PARATRANSIT: A STATE-OF-THE ART OVERVIEW

Various paratransit forms are grouped according to their major service characteristics (vehicles which are hired or rented on short-term basis; vehicles which are called or hailed; and vehicles in which ride sharing is pre-arranged, such as carpools etc.), and examples of exisiting paratransit services are presented to illustrate the potential of these forms of transport for meeting urban travel needs. The main obstacles to widespread adoption of paratransit are also identified. Paratransit services can be provided by private individuals, volunteer drivers, private operators, and by public of private operators of conventional transit services. The role of paratransit in urban transportation systems is greatly influenced by state and local public service commission regulations. Regulations often severely limit the kinds of services the existing services could offer. Regulation of fare levels has also encountered problems. UMTA's encouragement of the use of federal subsidy funds for paratransit is discussed, as well as the availability of public funds for research and development projects. Questions are considered which have been raised by attempts to expand paratransit services in the following areas: the high density house-to-work travel, low density travel demand, access trips to line-haul transit, and travel within business and commercial areas. Suggestions are made for the resolution of problems relating to the implementation of paratransit in U.S. cities.