Measuring Benefits of Rural and Small Urban Transit in Greater Minnesota

The objective of this research was to measure the benefits of rural and small urban transit services in Minnesota. The study accomplished this by first identifying, describing, and classifying the potential benefits of transit. Second, a method was developed to measure these benefits. Where possible, benefits were quantified in dollar values. Other benefits that could not be quantified in monetary terms were either quantified in another way or described qualitatively. The study included an analysis of societal benefits and economic impacts within local communities. Third, the developed method was applied to a series of six case studies across Greater Minnesota. Data were collected through onboard rider surveys for each of the six transit agencies. Total benefits and benefit-cost ratios were estimated for the six transit agencies—all showed benefits that exceeded costs—and results were generalized to Greater Minnesota. Economic impacts were also estimated showing the effect on jobs, labor income, and value added. This research provides information to assess the benefits of public spending on transit, which gives decision makers the data needed to inform investment decisions.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1177/0361198121990014
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © National Academy of Sciences: Transportation Research Board 2021.
• Authors:
  • Mattson, Jeremy
  • Peterson, Del
• Publication Date: 2021-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 356-366
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Volume: 2675
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 0361-1981
  • EISSN: 2169-4052
  • Serial URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/trr

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Case studies; Economic impacts; Rural transit; Small cities; Social impacts; Surveys; Transit riders; Urban transit
• Geographic Terms: Minnesota
• Subject Areas: Economics; Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01763710
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRBAM-21-00197
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 4 2021 10:57AM