Challenges and Visions for the Future Among Paratransit Providers.

Abstract

The present study examined paratransit managers' perceptions of a changing transportation market and the resources or supports they might need to adapt to evolving market expectations. Paratransit comprises specialized origin-to-destination transportation, often targeting a transportation-disadvantaged population such as people with disabilities or older adults. Paratransit is often provided by a transit agency, a nongovernmental contractor to the transit agency, or other federally-funded entity. The emergence of transportation network companies (TNCs), which connect drivers with passengers in real-time via online-enabled platforms (e.g., Uber and Lyft), has changed the landscape of demand-responsive transportation, including paratransit. However, the experiences of those close to the operations of paratransit programs have been largely neglected in research on mobility developments. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 managers of paratransit services. The resulting transcripts were coded iteratively with NVivo software, using both inductive and deductive approaches to generate themes. Resulting themes included challenges with insufficient funding, severe driver shortages, and regulatory/policy obstacles, as well as hopes for expansion and modernization of paratransit services. This study's findings advance the literature toward policy and practice solutions that could improve paratransit services for older adults and other transportation-disadvantaged groups.