Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation Decision-Making (PDF)
Published: 2022Publication Type: Publication
Author/Publisher: US Department of Transportation
Keywords: Public Participation
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) is committed to reducing inequities across our transportation systems to ensure that communities benefit from the safe, efficient, and sustainable movement of people and goods. When done right, transportation policy can help level the playing field. It can transform economies, connect people to opportunities, and empower underserved communities to build generational wealth for the future. In partnership with the traveling public, community leaders, State, Tribal and local governments, and Federal agencies responsible for regulatory oversight, we at USDOT strive to empower communities through technical assistance resources such as this set of promising practices for meaningful public involvement.
Rural Multi-Modal Planning: Why and How to Improve Travel Options in Small Towns and Rural Communities (PDF)
Published: 2022Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: General Guidance on Coordination Planning
This report explores why and how to implement more multi-modal planning in rural areas and small towns. Current trends are increasing demand for non-auto travel options in rural communities, including aging populations, rising poverty, growing health and safety concerns, and growing tourist industries. Various strategies can help rural communities improve and connect walking, cycling, public transport, including innovative facilities and services, and Smart Growth development policies.
Washington State DOT Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan Guidebook (PDF)
Published: 2021Publication Type: Published Report
Author/Publisher: Washington State Department of Transportation
Keywords: General Guidance on Coordination Planning
WSDOT developed this guidebook for their state to provide a resource for their locally developed, coordinated public transit – human services transportation plan (CPT-HSTP). Note that the details on required elements and plan organization do not apply to Texas.
This guidebook offers technical assistance and direction for maintaining compliance with the laws and regulations associated with coordinated public transit – human services transportation plans, including:
• Conducting and documenting effective community outreach
• Topics to address
Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) Federal Fund Braiding Guide (PDF)
Published: 2020Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: Fiscal Sustainability
Based on the input from each participating agency, this guide defines Federal fund braiding for local match and program eligibility to enable Federal agencies and Federal grant recipients to more effectively manage Federal funds and coordinate human service transportation.
How governments can engage digital resources to manage their Covid-19 response
Published: 2020Publication Type: Publication
Keywords: Public Participation
Article provides information about nine digital tools from innovative start-ups and civic tech organizations that could help government entities manage various dimensions of their Covid-19 response.
Technical Memorandum – Year-Three Report: RCTP Statewide Metrics 2019-20 (PDF)
Published: 2020Publication Type: Published Report
The purpose of the regionally coordinated transportation planning effort is to provide more efficient and effective public transportation services, especially for priority populations including individuals with disabilities, individuals 65 and older, people with low incomes, veterans, and children. Texas uses a decentralized, stakeholder-driven approach, with 24 designated planning regions charged with developing and adopting a unique regional transportation plan. Lead agencies, in collaboration with regional stakeholders, develop and include a metric for each identified gap in transportation service or local service priority in the coordinated plan. The purpose of each metric is to measure the extent to which each priority was met or gap filled. Metrics may vary from one planning region to another; however, each region’s metrics should demonstrate that individuals in the region, including persons 65 and older and individuals with disabilities, have improved access to an effective and efficient network of public transportation services. The data on these metrics is reported to TxDOT-PTN, which collects common data elements statewide.
Included with the report:
Review of Statewide Perspectives from the 2017-2021 Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plans (PDF)
Published: 2017Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: General Guidance on Coordination Planning
This technical memorandum provides an overview of updated public transit-human services transportation plans developed and adopted by stakeholders in each of Texas’ 24 planning regions.
Public Involvement Techniques for Transportation Decisionmaking
Published: 2015Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: Public Participation
The transportation community may find it challenging to involve the public in a meaningful way. Still, quality planning and project development require meaningful input from the public. This guide provides a variety of tools to secure input from the public on transportation plans, programs, and projects—and it can help agencies improve their overall public involvement techniques.
Transit District Profiles – Preliminary (PDF)
Published: 2015Publication Type: Supplemental Document
The Texas Transportation Code Chapter 458 authorizes 26 urban transit districts (UTDs) and 37 rural transit districts (RTDs) to provide and/or coordinate transit services for people in Texas. UTDs and RTDs receive public transportation money through the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The TxDOT Public Transportation Division (PTN) requested that Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) form a consistent set of profiles for each transit district, providing a quick, easy way for interested parties to comprehensively understand each transit district. This is a preliminary compilation of the profiles.
Transportation Works: The Blueprint for Connectivity (PDF)
Published: 2015Publication Type: Published Report
The Texas State Independent Living Council’s Transportation Works Project presents this report based on extensive research and thoughtful community feedback. Recommendations in this report may increase economic opportunity and mobility options for Texans with disabilities and seniors.
Dialysis Patient Transportation in Far West Texas (PDF)
Published: 2013Publication Type: Published Report
This study was designed to provide an overview of the current status of the transportation services for dialysis patients in Far West Texas, and to examine how the main stakeholders — medical and transportation providers, as well as dialysis patients — viewed the transportation system and elicit from them suggestion for improvements.
2010 Urban/Rural Analysis
Published: 2012Publication Type: Publication
Author/Publisher: Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Access maps and tables of the 2010 Urbanized Area (UZA) in relation to transit operator boundaries in Texas and for each UZA. There are two types of maps available: (1) UZA map showing the change of the urbanized area from 2000 to 2010 and (2) another map that shows transportation service providers in and around each urbanized area.
Regional Human Service Transportation Coordinating Councils: Synthesis, Case Studies and Directory
Published: 2012Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: General Guidance on Coordination Planning
The report linked on this page provides a synthesis of the regional coordinating council approach and how regional coordination is complementary to state efforts; 50-state information about which states have state and/or regional councils; case studies of regional councils in five states (California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho and Iowa); information about what factors can help support the success of regional coordinating councils; and a comprehensive directory of regional councils nationwide.
Review of Texas’ Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plans (PDF)
Published: 2012Publication Type: Published Report
Stakeholders in regions throughout Texas recently updated (or are in the process of updating) regionally coordinated transportation plans according to Federal Transit Administration guidance. This technical memorandum provides an overview of the updated regionally coordinated transportation plans prepared in 2011-2012. The Texas Department of Transportation, Public Transportation Division (TxDOT-PTN) requested researchers from the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to review these plans. The goal of this report is to provide a summary of content of the newly updated plans, the process used to create them, and highlight some examples of past projects mentioned in the plans.
Texas Department of Transportation 2012 SOLVE Conference Summary (PDF)
Published: 2012Publication Type: Published Report
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) sponsored a two-day conference in Austin, Texas on April 17 and 18, 2012 to identify best practices on regionally coordinated transportation services and mobility management. This document serves as a compendium of the information shared at the conference.
United We Ride Evaluation Report (PDF)
Published: 2012Publication Type: Published Report
A formal evaluation report of the Texas Department of Transportation’s recently completed United We Ride pilot projects. The pilot projects include: Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), the Heart of Texas Council of Governments (HOTCOG) and Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS).
TCRP Report 144: Sharing the Costs of Human Services Transportation | Volume 1: The Transportation Services Cost Sharing Toolkit
Published: 2011Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: Fiscal Sustainability
Volume 1 leads the user through the process of setting up the necessary cost accounting system, identifying the data requirements and the measurement parameters, and describing procedures for applying the model. This volume concludes with instructions for using the actual Cost Sharing Model.
Site Assessment Instrument for Regional Maintenance Center (PDF)
Published: 2010Publication Type: Published Report
To minimize maintenance cost and improve rural transit vehicles services, a Regional Maintenance Center (RMC) concept is being considered by Texas. Currently, rural transit vehicles are maintained and repaired by local garages, where service fees and quality of work performed often are questionable. RMCs are designed to maintain and repair rural transit vehicles within a geographical region. A cost-efficient method to create an RMC is by upgrading an existing maintenance operation. The objective of this study is to create a site assessment instrument to assist in the process of selecting potential maintenance operations that could be upgraded to an RMC. Upon interviewing various rural transportation experts and visiting the benchmark RMC in Illinois, a list of criteria crucial for a successful RMC was compiled and classified into various categories. The result of this benchmarking was used in a preliminary study of Lubbock County, Texas, and vicinity.
Concept of a Regional Maintenance Center (PDF)
Published: 2009Publication Type: Published Report
Key contributors to address maintenance concerns for rural transit systems are an aging fleet, poor maintenance practices, and a lack of technical expertise. This lack of local maintenance expertise is especially severe in rural areas. This paper examines the general requirements and maintenance service approach for a Regional Maintenance Center model in rural transportation systems. Among other findings of this study, it was determined that Regional Maintenance Centers, with a training center for mechanics and drivers, could improve vehicle reliability, increase vehicle longevity, and improve service to transit clientele. Also determined was that a generalized “onesize-fits-all” regional maintenance program could actually be counter-productive. Regional Maintenance Centers must be designed and located so potential use by rural transit service providers is maximized in order to provide superior serviceability and quality customer service.
Regional Transit Coordination Guidebook (PDF)
Published: 2009Publication Type: Published Report
The purpose of this guidebook is to serve as a resource for jurisdictions and agencies that wish to develop or improve public transportation opportunities for travelers who cross established agency and jurisdictional boundaries. The guidebook describes conditions that should trigger coordination between public transportation providers, as well as tools, strategies, and organizational structures that are working in communities across America.
Each chapter is available as a Microsoft Word document to allow for editing.
Coordination Strategy Handbook
Published: 2008Publication Type: Published Report
Keywords: General Guidance on Coordination Planning
Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s strategy handbook provides a resource for a wide variety of coordination strategies and supports the Wisconsin 2008 Planning Process.
Needs Assessment Survey: Agency Survey – Transportation Needs Assessment (New Jersey)
Published: 2007Publication Type: Needs Assessment Tool
Needs Assessment Survey: New Jersey Statewide, County and Community Transportation Planning Questionnaire (New Jersey) (DOC)
Published: 2006Publication Type: Needs Assessment Tool
Needs Assessment Survey: Vehicle Information (New Jersey) (DOC)
Published: 2006Publication Type: Needs Assessment Tool
TCRP Report 101: Toolkit for Rural Community Coordinated Transportation Services (PDF)
Published: 2004Publication Type: Published Report
Author/Publisher: Jon E. Burkhardt; Charles A. Neslon; Gail Murray; David Koffman
Keywords: General Guidance on Coordination Planning
This report examines strategies and practices used to coordinate rural transportation services and identifies model processes used for local coordination efforts in rural communities. It includes a stand-alone executive summary that provides information, instructions, and lessons learned from rural communities that have implemented coordinated transportation services. This information may be used by local communities, state agencies, and tribal governments in planning and implementing coordinated community transportation services in rural areas.
Framework for Action: Building the Fully Coordinated Human Service Transportation System — Self Assessment Tools (PDF)
Published: 2003Publication Type: Needs Assessment Tool
Author/Publisher: Federal Transit Administration
Keywords: Public Participation
A self-assessment tool for states and communities seeking to advance transportation coordination.
TCRP Report 54: Management Toolkit for Rural and Small Urban Transportation Systems (PDF)
Published: 1999Publication Type: Published Report
This toolkit identifies an array of management principles and techniques, for use by small urban and rural public transportation providers, to assist in managing their transportation services and resources effectively. The toolkit has two parts: a guidebook and a self-assessment tool. The guidebook introduces the idea of customer-driven transit service attributes and includes general management philosophies. Also included in the guidebook are exemplary practices and “how to” instructions for some topics. Additional sections describing “rules of thumb” or “things to avoid” are included for some management processes.