ROLE OF PARATRANSIT IN RURAL TRANSPORTATION

Rural travel characteristics are briefly discussed and comments are made on the growth of public transportation in such areas. The economic efficiency and consolidation of resources related to rural transportation are described. The need for effective managers with entrepreneurial skills is indicated, and the question of whether to focus on special services for subgroups of the population or to provide a variety of services for the general public is considered. Small, person personalized systems providing door-to-door service were first developed in rural areas by community action agencies. Although the cost per passenger trip is high (very long trips are being serviced; and the average load factors are more than 65 percent) for rural transit, 2 important factors indicate that these systems are being operated at reasonable cost and are quite efficient. The greatest impact on transportation in rural areas will come from finding ways to more efficiently use equipment and labor that various agencies currently use to provide paratransit services. Regulations that do not allow flexibility in the use of currently available transportation funds must be changed. The need is indicated for an academic option at universities that would train students in planning and managing specialized transportation services.