San Jose State University SJSU ScholarWorks Mineta Transportation Institute Publications 9-2020 Characteristics of Effective Metropolitan Areawide Public Transit: A Comparison of European, Canadian, and Australian Case Studies Michelle DeRobertis Mineta Transportation Institute Christopher E. Ferrell Mineta Transportation Institute Richard W. Lee San Jose State University John M. Eells Mineta Transportation Institute Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/mti_publications Part of the Transportation Commons, and the Transportation Engineering Commons Recommended Citation Michelle DeRobertis, Christopher E. Ferrell, Richard W. Lee, and John M. Eells. "Characteristics of Effective Metropolitan Areawide Public Transit: A Comparison of European, Canadian, and Australian Case Studies" Mineta Transportation Institute Publications (2020). https://doi.org/10.31979/mti.2020.2001 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by SJSU ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mineta Transportation Institute Publications by an authorized administrator of SJSU ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Project 2001 September 2020 Characteristics of Effective Metropolitan Areawide ublicP Transit: A Comparison of European, Canadian, and Australian Case Studies Michelle DeRobertis, PhD Christopher E. Ferrell, PhD Richard W. Lee, PhD John M. Eells, MCP MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE transweb.sjsu.edu MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE LEAD UNIVERSITY OF Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility Founded in 1991, the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI), an organized research and training unit in partnership with the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San José State University (SJSU), increases mobility for all by improving the safety, efficiency, accessibility, and convenience of our nation’s transportation system. Through research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer, we help create a connected world. MTI leads the four-university Mineta Consortium for Transportation Mobility, a Tier 1 University Transportation Center funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and by private grants and donations. MTI’s transportation policy work is centered on three primary responsibilities: Research MTI works to provide policy-oriented research for all levels active assistance of the California Department ofTransportation of government and the p rivate sector to foster the develop- (Caltrans), MTI delivers its classes over a state-of-the-art ment of optimum surface transportation systems. 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MTI’s extensive collection of transportation- related graduate certificates in Transportation Management, Transportation publications is integrated into San José State University’s Security, and High-Speed Rail Management that serve to prepare world-class Martin Luther King, Jr. Library. the nation’s transportation managers for the 21st century. With the Disclaimer The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated in the interest of information exchange. The report is funded, partially or entirely, by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers Program. This report does not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the U.S. government, State of California, or the Mineta Transportation Institute, who assume no liability for the contents or use thereof. This report does not constitute a standard specification, design standard, or regulation. REPORT 20-42 CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE METROPOLITAN AREAWIDE PUBLIC TRANSIT: A COMPARISON OF EUROPEAN, CANADIAN, AND AUSTRALIAN CASE STUDIES Michelle DeRobertis, PhD Christopher E. Ferrell, PhD Richard W. Lee, PhD John M. Eells, MCP September 2020 A publication of Mineta Transportation Institute Created by Congress in 1991 College of Business San José State University San José, CA 95192-0219 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. 20-42 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Characteristics of Effective Metropolitan Areawide Public Transit: A Comparison of September 2020 European, Canadian, and Australian Case Studies 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Authors 8. Performing Organization Report Michelle DeRobertis, PhD, 0000-0001-5732-8777; Christopher E. Ferrell, PhD, CA-MTI-2001 0000-0002-3285-1008; Richard W. Lee, PhD, 0000-0002-7385-4336; John M. Eells, MCP, 0000-0003-3564-2962 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business San José State University 11. Contract or Grant No. San José, CA 95192-0219 69A3551747127 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered U.S. Department of Transportation Final Report Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 14. Sponsoring Agency Code University Transportation Centers Program 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 15. Supplemental Notes 10.31979/mti.2020.2001 16. Abstract This research project investigates the replicable characteristics, policies, and practices of successful metropolitan areawide public transportation networks that contribute to high usage and make transit an effective competitor to the private motor vehicle. The research method involves the qualitative and quantitative analysis of ten international (non-U.S.) case studies. The principal methods employed were web-based research and data collection, as well as telephone interviews with transit agency staff or regional planners as needed. The case studies were limited to developed western countries with similar metropolitan conditions to those in the United States. This research focuses on key characteristics of highly effective regional transit systems from the perspective of the metropolitan area, not the individual transit operators. These characteristics fall within three broad categories: the setting of the metropolitan area; the customer-apparent transit service features; and the behind-the-scenes or institutional characteristics. Key findings are: (1) all ten case studies have a metropolitan areawide regional transit coordinator (RTC); (2) RTCs yield benefits in terms of ridership and operating efficiencies that are discernable from the effects of high transit funding and subsidies; (3) all case studies had some degree of fare integration, and most had complete regionwide fare integration; and (4) transit service was frequent, abundant, and affordable in all cases. The features of excellent regionwide transit systems that have been identified in this research can be applied to U.S. metropolitan areas with multiple players, yielding effective, efficient, and high mode share public transit at the regional level. The research can help U.S. policy makers and planners begin to improve the appropriate aspects of their own regional transit systems, including by improving coordination and organizational structures. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Transit integration, public transit, No restrictions. This document is available to the public through public transport association, The National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161 regional coordination, Europe Copyright © 2020 by Mineta Transportation Institute All rights reserved DOI: 10.31979/mti.2020.2001 Mineta Transportation Institute College of Business San José State University San José, CA 95192-0219 Tel: (408) 924-7560 Fax: (408) 924-7565 Email: [email protected] transweb.sjsu.edu 091420 iv ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––