Advisory Board Endorses SURTC Efforts

At its Sept. 13 meeting, the SURTC Advisory Board endorsed the center's projects and progress and provided national, regional and local insight on transit issues.

The day-long meeting was held at the NDSU Alumni Center and included updates from SURTC staff on SURTC research, education, training and outreach projects. Advisory board members were able to ask questions, provide feedback and give observations on many transit-related issues.

"The Advisory Board brings together transit professionals from agencies, from state and federal government and from other organizations," notes SURTC director Jill Hough. "The input and insight they provide is very valuable in shaping our programs. They help keep us relevant and focused."

Ron Hynes, deputy associate administrator of the Federal Transit Administration, complimented SURTC on its track record of completing projects on time while meeting objectives. He recalled his visit to SURTC and to Valley City to view rural transit during SURTC's fifth anniversary celebration in May, noting that the experience has been useful as he worked with staff and transit agencies across the country.

Robert Padgette of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) also complimented SURTC's work. He noted that APTA is eager to collaborate with UGPTI to publish a special transit-focused issue of the Journal of the Transportation Research Forum. Hough is serving as guest editor for the issue.

Others attending the meeting included:

• Alan Abeson, Easter Seals Project ACTION
• Keven Anderson, Minnesota Department of Transportation
• Ron Baumgart, River Cities Public Transit, Pierre, SD
• Julie Bommelman, Metropolitan Area Transit, Fargo, ND
• Joe Dougherty, Cheyenne Transit Program, Cheyenne, WY
• Bruce Fuchs, North Dakota Department of Transportation
• Lyn Hellegard, Montana Transit Association
• Ryan Marshall, Utah Urban and Rural Specialized Transportation Association
• Jackie Mattheis, South Dakota Department of Transportation
• Jim Moench, North Dakota Disabilities Advocacy Consortium
• Pam Ternes, Standing Rock Public Transportation, Fort Yates, ND
• Lori Van Beek, Metropolitan Area Transit, Moorhead, MN

At the meeting, a number of state transit officials and transit agency managers noted that added funds for transit in federal legislation has allowed them to purchase vehicles, build new facilities, add staff, and offer new services. Many of the agencies are seeing increased ridership.

That kind of growth was evident as the group toured the new Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Transit bus garage. The facility is less than a year old and consolidates bus storage and maintenance for the two cities. The 55,860 square-foot building employs a number of energy-saving technologies. For example, roof water is captured for irrigation of the surrounding landscape, and water from the drive-through bus wash bay is recycled. The roof is reinforced to allow for the installation of solar panels sometime in the future. Waste oil from the buses can be burned to provide supplemental heating, and extra fuel tanks have been installed so alternative blends of biodiesel can be tested and used.

The growth that transit agencies have experienced has not come without worry. Agency managers expressed apprehension about meeting coordination mandates, raising matching funds to obtain federal funding, providing training to keep employees current with safety requirements, and improving mobility of underserved clients such as the elderly.

Fuel Price Increases Prompt Study Proposal

Another, almost universal concern among transit agencies, is the rising cost of fuel and the effect it will have on budgets.

"Agencies recognize that rising fuel prices are a double-edged sword," notes Hough. "Those prices drive increased ridership, but they also substantially increase operating costs."

In part as a response to concerns raised at the advisory board meeting, SURTC is developing a proposal for a research project to estimate the effect of gas prices on bus ridership for small urban and rural transit agencies. The project will also examine the long-run implications and determine if there are different effects for different types of transit operations.

Hough said Jeremy Mattson, SURTC associate research fellow, is heading up a research project that will collect data from transit agencies and develop a computer model to estimate the effect of gas prices on bus ridership. Ideally, data would be collected from various types of transit agencies including those that run shorter routes with greater ridership in larger towns and those that operate longer routes with fewer passengers in rural areas.

"The results of the study would provide insight on the ability of transit agencies to survive under rising fuel costs," Mattson says. "Will fare revenue increase enough to cover costs? If not, what are acceptable options? Increased fares? Reduced service? More efficient vehicles? Information from a study like this could be very useful for planning."