Transit agencies are looking for ways to provide expanded mobility options to their ADA paratransit customers while reducing the overall cost. Alternative services accomplish both objectives. Alternative services are on-demand services provided by transit agencies as an alternative option. TRB hosted a webinar on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern that included successful examples of alternative services. Presenters shared the highlights of and updates to their respective services. Presenters also explained how to use the accompanying tool to plan and evaluate an alternative service.

This webinar was based on TCRP Research Report 239: Provision of Alternative Services by Transit Agencies: The Intersection of Regulation and Program.

This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program.

The slides are linked in the meeting materials. View the recorded webinar below.

Webinar agenda and presenters

1. Key findings of the research including the regulatory framework for alternative services – Buffy Ellis, KFH Group

2. Case studies – Will Rodman, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

3. How to use the Alternative Services Estimation Tool – Todd Hansen, Texas A&M Transportation Institute

4. Question and answer session moderated by Fred Fravel,KFH Group

The first 60 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants can:

1. Design and implement an alternative service, with the understanding of how transit agency goals and local conditions may shape the design

2. Understand the regulatory requirements and constraints that impact alternative services

3. Use the Alternative Service Estimation Tool (ASET) to plan and evaluate an alternative service

American Institute of Certified Planners Certification Maintenance Credits

This webinar was approved by the American Planning Association (APA) for 1.5 Certification Maintenance (CM) Credits. CM credits provide continuing education opportunities for AICP Certified Planners to continue their professional skills and knowledge. To receive CM credits, Certified Planners should visit the TRB event webpage on American Planning Association and register their participation. If you have problems reporting your CM credits or have general questions about the CM program, please contact the APA.

Continuing Legal Education Credits

TRB offered 1.25 CLE credits for this webinar. TRB did not seek approval for this webinar from the state board. Registered webinar attendees who signed in and viewed the entire webinar received a link to a certificate that they can fill out and provide to the appropriate MCLE Board(s) or Commission(s) within 30 days of activity.