Citation

Cooperman MJ, Martin JA, Silverman FJ. Transp. Res. Rec. 1979; 719: 41-43.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1979, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the appropriateness of joint use of public transit and school bus services in Dade County, Florida, which includes the city of Miami as well as other urban, suburban, and rural areas. Four alternatives for joint use of transit services were examined: home-to-school and return transportation of public school students by the public transit system, known as the Metropolitan Transit Agency (MTA); field-trip transportation of public school students by the MTA; after-school transportation of public school students by the MTA, and maintenance of school-board buses by the MTA. It was concluded that there are very limited opportunities for joint utilization of transit services in Dade County. The home-to-school transportation of students should continue to be provided by the school board's transportation unit--primarily because of the inability of MTA to guarantee seats on its vehicles, the significantly lower operating costs of the school board's vehicles, and the more flexible labor contract of the school board in terms of guaranteed hours for drivers. The school board should also continue to provide field-trip transportation for students, primarily because its cost is significantley lower than the charter rates of MTA. MTA maintenance of school board vehicles is not feasible under federal regulations, nor is it desirable. However, MTA provision of after-school service for students should be explored.