This study is based on the premise that public transit agencies have an important coordination role to play in improving access to transit stops and stations for their patrons who arrive at the stop on foot or by bike. The purpose of this research has been to explore the collaborative process between public transit agencies and their staff counterparts at FDOT district offices, transportation planning organizations (TPO)/metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), and local governments. The outcome of this research is to determine the appropriate coordination role for public transit agencies and to provide recommendations about how public transit agencies can more effectively coordinate with their state and local transportation partners. This is intended to advance the goal of improved bicycle and pedestrian access to public transit with the result of increased transit ridership. By defining this coordination role for public transit agencies, it implies that they should consider the entire trip made by their transit patrons, from home to final destination. The coordination processes should include the development of a standardized and predictable process to address requests to remove or relocate bus stops due to ADA, safety, or other operational issues. Any decision to locate, relocate, or remove a bus stop also affects pedestrian and bicycle access. Related to this is the need for a decision making process regarding the addition of right turn lanes that may displace existing bus stops, and a process for considering requests for traffic control, which also may affect the location of bus stops. Data sharing should include developing a program for transit agencies to provide their bus stop infrastructure inventory (including ADA compliance) and transit rider travel characteristics data, such as automated passenger count data at bus stops, in a standardized format that can be shared with agency partners. This data sharing can aid partners in identifying bicycle, pedestrian, and ADA facility gaps and needs near transit stops, for purposes of project scoping to improve safety and access. The data sharing effort also should be expanded to include the identification of performance measures relating to ped/bike accessibility, the identification of any new data that might need to be collected for this, and an agreement about which agency collects the data and how the data is collected. Specific recommendations were provided for collaboration with the specific agency partners.
Download final report. For more information, contact Sara Hendricks.
