Disability Research

A question pondered why the disparity between paratransit fares across the country. Sadly, disability research rarely intends to support advocacy. So, a quick review of the wonderful World Wide Web finds this study by Gregory M. Kausch published December of 2004:

"Since the early 1990s, much like the operating cost recovery ratio, the average fare collected by demand response transit agencies in 2001 dollars exhibits pronounced upturns and downturns, but is generally increasing – from $.82 during FY 1990 to almost $1.75 during FY 2001 (Figure 16). Over the twelve-year period, this represents an increase of about 111%."

Later in his study Mr. Kausch points out information that could prove useful in advocating for paratransit services.

"Despite the rapid growth rate of demand response operating costs, the mode is unremarkable in terms of raw operating dollars expended on an annual basis. During FY 2001, the level of demand response service on the street only cost about 1/7 as much as the level of conventional fixed route bus service. On an annual basis, heavy rail and commuter rail service also cost more to operate than demand response service."

People with disabilities have to frame the argument effectively to convince public policymakers. In the following example from Durham, North Carolina it points out the importance of challenging statements like "decreased federal funding." Decisions about how federal funding is used to operate transportation are made on a state and local level.

Durham
"In July 1996 Durham Area Transit Authority restructured fares for fixed-route and paratransit services. DATA attributes increases in fares to rising operating costs and decreased federal funding.

"No one wanted to raise the fares, but with federal cutbacks the city had to find a balanced solution," says Mark Ahrendsen, assistant director of transportation for the city of Durham. "Our sensitivity to passengers is paramount, and the subsequent fares represent only a modest increase," adds Ahrendsen.

For one-way travel on DATA buses, general fare increased to 75 cents from 60 cents. Discount fare increased to 35 cents from 30 cents. Transfer fares were not changed. DATALink and D-Tran paratransit fares increased to $1 from 90 cents."

What the research does indicate is that more creative strategies are in order to keep paratransit services as a viable alternative for those who need it.

Interesting study on switching from paratransit to mass transit.

Jeepneys & Jitneys "The few economic studies available have generally found paratransit services to be an economic asset, eliminating the need for government subsidies and relieving public transit systems of their costly peak-period burdens."

I left my heart in San Francisco.