TRANSIT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM (TCRP) Project B-40 Final Research Report to Enable and Promote the Use of Fixed-Route Transit by People with Disabilities This is the contractor’s final report for TCRP B-40. Prepared by: TranSystems Corporation In cooperation with: The Collaborative KFH Group Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, Inc. April 15, 2014 TCRP Project B-40 Final Research Report Table of Contents Introduction i Project Goal and Tasks ................................................................................................ ii Section 1. Literature Search ................................................................. 1-1 Factors Considered When Deciding Whether to Use Fixed-Route Transit Services ............................................................................................................. 1-1 Current Use of Fixed-Route Transit Services ........................................................... 1-3 ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determinations................................................................ 1-5 Fare Incentive Programs .......................................................................................... 1-8 Pedestrian Infrastructure Issues and Improvements .............................................. 1-10 Travel Training Programs ....................................................................................... 1-13 Enhanced Trip Planning Services to Facilitate Use of Fixed-Route Transit Services ........................................................................................................... 1-14 Enhanced Public Information and Marketing Efforts to Promote Use of ........................ Fixed-Route Transit Services .......................................................................... 1-15 Improved Vehicle Designs to Accommodate Riders with Disabilities and Their Mobility Devices ............................................................................................... 1-15 Uses of Advanced Technologies to Facilitate Fixed-Route Transit Use ................. 1-17 Enhanced Service Monitoring Efforts to Ensure Accessibility of Fixed-Route Transit Services ............................................................................................... 1-20 Section 2. Key Factors Influencing Use of Fixed-Route Transit Services ..................................................................................... 2-1 Initial Interviews of People with Disabilities .............................................................. 2-1 Interviewee Location and Types of Mobility Aids Used ......................................... 2-1 Modes Used, Frequency of Use, and Use by Trip Purpose .................................. 2-2 General Comments on Fixed-Route Transit and ADA Paratransit Services ......... 2-5 Importance of Selected Factors in Decisions Whether to Use Fixed-Route Transit Services .............................................................................................. 2-6 National Survey of People with Disabilities ............................................................ 2-14 Initial Questions................................................................................................... 2-15 Frequency of Use ................................................................................................ 2-19 Types of Trips ..................................................................................................... 2-22 Reasons for Choice of Transit Mode ................................................................... 2-27 More Use of Fixed-Route Transit Service ........................................................... 2-27 What Factors Are Most Important ....................................................................... 2-31 Conclusions and General Observations Regarding Key Decision Factors ............. 2-42 4/15/2014 TCRP Project B-40 Final Research Report Section 3. Identification of Efforts by Transit Agencies to Enable and Promote Use of Fixed-Route Transit Services .................................... 3-1 Development and Distribution of the Survey ............................................................ 3-1 Types of Transit Services Provided .......................................................................... 3-2 Current Use of Fixed-Route Transit Services by Persons with Disabilities............... 3-3 ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination Processes ................................................ 3-4 Fare Incentive Programs ........................................................................................ 3-10 Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Programs .................................................. 3-13 Travel Training Programs ....................................................................................... 3-19 Targeted Marketing/Public Information Efforts ....................................................... 3-25 Trip Planning Information ....................................................................................... 3-30 Enhanced Employee Training ................................................................................ 3-37 Transit Service Monitoring Efforts .......................................................................... 3-41 Improved Accommodation of Mobility Aids Used By Riders ................................... 3-48 Section 4. Selection of Phase 2 Case Studies .................................... 4-1 Section 5. Case Studies of Conditional and Trip-by-Trip ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determinations .................................................. 5-1 King County Metro, Seattle, WA: Conditional and Trip-by-Trip ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determinations ................................................................................... 5-1 Background ........................................................................................................... 5-1 Community Transportation Program ..................................................................... 5-1 ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination Process ................................................ 5-4 Conditional and Trip-By-Trip Eligibility .................................................................. 5-8 ADA Paratransit Ridership Trends ...................................................................... 5-17 Conclusions and Lessons Learned ..................................................................... 5-17 Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAT) and ACCESS Transportation Systems, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA: Conditional and Trip-by-Trip ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determinations ................................................................................. 5-20 Background ......................................................................................................... 5-20 ACCESS Transportation Systems, Inc. ............................................................... 5-20 ADA Paratransit Eligibility Determination Process .............................................. 5-25 Process Statistics and Outcomes........................................................................ 5-29 Conditional and Trip-By-Trip Eligibility ................................................................ 5-30 Using Trip Review Information to Improve Community Accessibility ................... 5-35 Trip-by-Trip Eligibility Review Statistics, Costs, and Savings .............................. 5-37 ADA Paratransit Ridership Trends ...................................................................... 5-41 Conclusions and Lessons Learned ..................................................................... 5-43 Section 6. Case Studies of Bus Stop and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Programs ......................................................................... 6-1 TriMet, Portland, OR: Bus Stop and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Efforts ................................................................................................................ 6-1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 6-1 4/15/2014 TCRP Project B-40 Final Research Report Impetus for the Line 57-TV Highway/Forest Grove Pedestrian Improvement Project ............................................................................................................. 6-2 How the Locations were Selected for Improvements ............................................ 6-2 Implementation of Improvements .......................................................................... 6-3 Results (Data Analysis) ......................................................................................... 6-7 Implementation Issues ........................................................................................ 6-14 Continuing Challenges in the TV Highway Pedestrian Environment ................... 6-16 Relationship to Paratransit Eligibility Determination Process .............................. 6-16 Conclusions and Lessons Learned ..................................................................... 6-19 RideOn, Montgomery County, MD: Bus Stop and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Efforts ........................................................................................ 6-20 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 6-20 Impetus for Bus Stop and Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvements .................... 6-20 How Locations Were