User-Side Subsidy Programs for Special Needs Transportation: A Planning Handbook

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15267341983PDFTech ReportJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited StatesAgedPersons with disabilitiesParatransit servicesTaxi servicesVansLow income groupsUser side subsidiesSubsidiesFinancingFinanceDOT-TSC-UMTA-83-35This handbook, first of a series, provides guidance for designing and implementing a user-side subsidy program. The book is divided into two parts--Program Planning and Program Implementation. The Planning section covers six areas--Goals and Objectives; User Eligibility and Demand; Involving Service Providers; Subsidy Mechanisms; Program Administration; and Programs Costs and Funding. The Implementation sections covers three areas: Community Liaison & Marketing; Negotiating with Service Providers; and Monitoring & Refinement. User-side subsidy programs are a means of improving the mobility of selected individuals in a community without establishing new transportation services or providing operating subsidies to existing transportation providers. User-side subsidies distribute subsidies directly to users, who may then select among participating service providers for their trips. With existing operators utilized and subsidy targeted to well-defined user groups and trips, payment is automatically adjusted to the number of trips actually made. The handbook has a planning by analogy concept where past and ongoing programs can greatly simplify the process of designing new programs.138