Agency TRANSPORTATION DEPT

Contractor University of Minnesota

SWIFT Contract Number 62588

Project Name Exploring Strategies for Promoting Modal Shifts to

Project Number (if applicable) 99008w88

Summarize purpose of the contract, including why it was necessary: The Metropolitan Council aims to double 2004 Twin Cities transit ridership levels by 2030. The implementation of transitways is essential to this effort, but resulting mode shifts may be limited by an overall transportation system and policy environment that still heavily favor driving. Planners in the region are interested in finding the ¿sweet spot¿ for frequency, travel time, employer/employee incentives, and penalties for driving/incentives for taking transit needed to attract riders.
In this research, we propose to review successful transit programs in the U.S. and other parts of the world and synthesize best practices in transit system planning and transit-supportive policies. Following the review, we will develop two sets of models to identify transit planning strategies and transit-supportive policies that can effectively promote transit ridership and encourage mode shifts toward transit in the Twin Cities. The two sets of models are: a) trip-level mode choice models for several selected Twin Cities Transitways, including the Hiawatha light rail transit (LRT), Northstar commuter rail, and Central Corridor LRT; b) station-level ridership models for selected transit stations in the Twin Cities and peer regions. Outcomes from both sets of models will be jointly used to predict bus-to-transitway mode shifts, automobile-to-transit mode shifts, number of car-shedding households associated with various mixes of transit-supportive policies and transit system planning strategies.

Project Duration

Start Date Thu, 05/23/2013 - 00:00

Original end date Wed, 12/31/2014 - 00:00

Actual end date Thu, 12/31/2015 - 00:00

Did project finish on time? Yes

Total billable hours utilized (if applicable) {Empty}

Contract Amounts

Original contract: $112066.00

Amendments $0.0

Contract total $112066.00

Did project finish within budget? Yes

What was the funding source? State Research Program

Is this a sole source contract? No

If this was a single source contract, explain why the agency determined there was only a single source for the services (if applicable) {Empty}

Evaluator Name Lynne Bly

Evaluator Email Address lynne.bly@state.mn.us

Evaluate the contractor's timeliness n/a

Evaluate the contractor's quality n/a

Evaluate the contractor's cost Reasonable; in line with comparable efforts

Evaluate the contractor's overall performance This is very timely research, relevant for evaluation and implementation of the array of transitway projects contemplated for the Twin Cities Area

Would you engage the contractor's services again? Yes

Describe any negative action taken during the duration of this contract (i.e., termination, pursuit of suspension, etc.): n/a

Please rate the overall experience with the contractor 3 - neutral