1. Transit in Greater Arizona A Data-Driven Approach to Planning
Dianne Kresich, ADOT Research Center
Sara Allred, ADOT Public Transportation

2. Transit in Greater Arizona
ADOT Research Center project
Dianne Kresich, project manager
Sponsored by ADOT Public Transit
Mike Normand, Sponsor
Sara Allred, Champion

3. Project Consulting Team
McClure Consulting, LLC
Joe McClure
Behavior Research Center, Inc.
Bruce Hernandez
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
Brent Crowther

4. Develop a data-driven foundation for transit planning
Why research?
Develop a data-driven foundation for transit planning
- State Transit Plan

5. Two big questions
What do the residents of Greater Arizona think about public transportation – both current and potential – in their communities?
What transit services do private and non-profit operators provide to Greater Arizona?

6. Where is Greater Arizona?
For this study, Greater Arizona defined as the area shown in green

7. What we did Literature review Survey Greater Arizona households
What can we learn from others?
Survey Greater Arizona households
What are their travel preferences and behaviors?
Compile database of private transportation providers, survey them
Where do they operate? Who do they serve?

8. How we did it : Public survey
Conduct telephone survey to learn travel preferences and behaviors
Random-digit-dial method; called land lines and mobile phones
Sample of 1,225 heads of households
Statistically valid sample for sub-areas

9. How we did it: Provider database
Compile database of private-sector and non-profit transit providers not receiving funding through ADOT/FTA
Incorporate selected types of providers in urban as well as Greater Arizona areas
Query providers using online survey
Contact through and postcard
Recognize advantages and limitations of online survey
Low response rate

10. Research products Public Transportation
Greater Arizona in
COMMUNITIES SPEAK OUT ON WHAT MATTERS MOST
Infographic of findings from household survey
Research report synthesizing all findings with emphasis on relevance to future State Transit Plan
In editing stage
Expected publication in mid-2016

11. What we learned
Perceptions 1: Biggest Problem with Local Transportation System
Lack of public transportation:
Range: CAG 56%; NACOG 45%

12. What we learned Perceptions 2: Availability of local transit
For NACOG & WACOG,
23-24% Excellent/Good
For CAG, 8%

13. What we learned: Perceptions
Perceptions 3: Local transit status, recent years
More than half of respondents believe availability of transit has remained the same.
Nearly half believe need has increased.

14. What we learned: Perceptions
Perceptions 4: Available in your community or unavailable?
ADOT Transit reports that all of these services are available in all regions surveyed, although not necessarily in every community.

15. What we learned: Travel behavior
Current use of modes: Now, always or regularly make use of -
A large majority use personal vehicles for travel.
Note: other modes (taxi, intercity bus) use = 5%

16. What we learned: Preferences
Wish list 1: Nearly ½ wish they could make greater use of both intercity and local scheduled bus service

17. What we learned: Preferences
Wish list 2: If available, would “definitely” consider using -
Close to 30% of respondents stated they would definitely ride buses if they were available.

18. What we learned: Preferences
Wish list 3: Would “definitely” use public transit to:

19. What we learned: Private providers
Transportation Business Locations
Most private-sector providers that serve Greater Arizona operate out of the Phoenix and Tucson areas.

20. What we learned: Private providers
Employment characteristics of private transportation providers (421 total):
59 non-employers / sole proprietorships
362 employers with payrolls (avg. 11 employees)
946 jobs in Greater Arizona

21. What we learned: Private providers
Private transportation employment in eight industries:
Most employment in limousine, taxi, and “other” services.

22. What we learned: Private providers
Nature of passenger transportation business:
Limo service most common
Fixed-route least common
On-call services such as limo are most popular.
Charter service and defined route are least.

23. What we learned: Private providers
Types of vehicles used:

24. What we learned: Private providers
Typical trip purpose

25. What we learned: Private providers
Have transportation network companies cut into your business?
37% Yes
63% No
Respondent:
“Insurance requirements and/or other regulations unfairly favor such companies”

26. What we learned Specific themes: Generational differences
Role of planning in transit

27. What we learned
Generational views: Transportation options would like to use more -
Bus service of most interest.
Interest declines with age.

28. What we learned
Seniors’ interest in transit is lower than other generations, but their need for transit is high
Effective use of transit can be difficult for seniors
Internet tools help, if seniors are Internet-literate
(including social marketing, electronic payment technology, and other systems and technology)

29. What we learned Do Millennials have urban lifestyle preference?
Answer is evolving – both facts and opinions.
What about seniors?

30. What we learned Planning and transit use
Rural “Main Streets” may involve ADOT
Density need not cause congestion
Walking/biking to transit is one key to viability
Urbanized cores make intercity buses more viable
Rural gridded street patterns can forestall congestion.

31. What we learned Transit and economic development
Rural areas especially challenged
Integrate economic development into all planning
Accessibility via transit can be vital to prospective employer
Original economic bases may be contracting, but options for diversification are more limited than for urban areas.
Transit can “regionalize” groups of communities into more viable economies.

32. Implementing findings
Planning + research = informed decision making
Incorporate in the AZ Long Range Transportation Plan
State Transit Plan: what’s next?
Outreach to transportation providers in ADOT planning at a local and regional level.
Create or improve regional connections

33. Implementing findings
Connect to the spectrum of providers for more seamless transportation
Outreach to private / non-profit providers
Marketing / Public Awareness of the desire for transportation options in Greater AZ.