Creative ways to manage paratransit costs.

694455013Final report.PDFTech Reporthttp://www.nctr.usf.edu/pdf/77606.pdfhttp://ntl.bts.gov/lib/30000/30300/30327/77606.pdfBD 549 RPWO 28BD549-28Paratransit servicesStatisticsFloridaNational Center for Transit Research (U.S.)Goodwill, Jay A.Carapella, HollyNational Center for Transit Research (U.S.)University of South Florida. Center for Urban Transportation ResearchFlorida. Dept. of Transportation. Research CenterUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Special Programs AdministrationNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-ParatransitNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Transit Economics and FinancesUS Transportation CollectionAs communities continue to move toward providing a wide range of public transportationservices \ue2\u20ac\u201c often referred to as the \ue2\u20ac\u153family of services\ue2\u20ac? \ue2\u20ac\u201c one common concern is the risingcosts of providing services, specifically those falling under the paratransit umbrella. Althoughparatransit services are usually the most efficient way to provide specialized needs or lifesustaining service for the most vulnerable citizens, they are typically the most expensive, leastavailable, and most difficult to coordinate. Cities, counties, states, and other transportationagencies that provide or purchase paratransit services are continually pursuing methods tocontain, control or reduce paratransit costs.The purpose of this project was to define types of paratransit services and theircharacteristics, document major paratransit expense factors and their trends, and identify anddocument best practices in paratransit cost containment