design issues, standard operating procedures, fiscal and financial controls, human resource requirements, employee training programs, maintenance procedures and organization, safety programs, and so forth.

Deliverable: Technical Memorandum 2 – Synthesis of Survey and Interview Results: Experience and Lessons Learned on Starting New Transit Agencies and Identification of Key Steps and Issues Related to Successful Start-Up Efforts

The final task of the research will be to summarize the results of the previous tasks and to develop a “Guidebook for Start-Up Transit Agencies”. This report will be designed in a clear, concise summary format that will facilitate easy reading and application by the public transit industry, specifically for those employees and policy makers new to the public transit industry.

There will be three deliverables for this project. Technical Memorandum 1 – Summary of Federal and State of Florida Public Transit Program Regulations, Procedures, Policies and Available Funding Sources will be submitted at the completion of Task 2. Technical Memorandum 2 – Synthesis of Survey and Interview Results: Experience and Lessons Learned on Starting New Transit Agencies and Identification of Key Steps and Issues Related to Successful Start-Up Efforts will be submitted at the completion of Task 4. The third deliverable will be the “Final Report”, in both draft and final forms. Once approved by the FDOT Project Manager and the Research Office, 12 copies of the “Final Report”, an electronic version, and an electronic version of the project summary will be submitted to the Research Office.

A. SALARIES:	% Time	Period Covered	-
Principal Investigator: Jay Goodwill	18%	15 months	$18,185
Senior Research Associate	20%	15 months	$15,000
Research Associate	3%	15 months	$ 2,000
USPS Personnel	6%	15 months	$ 2,000
Total Salaries			$37,185
B. OTHER PERSONNEL SERVICES (OPS):
Graduate Students (1)			$ 3,000
Undergraduate Students (0)			0
Total OPS			$ 3,000
C. FRINGE BENEFITS			-
Total Fringe Benefits			$11,208
TOTAL SALARIES, OPS & FRINGE BENEFITS			$51,393
D. TOTAL PERMANENT EQUIPMENT			-
OCO			0
E. TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES
Reports			$ 1,500
Office Supplies (telephone, postage, etc.)			$ 250
Rentals			0
Tuition			0
In-state Travel			$ 2,500
# of Trips: (10)			-
Destination: (Tallahassee x 2, FPTA Annual, Ocala, Collier County, St. Lucie, Volusia)			-
# of persons traveling: 1-2 per trip			-
Duration:1-2 days			-
Out-of-state Travel			$ 1,500
# of Trips: (2)			-
Destination: (Washington, DC to meet with APTA and CTAA staff, CATA – State College, PA )			-
# of persons traveling: 1-2 per trip			-
Duration:1-2 days			-
Consultants (0)			0
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES			$ 5,750
F. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS			$57,143
G. TOTAL INDIRECT COSTS @ 5%			$ 2,857