Vision

It’s not just about transit
it’s about livable cities.

Transit is only one part of the dynamic makeup of urban areas – it is strongly integrated with land use and urban design, economic development, regional mobility, and shifting demographics.

Today, transit plays an increasingly important role in creating sustainable, livable urban environments which do not depend on creating ever-larger networks of streets and parking to provide mobility. The Federal Transit Administration has responded by finally making changes in its major transit investment priorities, adding new “livable cities” criteria for evaluating New Starts and Small Starts projects. Individual states are also starting to recognize the role of transit, as well as bicycling and walking, in the sustainable mobility needed to reduce our “carbon footprint” as evidenced by California’s SB375 and AB32 climate change initiatives.

We approach transit development not just as a “supply” side problem, but one that involves both understanding the existing “demand” for sustainable mobility and realizing the opportunities to help shape that “demand” in a positive way. To shape demand any VISION must include more than just public mobility and result from a collaborative consultation with a broad cross-section of community leadership and the public. This inclusive collaboration needs to address such questions such as:

• How is the region developing?  Is its development consistent with a long-term vision and goals?
• What role does and can transit play in overall mobility and how is it and can it be integrated into the urban structure? 
• How can transit contribute to the region’s short and long term economic and environmental sustainability?  How important will transit be in maintaining strong economic growth into the future?  As climate change initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint become more prevalent, how important will transit be in shaping our future cities?
• How can an integrated network of efficient and effective transit services be developed that responds to the region’s diverse mobility needs?

Each city and metropolitan region has its own timetable to address this “sustainable” future.  Our experience is that in developing the Vision, Strategic Framework, and Guiding Principles to rethink transit, each region should take the opportunity to “open the door” to informed public discourse on the greater opportunity to shape the future.  It is never too early to start talking about future opportunities.

The major elements of our VISION development include:

• Extensive informed discussion regarding current and future opportunities and responsibilities for transit in public mobility with key stakeholders.
• A collective VISION for transit, potentially including opportunities to build livable cities and reshape demand for sustainable mobility.
• A Strategic Framework for developing transit that identifies demand opportunities matched with an approach to developing optimal transit network and service options.
• Guiding Principles that specify innovative and proven techniques for developing demand for sustainable mobility as well as efficient and effective transit

The VISION provides the key elements to guide the PLAN development of transit mobility that will support the sustainable economic and social vitality of the city or region.

Plan

The plan develops specific
proposals to achieve the vision.

Well-informed, thoughtful planning is a TMD hallmark. We draw on many different aspects of transit service planning, market demand analysis, and operational innovation in order to move transit forward.

TMD specializes in system-wide transit restructuring that is often known as a Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA). The goal of the COA is to increase passenger ridership and farebox revenue, Increase service design and operating efficiency, and ensure short-term and long-term financial sustainability.These projects are a collaborative effort between TMD, the transit agency, and stakeholders, to better position the transit system to adapt to a changing transit environment. The COA plan is guided by a vision for the agency and the region, and includes ready-to-implement recommendations to improve service.

Market Assessment

While much of transit service planning revolves around the transit service supply, Market Assessment enables us to take a demand-based approach to service development. We see transit as a consumable commodity to be marketed to the travel population. A detailed analysis of the types of markets within the available service area, the location of those markets, and the defining characteristics provides clarity for the next steps; and helps us not only respond to market conditions, but also to take an active role in shaping them. By prioritizing investment in key areas of the system we can place scarce transit resources where they will serve the maximum number of customers and effectively increase financial sustainability and city livability.

Consumer Research

Consumer research practices identify and analyze specific markets for transit service – including current riders as well as non-riders. Much like a business will analyze its consumer base to more effectively define and market its products, consumer research shows what people like about transit, what they don’t like, and how these opinions change between different groups of customers. This allows us to identify priority attributes (for example: spontaneous use frequencies, service speed, safety, branding) for attracting customers with different transit products or services, ultimately increasing ridership and transit mode share.

Business Plan

Our goal is to help our clients develop solid business plans for progress within their given marketplace by providing a strong baseline for stakeholders to provide input and make informed choices about transit’s role in the community.. The business plan focuses on several key ideas:

• How does the agency position itself in the market as a mobility provider?
• Where can the product be successful? Where is it less likely to succeed?
• Where and how should the agency invest resources to increase market share?

Service Development

TMD plans contain practical, implementable service development solutions that increase ridership and improve return on investment for the public. We actively collaborate with clients and stakeholders, to build a broad consensus for service development. Our service plans:

• Are guided by a vision for the agency and region
• Increase service effectiveness and efficiency
• Invest appropriately in the livable city core, the suburbs, and the rural areas

Implement

Our plans aren’t made
to sit on the shelf.

TMD expertise takes projects to completion – translating visions and plans into improved service on the street that meets ridership and financial sustainability goals over both the short and long term.

 

Scheduling

Our scheduling team comes from broad range of transit agencies, dealing with systems of diverse sizes, modes, practices, and policies. We understand the complex dynamics necessary to build efficient and operably sound transit schedules which routinely translate into significant cost savings. Whether we provide runcuts based on TMD service plans, or solely provide scheduling services for our clients, our experience and expertise produce effective results.

TMD provides scheduling services for both HASTUS and Trapeze clients. Please contact us to learn more about our scheduling practice.

Operations

Our experience working with transit systems across the country helps our clients to implement comprehensive operational reforms. Much like our scheduling solutions, operational improvements help to keep things running smoothly while saving costs.

We analyze operating practices in terms of the interplay between service scheduling, division management (operators and fleet), and field service management (service on the street). The focus is on creating efficient, effective internal practices to provide consistent, reliable service for customers. All facets must work together to provide both employee and customer satisfaction.

Marketing and Sales

Customers make travel choices on a daily basis, and effective marketing can communicate the benefits of transit, improving public image and increasing ridership.

TMD communicates with key stakeholders and the general public throughout the planning process, building consensus for transit improvements. People support what they help create. During implementation, TMD assists with marketing solutions that are effective at multiple levels.

• Branding of the service itself, through design that appeals to customers;
• Promotion of transit services and their benefits, such as time savings, cost savings, and green transportation;
• Information technology that reaches an increasingly tech-savvy public.

Financial Sustainability

With increasing costs and limited funding available for transit, TMD prides itself on creating workable, “no-surprises” solutions that are financially sustainable. Through budget analysis and planning, service efficiencies and reinvestment, and scheduling and operational improvements, TMD helps our clients develop and maintain long-term financial stability while avoiding the financial ups and down which can lead to major service cuts and fare increases that can debilitate ridership growth and undermine system improvement efforts. We don’t consider financial impacts as an afterthought – they are built in throughout the planning and implementation process and are a key part of the collaborative decision-making process with stakeholders.