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The Role of Private-For-Hire Vehicles in Transit in Texas

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The Role of Private-For-Hire Vehicles in Transit in Texas Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/TX-07/0-5545-1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date THE ROLE OF PRIVATE-FOR-HIRE VEHICLES IN TRANSIT IN October 2006 TEXAS Published: July 2007 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Jeffrey C. Arndt and Linda K. Cherrington Report 0-5545-1 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No. College Station, Texas 77843-3135 Project 0-5545 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Technical Report: Research and Technology Implementation Office September 2005-August 2006 P. O. Box 5080 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Austin, Texas 78763-5080 15. Supplementary Notes Project performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project Title: The Role of Private-for-Hire Vehicles in Texas Public Transit URL:http//tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-5545-1.pdf 16. Abstract This report updates prior national research related to the private-for-hire vehicle (PHV) industry. The first section of the report provides an overview of the PHV industry in Texas and the perspectives of transit providers, both within Texas and nationally, on the use of these businesses in operating transit services. The second section of the report contains five Texas case studies where PHV companies are providing demand - responsive, circulator, fixed-route replacement, and medical transportation services in support of public transit operators. The final section of the report provides guidelines for the effective incorporation of contracted services using PHV companies, with a focus on addressing issues raised by public agencies as documented in the first section. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Private-for-Hire Vehicles, Contracted Service No restrictions. This document is available to the public through NTIS: National Technical Information Service Springfield, Virginia 22161 http://www.ntis.gov 19. Security Classif.(of this report) 20. Security Classif.(of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 68 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized THE ROLE OF PRIVATE-FOR-HIRE VEHICLES IN TRANSIT IN TEXAS by Jeffrey C. Arndt Research Scientist Texas Transportation Institute and Linda K. Cherrington Research Scientist Texas Transportation Institute Report 0-5545-1 Project 0-5545 Project Title: The Role of Private-for-Hire Vehicles in Texas Public Transit Performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration October 2006 Published: July 2007 TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE The Texas A&M University System College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) or the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was conducted in cooperation with TxDOT and FHWA. The authors wish to acknowledge the following individuals without whose insight and assistance the successful completion of this research project would not have been possible: For overall guidance and review: Karen Dunlap, Duncan Stewart, Loretta Brown, Mary Ann Gris, and Beverly Ham (TxDOT); and Joseph Chernow (Yellow Cab). For background and information related to case studies: Jim Laughlin and Mary Ann Dendor (METRO, Houston); Vernon Chambers (Harris County); Carla Foremen (Fort Worth Transportation Authority); Steve Sexton (Sexton Enterprises, Lubbock); and Andy Scheidt (VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio). For assistance in writing and editing the report: Suzie Edrington, Lisa Patke, and Brenda Manak (Texas Transportation Institute); and Kenneth Brown (Texas Southern University). vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures.............................................................................................................................viii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ ix Introduction and Purpose ............................................................................................................ 1 Section 1. Information Outreach Efforts and Results .............................................................. 3 What Are Private-for-Hire Vehicle Services? ............................................................................ 3 Information Gathering Methodology.......................................................................................... 3 Summary of Results.................................................................................................................... 7 Fleet Size..................................................................................................................................... 8 Organizational Structure............................................................................................................. 8 Contracting.................................................................................................................................. 9 Communication............................................................................................................................9 The Transit Industry and Contracted Services.......................................................................... 10 Texas Service Providers’ Perspective on Use of PHVs............................................................ 12 Summary of Perceived Benefits and Challenges to Incorporation of PHVs in Public Transportation in Texas ................................................................................................ 15 Section 2. Case Studies in the Use of Private-for-Hire Vehicles in Providing Public Transportation in Texas................................................................................................. 17 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 17 PHV Case Study 1: METROLift Services, Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO), Harris County................................................................................................................ 18 PHV Case Study 2: Harris County Coordinated Transportation Program .............................. 29 PHV Case Study 3: Connecting to the Train in Fort Worth – A Miss and A Hit.................... 36 PHV Case Study 4: VIA’s Starlight Service, San Antonio ..................................................... 41 PHV Case Study 5: The Evolution of Medical Transportation in Lubbock............................ 45 Section 3. Guidelines for Use of Private-for-Hire Vehicles in Public Transportation......... 49 Introduction............................................................................................................................... 49 Types of Service ....................................................................................................................... 49 Procuring PHV Services ........................................................................................................... 50 Managing PHV Services........................................................................................................... 53 Overcoming Concerns .............................................................................................................. 53 PHV and Transit Coordination ................................................................................................. 55 References.................................................................................................................................... 57 vii LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 2-1. METRO and METROLift Service Areas.................................................................. 18 Figure 2-2. Growth of METROLift Service: Van versus Sedan. ............................................... 26 Figure 2-3. METRO Service Area............................................................................................... 29 Figure 2-4. Percentage Distribution of Program Funding. .......................................................... 32 Figure 2-5. Monthly Passenger Trips........................................................................................... 32 Figure 2-6. Current Service Configuration. ................................................................................. 39 Figure 2-7. VIA Street Map and Starlight Service Area.............................................................. 43 viii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1-1. Baseline PHV Industry Source List: Number of Companies. ...................................... 5 Table 1-2. PHV Companies: Percentage Distribution by Business Type..................................... 6 Table 1-3. PHV Companies: Percentage Distribution by Geographic Area................................. 7 Table 1-4. Number of Vehicles Operated by Service Type........................................................... 8 Table 1-5. Percentage Distribution of Organizational Structure of the Responding PHV
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