The Northeastern Illinois RTA Decentralized Paratransit Brokerage Program

Details

• Creators:
  Nevel, William C.
• Corporate Creators:
  John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Aged Brokerage Decentralization Demand Responsive Transportation Demonstration Projects Local Government Paratransit Services Persons With Disabilities User Side Subsidies
• Publication/ Report Number:
  UMTA-IL-06-0038-82-1 ; DOT-TSC-UMTA-82-24
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.21949/1527039
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Illinois
• Corporate Publisher:
  United States. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Abstract:
  This document presents a review and assessment of the Northeastern Illinois Regional Transportation Authority's (RTA) Paratransit Brokerage Demonstration Program which involved six projects implemented by local governments under RTA's decentralized brokerage program. The project focus was on an investigation of the institutional impacts of the RTA's decentralized approach to paratransit brokerage. The RTA is responsible for providing public transportation in the six-county Chicago metropolitan area. The RTA's brokerage program (Service Development/Demonstration Grant Program) was designed to achieve maximum paratransit service with a minimum amount of centralized staff. The program aims to encourage municipalities to plan, operate, implement, and monitor a variety of paratransit services, either in geographic areas or for special users (elderly and handicapped), that cannot support fixed-route, fixed-schedule service. Three projects served the elderly and handicapped, and three projects served the general purpose market. Each project was unique in program, management, and operations. The author states that although a number of problems were experienced in this demonstration, most were resolved, and the approach proved to be workable. A paratransit department was created. Paratransit in each of the local project areas continues with RTA and local funding. The program has been expanded to include 24 communities, which represent over 1,400 square miles in the region. Applications have been received from a additional 48 communities.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  DOT-TSC-1409
• Collection(s):
  Volpe Center
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:4287bce4f3776ec286fea2f54e3ec8ad448a02bf5ef117a2039b0ebc9482355e
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/11447/dot_11447_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 8.16 MB ]