ANATOMY OF A SYSTEMS FAILURE: DIAL-A-RIDE IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

Late in 1974 and early in 1975 the Santa Clara County Transit District initiated, operated, and then discontinued a demand responsive dial-a-ride system within a 5-1/2 month span. This systems failure was primarily the result of poor systems planning. Specifically, four major mistakes were made that led to the death of the system. They were: (1) Inadequate Customer Communication System, (2) Starting the Entire System at Once, (3) Inadequate Number of Vehicles, and (4) Taxicab Buyout. Each of these four mistakes is discussed in detail. Recommendations for instituting dial-a-ride systems are made. Getting through the difficulties of the start-up period is emphasized. Costs are discussed, and some relevant cost data are presented. /Author/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00494488
• Corporate Authors:

  Elsevier

  Radarweg 29
  Amsterdam,   Netherlands  1043 NX
• Authors:
  • Carlson, Rodrigo Castelan
• Publication Date: 0

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 3-16
• Serial:
  • Transportation (Netherlands)
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers
  • ISSN: 0049-4488

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communication systems; Costs; Customers; Demand responsive transportation; Paratransit services; Systems analysis; Taxicabs; Transportation; Urban transportation; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost data; Transportation systems
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General); Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139593
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 16 1981 12:00AM