Ridesharing as a Complement to Transit

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

2012

Subject Area

mode - carpool, place - north america

Keywords

Carpools, Innovation, Literature reviews, Public transit, Ridesharing, State of the practice, Surveys, Transit operating agencies, Vanpools

Abstract

The purpose of the synthesis was to report the state of the practice, as well as to aid transit agencies and other entities in deciding how to enhance ridesharing and public transit. Key results show that closing gaps and penetrating difficult to serve areas are the top reasons that transit agencies integrate ridesharing into public transit; however, the agencies involved in this effort remain modest in number. A review of the relevant literature was conducted for this effort. Although much has been written about ridesharing, only a few documents appear to discuss the public transit and ridesharing linkage. As of July 2010, there were approximately 384 ridematching programs in the United States, but only 32 operated by public transit agencies. A selected survey of public transit agencies of varying sizes and serving different areas, such as regions, single counties, and entire states, as well as non-transit agencies linking ridesharing and public transit, yielded an 84% response rate (41 of 49). Brief agency profiles, achieved through interviews, highlight successful or innovative approaches offered at ten transit providers: Pace in Illinois; King County Metro, the state of Washington legislature, and the Washington State Department of Transportation and Avego Corporation pilot program in Washington State; Des Moines Area Rapid Transit in Iowa; Kings County Area Public Transit Agency, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and Bay Area Rapid Transit in California; Space Coast Area Transit in Florida; and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission in Virginia.

Rights

Permission to publish this abstract has been given by Transportation Research Board, Washington, copyright remains with them.

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