SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN TEXAS: POTENTIAL FOR OTHER PARATRANSIT MODES

This study analyzes the current transportation operations of social service agencies in three prototype communities in Texas: urban, rural, and rural with urban interface. The study was designed to identify and analyze the costs of direct provision of client transportation by social service agencies and to develop comparative cost indexes for the same or similar classes of trips if delivered by alternative providers, including taxi operators, transit systems, and nonprofit providers. Common classes of trips are identified and categorized by major operational characteristics, and actual and perceived cost data are developed for trips provided directly by social service agencies to their own clients. Actual cost figures, including expenses borne externally or through grants, are developed to allow policymakers to evaluate effectively the costs of direct transportation provision by social service agencies. Since federal and state subsidies exist and will be used, perceived cost figures are developed to allow social service agencies to compare the advantages of alternative service provision to their out-of-pocket costs. Although no other provider was found to be cost-effective for all client trips, some social service agencies are found to be operating inefficient or ineffective transportation systems and should, therefore, consider an alternative provider. Guidelines are developed to facilitate these decisions. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1978/688/688-006.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SOCIAL+SERVICE+AGENCIES+TRANSPORTATION+SERVICES+IN+TEXAS%3a+POTENTIAL+FOR+OTHER+PARATRANSIT+MODES&author=S.+Rosenbloom&author=W.+Cox&publication_year=1978
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Transportation for the Transportation Disadvantaged. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Rosenbloom, Sandra
  • Cox, Walter
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Tables;
• Pagination: pp 27-32
• Monograph Title: Transportation for elderly, handicapped, and economically disadvantaged persons
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 688
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Costs; Paratransit services; Subsidies; Taxicabs; Travel patterns
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Old TRIS Terms: Special service
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00197119
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309028337
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 15 1981 12:00AM