Sustainable Transportation Challenges: Case Study on the UConn Prepaid Fare

Program Failure

Edmund J. Zolnik, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

School of Public PolicyGeorge Mason University

Van Pool Boot CampGeorge Mason University

Arlington, VA USANovember 7, 2011

2

Research Question

Review of the Literature

Analysis

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

Outline

3

Research Question

Is Unlimited Access (UA) a solution to the problem of transit demand management in the nonmetropolitan US?

4

Review of the Literature 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65-74 75+

Public Transit Trips

Total Vehicular Trips

Daily Trip

Rates

Age Cohort

5

Review of the Literature

D

Number of Trips

Income

D'' D'S

KeyD' = PrivateD'' = Public

6

Rural Transportation Problem

Definition: Low DensityLong TripsOver reliance on private modes of transportation

Complications: Rural Rebound → Congestion Air Pollution

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Review of the Literature

8

Review of the Literature

9

Unlimited Access (UA)

Definition: Students, faculty and staff (as well as residents) are afforded unlimited use of transit services.

Operation: UniversityTransit AgencyMunicipal GovernmentPrivate Contractor

Funding: Federal, State and Local GovernmentsStudent FeesParking Permits and FinesGeneral Funds

10 Sources: Brown, Hess and Shoup, 2001; Miller, 2001

Benefits of UA for both Town…

Provides economic development stimulus.Reduces traffic congestion.Decreases the number of single-occupant vehicle trips.Improves air quality.Improves overall transit services.Reduces the operating costs per rider.Increases transit ridership.Fills empty seats.Provides operating revenue.Decreases wear and tear on local roads.

11 Sources: Brown, Hess and Shoup, 2001; Miller, 2001

…and Gown

Reduces demand for parking.Promotes greener campuses.Increases transportation equity.Increases access to off-campus housing and employment.Reduces the costs of attending college.Helps to recruit and retain students.

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Review of the Literature

Brown, Hess and Shoup, 2001

“The diversity of locations where universitiesoffer Unlimited Access – from small towns tolarge cities – indicates that it can work almost anywhere…” (p. 235)

“No university has terminated a (UA) program,and some university administrators told us thatUnlimited Access was one of the greatest successstories on their campus.” (p. 259)

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Examples

University of California at Los Angeles University of Washington

Iowa State University University of Massachusetts at Amherst

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Prepaid Fare Program

Gown

Transportation Services

Undergraduate Student Government (USG)

Graduate Student Senate (GSS)

Town

Prepaid Fares for Mansfield Residents

If you are a Mansfield resident with a valid Town-issued pass, your fare has been pre-paid by the Town of Mansfield. Please show your pass when boarding. Pre-paid fares apply to the Storrs-Willimantic fixed route service only. Mansfield passes are available at the Mansfield Town Clerk’s office.

Windham Regional Transit DistrictMansfield, Connecticut University of Connecticut

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Storrs Willimantic Fixed Route Bus Service

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Analysis

34,023 48,681 50,222 44,177 43,566 39,056 46,144 49,371 45,13930,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

55,000

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Fiscal Year

Rid

ersh

ip

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Analysis

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

1981 1986 1991 1996 2001

Fiscal Year

Rev

enu

e/R

ider

ship

PFP

Revenue

Ridership

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Analysis

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Analysis

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Willingness-to-Coordinate Hypothesis

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Coordinating Transportation Path Diagram

Source: Adapted from Saltzman (1980, p. 185)

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Conclusions

Successful UA programs require annual stakeholders meetings.

Towns and gowns may define green differently in the long-term.

The interests of university administrations may not coincide with the community in the long-term.

Small-town UA programs in the northeast are vulnerable to fiscal shortages at the state level.

Source: Ewing et al. 2003

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Babinicz, A. Executive Director, Clemson Area Transit,Clemson, SC

Byam, A. General Manager, UMass Transit, Amherst, MAFreniere, J. Manager, Transportation Services, University

of Connecticut, Storrs, CTHultgren, L. Director of Public Works, Mansfield, CTMiller, R. Director, Office of Environmental Policy,

University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Acknowledgments