ANALYSIS OF THE NEED FOR A RURAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Travel in rural localities has received little attention to date. Recent legislation has pointed to the possibility of financial aid to public transit systems set up in such areas. The study defines and develops tools for analyzing the 'need' for rural public transportation. Using Madison County, Virginia as an example case, the study first defines travel demand, latent demand, travel 'wants,' and diverted travel. Five techniques then are analyzed for making demand and need forecasts (accessibility, gap analysis, attitude surveying, committee estimates, demonstration projects). It is concluded that full-scale O-D surveys and analyses are too expensive and that a combination of committee estimates and demonstration projects may be the best forecasting method.

• Corporate Authors:

  Virginia Interuniversity Transportation Study Group

  Blacksburg, VA  United States 

  Department of Transportation

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Mix, CVS
  • Dickey, J W
• Publication Date: 1974-5

Media Info

• Pagination: 58 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Federal aid; Financing; Forecasting; Laws; Legislation; Public transit; Rural areas; Transportation planning; Travel demand
• Geographic Terms: Virginia
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00090459
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: VITSG-74/4 Intrm Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-OS-30097
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 29 1981 12:00AM