DART [Direct Access to Regional Transit]: Taxi Feeder Service in San Diego, California

Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference Centerhttps://doi.org/10.21949/15271901986PDFTech ReportReinke, D.Crain & AssociatesJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationUnited States. Urban Mass Transportation AdministrationSan Diego (California)Bus transitCost effectivenessDemonstration projectsFeeder servicesFixed routesParatransit servicesRidershipSubsidiesTaxicabsUMTA-CA-06-0165-85-1;DOT-TSC-UMTA-86-3This is an interim report on a demonstration of the use of taxicabs as feeders to regular fixed-route bus service in San Diego, CA. The demonstration tests the use of taxi feeder service in three areas of the city. This report evaluates the taxi feeder service in the first demonstration area: Paradise Hills, a community in the southwest portion of the city of San Diego. A six-month planning period began in January 1982, during which the service was designed and a taxi contractor was selected. Service began in July 1982. When the demonstration ended in January 1984, the grantee (San Diego Transit Corp.) took over funding of the service as part of its regular operating budget. The evaluation covers the planning period, the demonstration period, and the first 14 months of operation under San Diego Transit funding. Evaluation issues include service planning and operations, demand, passenger attitudes, level of service, and service economics. Special attention is paid to the evolution of the service in response to changing operating conditions and patronage levels. Feeder patronage grew steadily over the course of the project from 50 passengers per day the first month to 140-170 per day by the end of 1984. The average subsidy per passenger decreased from over $4.00 to about $1.70 by the end of 1984. The feeder service appears to be a cost-effective alternative to transit service in low density or inaccessible areas. The feeder provides better coverage to Paradise Hills at a lower cost than the bus route that previously served the area.138