Shared-Use Mobility Center shares insights on how communities are using technology to improve public transit
The Shared-Use Mobility Center (SUMC), in collaboration with AARP Public Policy Institute, published, Connecting Community Transportation: Lessons Learned from Transactional Data Specification Demonstration Projects. SUMC also published a research report on how a new data standard can be used to improve transportation for people with disabilities, older adults who have stopped driving and residents of rural areas with a roadmap to implementation.
Human services transportation typically takes the form of demand-responsive transportation (DRT). There are an estimated 1,000 DRT services currently operating in the U.S. Many public transit systems in small towns and rural areas operate on a demand-responsive basis as do most human services transportation providers.
“Creating an open and interoperable platform was key to the success of Minnesota DOT’s regional multimodal digital trip planner,” said Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Program Coordinator Elliott McFadden. “Using [transactional data specification] as the basis of our booking integration helped rural dial-a-ride and ADA paratransit services seamlessly connect their scheduling software to trip planning so their riders can easily request a ride 24/7. Our use of the TDS data standard means this solution will work with other software providers and allow us to scale this solution to the rest of the state.”
SUMC say demand-responsive services are critical for people who cannot drive or access regular public transportation, but they are often fragmented. There may be multiple providers in a given region, but each may operate in a silo, leading to both duplicative services and denials of trip requests.
Until recently, the lack of adequate technology has been a major obstacle to this coordination, according to SUMC. A new transactional data specification (TDS) for DRT, published in 2020 by the Transportation Research Board, addresses this need. This report showcases the first demonstration projects of this new data standard. Noteworthy case studies include projects of the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization in Northern Colorado and the Minnesota Department of Transportation TDS pilot in Southern and Western Minnesota. Summaries of projects in Ohio, California, Oregon and Washington state are also included.
The paper discusses key takeaways from demonstration projects and outlines additional coordination opportunities, such as with providers of non-emergency medical transportation. The new report sheds light on how the TDS can bridge gaps, enhancing service interoperability and access.
“The TDS demonstration projects highlight the innovative approaches that rural and urban communities around the country are taking to increase transportation access. We hope these resources offer valuable insights and practical guidance to nonprofit human services transportation providers, transit agencies, state DOTs, metropolitan planning organizations and their stakeholders and that they drive widespread adoption of the TDS,” said SUMC CEO Benjamin de la Peña.
