ALTERNATIVES FOR RED ARROW DIVISION OPERATION: FEASIBILITY STUDY

The Red Arrow Division (RAD) of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) currently provides transit service in Delaware County. Fare increases, cutbacks in commuter service and federal operating subsidies along with the reliance placed upon local tax revenues generated this Delaware County feasibility study of alternative management plans for operating its public transportation system. Study objectives were: develop 3 alternative management options providing transit service in Delaware County, one of which includes a complete separation of RAD from SEPTA; determine impacts and assess feasibility of each alternative vis-a-vis current RAD-SEPTA arrangement; identify implementation process; and summarize study findings in a single document useful to County decision makers. Three alternatives selected for analysis were: 1) County Perform Marketing, Operations, Planning, and Monitoring--little change in status quo; 2) County Operate Intra-County Bus Service--step away from status quo and offered potential cost savings and service improvements in low density areas; and 3) County Operate all RAD--complete separation of RAD from SEPTA; vastly complex; potential long term savings are great, but so are risks. The study concludes that current analysis does not justify a RAD separation from SEPTA at present time; however, it does not rule out future separation, especially if trend of escalating County operating subsidy requirements continues. This trend reflects the County's operating subsidy increase from $460 thousand in FY 79 to $1.23 million in Fy 82, and a projected $1.99 million in FY 83.

• Corporate Authors:

  Delaware County Planning Department

  Media, PA  United States  19063

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1983-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 101 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Bus transit; Cost control; County government; Management; Policy; Public transit; Subsidies; Transit operating agencies
• Identifier Terms: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Old TRIS Terms: Bus services; Management policies; Umta section 8
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Highways; Law; Policy; Public Transportation; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00389359
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-PA-09-0080 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: UMTA-PA-09-0080
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM