Coordination of North Dakota Transit Services

Census numbers show North Dakota with an aging population. This, coupled with migration of its young people to larger metropolitan areas and out of state, means North Dakota faces a double whammy of fewer people and more older, low-income and disadvantaged people among those who remain especially in rural areas. The 2000 Census reveals North Dakota grew only .53 percent since 1990. Only six of 53 counties gained population.

Transportation for fewer people spread across sparsely populated areas on rural road systems, becomes increasingly difficult in such a scenario. Providing transportation services to people who, by anecdotal evidence, prefer to live in rural areas creates further issues.

Fewer taxpayer's dollars and providing services to more people - how can it happen? How can the state succeed in assuring its citizens have the transportation services needed, especially for the elderly, disadvantages, and handicapped? The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center will address these issues in their research project "Coordinating Transportation Services in North Dakota." The project seeks ways to improve coordination for rural passenger transportation. The objective is to identify how Federally funded transit agencies can coordinate with other government agencies that provide transportation as a secondary service. This will help better utilize scarce resources.

SURTC is forming a coordination task force of state leaders in transportation, human services, and other government agencies to steer the project and assist with the formulation of a strategic plan. URTC staff will gather information from state agencies to ascertain the degree of current coordination in North Dakota. This will identify the level of transportation coordination currently being provided and identify areas where increased coordination can further benefit the customer, while not distracting from the services of the agency.

When the task force has this information, a wide range of options along with an implementation plan, can be laid out to improve coordination services in North Dakota.

For more information on the project contact Gary Hegland (gary.hegland@ndsu.edu) or Jill Hough (jill.hough@ndsu.edu).

Proposed Research Projects

Development of Modified Fixed-Route

Rural areas with public transportation are primarily reliant on demand response service where they contact a dispatcher to arrange a ride from one location to another for a certain day and time. Some small urban locations also rely on demand response service to meet their transit needs rather than adopting a fixed-route approach. The exodus from rural to small urban locations may result in increased population bases as well as increased miles and number of rides for demand response systems. These changes may warrant fixed-route service or a modified fixed-route, which stops at frequent requested destinations, e.g., grocery store, Walmart, etc. The North Dakota Department of Transportation is in the process of contracting with SURTC to undertake a case study of Jamestown to determine if the city has enough riders to support a modified fixed-route in addition to their demand response system. The study is proposed to begin this Spring. For addition information, contact Jill Hough (jill.hough@ndsu.edu).