Pam Couch, Executive DirectorModoc Transportation Agency / Sage Stage
18th National Conference on Rural Public & Intercity Bus Transportation
Omaha, NE - October 20, 2008 (TEC3)
“Big Ideas Fit in Small Towns”
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Frontier Rural Context & Issues
Older and poorer population
Often with lifeline mobility issues
Long travel distances >100 mi. one-way
Limited services / infrastructure
Few operators / providers
Most with limited schedules / service
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Where We Started
Need to solve a real problem (2000)
How to get to, from and through remote, rural places?
Need for information - options
Need for bus traveler information
Need for on-line information tool
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Systems Approach
Think “system”
Solve problems - one at a time
Assemble “building blocks”
Integrate solutions
Coordinate and collaborate with others (neighbors, colleagues, operators & vendors)
Share ideas and lessons learned
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Enhanced Connectivity
CALnections project (http://www.calnections.com)
Greyhound Interline Partnership
Google Transit on Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/transit)
Plus some lessons learned
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Research projects yield important learning
Must report and share all lessons learned
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Enlarged Message Display
”No service is provided at 11:35 AM on Thursday, but you can make this trip if you start travel at 12:40 PM on Wednesday”
Important information for rural traveler
Offers ‘doable’ option and alternatives
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Building an on-line trip planner, ain’t easy
Really need data exchange standards!
Converting one advanced technology (brokerage management system) to another is tough (on-line trip planner)
Use / re-use everything you can, and always remember they’re your data
Need good partners (who keep commitments)
CALnections.com Lessons Learned
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Intercity trips to/from remote, rural areas typically require using 2+ bus operators (mainstream and upstream)
o Must report and share all lessons learned
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Ticket sales (commissions) reflect population within service area
Need ~20% commission to break even (or consider as ‘mobility service’)
Invaluable referrals and exposure
Need more creative solutions and innovative public/private partnerships
Greyhound Interline Partnership: Lessons Learned
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Intercity trips to/from remote, rural areas typically require using 2+ bus operators (mainstream and upstream)
o Must report and share all lessons learned
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Works really well for large urban transit systems (with many routes and frequent headways)
Exposed challenges when transit systems connect / overlap
Invaluable referrals and new riders
Need more creative solutions and innovative public/private partnerships
Google/Transit Partnership: Lessons Learned
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Basic Lessons Re-Learned
Be willing to work hard!
Development costs are hard to recover and often underestimated
Effective public/private partnerships are absolutely necessary
Share all lessons learned
Keep on “keeping on”
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Pam Couch, Executive DirectorModoc Transportation111 W. North StreetAlturas, CA 96101-3936Phone (530) [email protected]
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