Are Small- and Medium-Sized Community Paratransit Riders Ready to Adopt Real-Time Information (RTI) Technology?

Abstract

This research seeks to understand the factors affecting who, in small and medium-sized communities, would adopt real-time information (RTI) technology when using paratransit services. It further provides a planning performance measure that can identify areas which would benefit most from the introduction of such RTI technology. These goals are addressed by modeling paratransit riders’ likelihood of adopting RTI technology as well as forecasting communities’ likely adoption using on-board passenger survey data collected in two small- and medium-sized communities in Alabama and Georgia. Overall, the estimation parameters highlight that future generations of paratransit patrons who are familiar with general technology and use paratransit for non-routine trips would be most interested in and gain the most benefit from this RTI technology. The performance measure is also most effective in long-term transportation planning, applied to future older populations (currently 45–55 years old) who are more comfortable using technology. Transit agencies will be able to use this information to determine whether RTI would be appropriate for their communities as well as the populations that should be targeted for this introduction prior to undertaking a large study or infrastructure investment.