How Mobility on Demand (MOD) Concepts are shaping up Mobility for Rural and Elderly/Disabled Customers in the US: Lessons Learned from the Field 

Abstract
Public Transit Agencies serving elderly/disabled community and customers in the rural areas have traditionally had limited mobility options other than door-to-door demand response services. Not only these services are expensive to run, in most cases it is infeasible to provide same day response service due to limited resources. In some cases, agencies have partnered with taxi companies or network of volunteer drivers for both advance and same day response services but non-electronic methods of managing trip planning and service delivery are cumbersome. However, modern technologies, smartphone penetration and movement towards digital and shared economy in general across all communities promise mobility on demand (MOD) solutions that are both convenient to customers and cost-effective for agencies providing services. While most of the basic principles of MOD have been around in the form of mobility management for nearly two decades and concepts have been tried out in form of USDOT’s United We Ride /Mobility Service for All Americans (UWR/MSAA) program and One-Call-One-Click, recent trends in digital economy have given rise to several web-based technology solutions. Even simple solutions such as integrated trip planners, as implemented in Vermont and Pennsylvania provide customers their mobility alternatives from a single website and thus reducing burden on call center staff. IBI Group is current working on two projects where we are exploring how MOD can shape mobility of elderly/disabled community and customers in rural areas.

For rural mobility, we are currently working with Humboldt County (California) where we are exploring multi-modal alternatives to single occupancy vehicles (SOV). These include solutions designed to provide first/last mile services to connect to fixed route, and providing new services to under-served rural and tribal areas. We are exploring creative solutions such as use of MOD to utilize volunteer drivers and modern hitchhiking among many others.

For elderly and disabled community, we are currently working with RTA-Chicago in exploring alternatives to conventional ADA paratransit service, particularly for conditionally eligible customers who may be better served cost-effectively by fixed route or non-dedicated service provider vehicles. We are exploring strategies such as utilizing solutions that help move customers seamlessly between paratransit and fixed route for longer trips, with paratransit vehicles acting as first/last mile service. Further we are looking for alternatives to paratransit vehicles in form of non-dedicated vehicles (taxis or TNCs) for providing same day service, which is currently available only in City of Chicago through partnership with the City and taxi companies by leveraging MOD applications.

While MOD solutions are promising in both these cases, typical concerns related to equity, accessibility, vehicle standards and other regulatory concerns still remain and have to be dealt with. This presentation provides details on how we are navigating such challenges in helping both agencies advance to new generation of mobility leveraging the potential offered by innovative MOD solutions.