Automatic Passenger Counter User Group Meeting

Accurately recording ridership data is a necessity for any public transportation system. By keeping an up-to-date and reliable record of ridership data, such as how many riders use a particular route and at what dates and times, systems can better plan route schedules and make the best decisions when developing transit plans for the needs of their communities. Several North Carolina urban systems met with other organizations earlier this year to discuss APCs and how they could benefit their services.

In February, Capital Area Transit in Raleigh hosted their annual meeting for North Carolina’s users of Automatic Passenger Counter technology. APC technology uses infrared beams to record boarding and departures at fixed-route bus stops. 

The meeting included representatives from eleven North Carolina urban fixed-route transit systems, the APC vendor – Urban Transit Associates of Cincinnati, OH, the N.C. State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education, and the N.C. Department of Transportation. During the meeting, the group discussed innovative practices in service planning and reporting using APC data.

The meeting was organized into the following four categories:

1.       Analyzing APC data to provide value to transit users;

2.       Successful methods for maintaining APC technology;

3.       How to use APC data for required annual reporting; and

4.       Best practices in collecting and analyzing APC information.

Each session consisted of up to five presentations, where experts shared their insights among the group. The presentation concluded with questions and discussion. The attendees left the meeting energized and excited to apply their new knowledge to improving transit service in their communities.

In order to get approval for using APCs, transit agencies must notify the Federal Transit Administration of when they plan to start using these systems, develop a plan to maintain the system, conduct approximately six months of testing to compare manual counts with counts from APCs and then finally compile their findings in a report.  

The NCDOT Public Transportation Division awards grant funds to local public transportation systems. These grants enable systems to provide people in all 100 counties access to education, job opportunities and health care.

For more information on grant programs through the Public Transportation Division of NCDOT, as well as transit systems that serve the public throughout the state, visit www.ncdot.gov/nctransit.

North Carolina Public Transportation Ridership on Rise – Systems Adjusting to Meet Rider Needs and Changes in Funding

North Carolina is growing. New residents are coming, and companies are seeing the many benefits of locating in our state. These factors, combined with others such as an aging population, are just some of many reasons why motorists are looking for other ways to get around besides driving their personal cars. One option more and more drivers are turning to is public transportation.

North Carolina’s 99 public transportation systems serving all 100 counties of the state have seen a steady increase in ridership during the last 10 years. During Fiscal Year 2013, (June 30, 2012 – July 1, 2013) more than 77 million trips were made on North Carolina public transportation systems, compared to more than 73 million in FY 2011. Ridership has increased steadily on urban-area transit systems in recent years. These fixed-route systems carried almost one million more passengers in FY 2013 than in FY 2009, an increase of 15 percent. Passengers per-hour and passengers per-mile also increased by 15 and 16 percent, respectively, while administrative and operating expenses increased by a modest two percent during this time period.

Although ridership has been increasing on urban systems, rural systems have seen a slight decrease in ridership – two percent since FY 2012. Despite this decrease, the increase in ridership on urban systems has been large enough to bring overall ridership statewide up. While there is no specific reason for the decrease in rural ridership, research from the N.C. State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education shows that it could potentially be due to reductions in funding, resulting in the elimination of some services among systems. Also, increases in Medicaid-funded trips on 34 percent of rural systems have made up for losses on the remaining majority of rural systems.

With most rural transit riders being dependent on public transportation, systems are looking at ways to maintain service despite reductions in funding. Several rural transit systems are shifting away from demand-response service, and are beginning to offer structured services, such as fixed routes, which are more cost effective and more efficient to operate than demand-response.

“On our deviated fixed routes we are able to more efficiently service a higher number of riders than on our more costly door-to-door routes,” said Kerr Area TransportationAuthority Executive Director Rob Brink.

In another effort to maintain services, rural systems are also beginning to utilize more federal funding sources in addition to traditional state funding.  Total federal funds have increased 67 percent since FY 2009, while state-funded section 5311 funds have increased 15 percent during the same time period.

“Our transit systems in North Carolina are continuing to grow their business by being creative in how they look for new resources and partners to fund new services,” said NCDOT Public Transportation Division Director Debbie Collins “This is vital to their ability to sustain existing service levels and continue to grow.”

Initiatives like these, along with others such as regionalization of rural transit systems, and continued planning work with local metropolitan planning organizations and rural planning organizations, will enable transit systems to continue to serve the needs of their riders and communities.

About N.C. Public Transportation

Public transportation systems provide a safe, cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for residents who cannot or choose not to drive. Systems range from small rural systems to large urban systems, as well as the LYNX light rail in Charlotte and intercity bus routes. NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division also coordinates intercity bus transportation with Greyhound and Horizon Coach Lines, as well as vanpool service with systems in the urban areas of the state.

NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division works directly with these systems to foster the development of intercity, urban and rural public transportation in North Carolina. The division awards grant funds to local public transportation systems, enabling them to provide people in all 100 counties access to education, job opportunities and health care.

Mecklenburg County Transportation Driver to The Rescue

Vehicle drivers are the outward face of public transportation systems. Not only do they pick up and drop off riders at various locations throughout the day, their riders depend on them for their day-to-day needs – whether that be going to the grocery store, being taken to work or arriving at a doctor’s appointment. Being out in the community can bring challenges and unexpected situations at any time. For one driver in Mecklenburg County, her quick actions meant the difference between life and death for a local resident.

On the morning of January 9, Mecklenburg Transit System driver Elloree Massey was on her daily route when she noticed an elderly man on the railroad tracks of Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte. Massey saw the safety arms drop on the railroad track as the train was getting closer.

She said she had the choice to “watch him get hurt or try to help.” Massey immediately hopped out of her van and quickly coached the man to safety just before the locomotive passed. The entire scare was capture on the dash cam video of Massey’s MTS vehicle. On Tuesday, March 18, Massey was recognized by the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners for her act of heroism.

For more information, watch this video by Mecklenburg County Government.

The Mecklenburg Transportation System provides a variety of transportation services to Mecklenburg County residents.  Most of MTS services are aimed to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, rural transportation for the general public. Through a combination of in house and contracted vendor providers, they are able to provide transportation services seven days a week.

Applications accepted through March 26 for Public Transportation Apprenticeships and Internships

Experience in a chosen field is an important thing to have when looking for a job; however, getting that initial experience in the first place can be challenging. For current college seniors and graduate students, the N.C. Department of Transportation Public Transportation Division’s Apprenticeship and Internship programs offer the real-world experience necessary to pursue a career in the field of public transportation. Due to recent winter weather, the application period has been extended to 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 26.

The Public Transportation Internship Program gives graduate students the opportunity to work in the field of public transportation while completing their graduate degree. One internship is available through this year’s program with Chapel Hill Transit in Orange County. More information on the 12-month paid internship can be found here.

The Public Transportation Apprenticeship Program gives current college seniors the opportunity to work in the field of public transportation management upon receiving their undergraduate degree. A total of nine apprenticeships are available in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Fayetteville, the Triangle and Wilmington. More information on the 12-month paid apprenticeships can be found here.

To apply for the internship or one of the nine apprenticeships, interested applicants must complete a State of North Carolina Employment Application, as well as other required documents, which can be found on the NCDOT Public Transportation Division website under the “Apprenticeships and Internships” heading.

Debbie Collins Named Public Transportation Division Director

Debbie Collins has joined the ranks of NCDOT’s Public Transportation Division as director. Debbie started February 3 and oversees the day-to-day operations of the division, which fosters the development of intercity, urban and rural public transportation in North Carolina.

“Debbie is a seasoned professional, with a deep knowledge of public transportation,” said NCDOT Deputy Secretary for Transit Richard Walls. “Her experience and expertise will not only be of great benefit to the division, but also to the public transportation systems serving all 100 counties of North Carolina.”

Debbie comes to NCDOT from N.C. State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) where she previously served as co-director of the Institute’s Public Transportation Group, as well as program manager for the Urban Transit Assistance Program and manager of the North Carolina Transit Program.

Prior to her time at ITRE, Debbie worked with the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation, the Virginia Highway and Transportation Research Council and the City of High Point, and held several positions with the Winston-Salem Transit Authority. She is a 1977 graduate of Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va. where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science. She also holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.

In addition to her work experience and participation in several national public transportation projects, Debbie has served on several boards and committees including the North Carolina Public Transportation Association, the American Public Transit Association (APTA) Technology Procurement Working Group and the Institute of Transportation Engineers Technical Advisory Group on Planning for ITS Transit Training Standards Modules. She was also the recipient of the NCDOT Governor’s Award for Public Transportation in 2000.

A native of Lexington, Va., Collins lives in Salisbury with her husband, Rip. The couple has two children, Will and Casey.