Meeting Small Urban Transit Needs in North Dakota: A Case Study Perspective

James River Transit is a paratransit system serving the Jamestown community. It provided 50,180 one-way rides in 2000 and 45,100 one-way rides in 2001 while traveling 130,476 miles and 129,118 miles for those two calendar years, respectively. The system operates seven days per week, and its ridership may warrant some form of fixed-route system. Jamestown also has a large population of individuals with special needs. This large demographic group, along with ADA requirements, will not allow for the complete elimination of James River Transit’s current paratransit system. However, implementing a fixed-route system and reducing the number of miles traveled and the number of individual trips provided by the paratransit service would allow James River Transit to reduce costs and charge lower fares for fixed-route service. A primary goal of the James River study is to provide a useful tool for other transit agencies to utilize in determining whether or not a fixed-route bus system is feasible in their communities. The James River Transit survey was distributed to current transit users. The questionnaire was divided into two main parts. The first part dealt with the existing paratransit service provided by James River Transit as well as feelings towards potential fixed-route service. The second part identified demographic characteristics of James River Transit riders. The total number of survey respondents (55) consisted of 15 male and 40 females. Respondents’ ages ranged from 18 to 83 with almost 60 percent being 50 years old or older. Numerous computer simulations were also performed to develop the most effective fixed-route for Jamestown with many routes being considered for implementation. The cost-effectiveness of the Jamestown fixed-route system was analyzed. The evaluation included discussion on a proposed fare structure and general calculations to determine necessary subsidies for James River Transit.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=503
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/59806
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052
• Authors:
  • Peterson, Del
  • 0000-0002-2010-5542
  • Ulmer, Dustin
  • Hough, Jill
• Publication Date: 2004-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 57p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged; Case studies; Costs; Demographics; Fares; Feasibility analysis; Fixed routes; Paratransit services; Persons with disabilities; Public transit; Ridership; Small cities; Surveys; Urban transit
• Geographic Terms: North Dakota
• Subject Areas: Finance; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01091772
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UGPTI Publication No. 159
• Files: NTL, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 23 2008 9:27AM