Service Development Projects

Ms. Barlow and Dr. Clark frequently work with planning consultants in the area of service development and service coordination.  They provide market research support and marketing recommendations for designing new services and improving service productivity.  Following are several service development projects they've been involved in over the past several years.

B-Line, Chico, CA

Market Based Transit Study (2008-10)

Conducted market research and community outreach in support of a Market Based Transit Study.  Project elements included: 

• Comprehensive on-board passenger survey and count

• Community telephone survey

• E-survey of  employee and student commuters to CSU Chico, Butte College and other employers. 

• Stakeholder interviews and community workshops in each of four communities within Butte County

Research and community input examined the travel habits, needs and preferences of both current and potential transit users.  The data was collected in a way that allowed B-Line to compare and contrast the various segments and to judge the attractiveness of various service trade-offs.  This provided a guide for development of four service scenarios based on various levels of funding.

Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System, Merced, CA (2010)

Conducting research and community outreach in support of a Short Range Transit Plan for this regional transit system which connects several communities with Yosemite National Park.  In addition, Transit Marketing will develop a comprehensive marketing plan to support the service recommendations and provide graphic support for enhancing YARTS' branding on its fleet of buses.

Grand Valley Metropolitan Council, Grand Rapids, MI (2010)

In conjunction with RLS & Associates, we are conducting focus groups and community outreach in support of a countywide transit needs assessment for rural areas of Kent County, Michigan.

Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Sacramento, CA

Long Range Transit Plan (2006)

Conducted key informant interviews and facilitated workshops to provide input to the Transit element of the 20-Year Metropolitan Transportation Plan, in conjunction with Transit Resource Center.

AC Transit, Oakland, CA

Independent Assessment of Fremont-Newark Area Services (2005)

Conducted focus groups and community outreach to identify transit needs within AC Transit's District 2, in conjunction with Transit Resource Center.

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon

Regional Coordination and Marketing Plan (2004)

Worked with FLT Consulting and GMP Consulting to develop a transportation coordination plan for a three county area of Northeast Oregon.  Created a regional transit marketing plan and identity.  Went on to create a brand and passenger guide for a new circulator route for La Grande which grew out of the plan.

Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, The Dalles, OR

Coordination Study and Regional Marketing Plan (2003)

Worked with FLT Consulting and GMP Consulting to develop coordination strategies for a five county area along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon and Washington.  Created a regional marketing plan, regional transit identity, information guide and website.

Union City Transit, Union City, CA

Short Range Transit Plan Update (2003 and 2005)

Conducted on-board passenger surveys to provide data for updates of the system's Short Range Transit Plan, in conjunction with Urbitran.

PACE, Waukegan & Elgin, IL

On-board Survey (2002)

Conducted on-board surveys for two of PACE's divisions - the Lake County and River divisions - in suburban Chicago.  The data was used as part of a "re-farming" project, by First Transit,  which evaluated potential for enhancing local service within existing budget constraints.

CAT, Raleigh, NC

Comprehensive System Plan (2002)

Conducted a variety of research efforts to support this planning project, including community survey, passenger survey, Chamber of Commerce survey and focus groups.  Subcontractor to Urbitran and RLS and Associates.

People Mover, Anchorage, AK

Comprehensive System Review (2001)

Conducted on-board survey, telephone survey and focus groups to support service development and marketing decisions.   Subcontractor to RLS and Associates.

Chatham Area Transit, Savannah, GA 

Comprehensive Operations Analysis (2000)

Conducted on-board survey, community wide telephone survey and community interviews as part of a comprehensive operations analysis with Team, Inc.