Public Transportation
Abstract
Jackson Transit system is a program that provides public transportation services in the city of Jackson. JATRAN aims at offering quality and secure transport services to meet the demand of it passengers and promote more ridership. JATRAN complies with the local and federal regulations in providing transportation services. Jackson Transit system has drawn the attention of various researchers in the past. Various researchers indicate the importance of the transit and challenges facing the transport system. Research by the institute of transport studies (Monash University) in 2010 shows the reliability of the transportation system (Taylor et al. 2011). JATRAN has continued with efforts to ensure that it works to the expected standards. It is the only public transit system offering services in the city of Jackson. According to the information given by the general manager Mr. Elvin Tobin, the transit system plays a significant role in the public transportation. The statistics indicate that the transit covers annual passenger miles of 3,733,145 with annual unlinked trips of 740,880. The financial information shows that JATRAN is substantially funded by the local funds that account for 74% of its budget (Taylor et al. 2011). Other sources of operating funds are fare revenues, state funds, and federal assistance. The paper identifies cities transportation shortcomings while explaining the benefits of a successful transport system. The paper contains ideas to improve the transportation system in a metropolitan area as well as considerations for the safety, technology and the comfort of the riders.
Public Transportation
Introduction
Jackson Transit System has two categories of public transport services. It has a fixed route where buses have predetermined direction at specified times in the city of Jackson. The fixed route uses the Union Station as its hub. The union station is the transfer centre for almost the entire of the fixed routes. The other service is on-demand services. The on-demand services aim at offering services to cater for a sudden increase riders in a route. Referring to Taylor et al. (2011) the average bus fare for JATRAN is $ 1.50 although age is also a determinant of the price charged. The public transportation system offers services from Monday to Saturday on all routes in the city of Jackson. The transport system remains closed on Sundays. The buses arrive at the bus stop after ever one hour to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.
The Transit Services Section in the city is responsible for the management of the service. JATRAN has a total of ten routes that are well coordinated to offer quality and secure services to the riders. The first route is route one that uses North State Street. Route 2 follows the West Capital Street and the Clinton Boulevard. Route 4B serves Belhaven while Route 4R is along the Robinson Road. JATRAN transit system serves the Bailey Avenue and medical mail through Route 5. Virden Addition/Lake Hico receives the service through Route 6/3 while Terry Road is served by Route 7. Route 7 also serves Raymond Road. Route 8 serves the MLK and presidential Hills. The Metro Centre and Wal-Mart are served by Route 9. Tougaloo College is served by Route 12 which is the tenth route in the transit system. The ten ways create a transportation network across the city of Jackson hence increasing the mobility of person at a reduced cost. The services ensure high quality of services by having experienced and qualified staff who work together to make the transit system a success. As a public good, the transportation system is meant to enable people to access all part of the city any time the need arises.
The transport shortcoming
The transportation system in the city of Jackson does not meet each and every expectation of the people in the city. Passengers expect an efficient and cost-effective transport system in the city. The transportation systems fail to meet the rising demand of riders in the city of Jackson. The city of Jackson has experienced a steady population growth from the year 2000. In 2000, the population of the town was estimated to be 11,947 while in 2010 had increased to 13,758 translating to a 15.2% population growth (Taylor et al. 2011). The increasing population needs more bus to make the transportation efficient. The current population is seen to be unsatisfied with the capacity of the transit system and its response to the increasing population. According to Altshuler, (2012) the vehicles operated in the city services totals to 30. The buses following the fixed route are 14. The buses are inadequate to meet the demand of the growing population. There are 16 buses for the demand response services that also fail to meet the market demand. The inadequacy results to inconveniences to the potential passengers. Any delay in the transport system leaves the passengers unsatisfied hence a failure in meeting transport requirement.
The bus fare revenues are not adequate to fund the operations of the transit system. Altshuler (2012) argues that the city’s transportation system receives additional funding of $4,267,055 from the local funds and $480,000 from the states funds. The public transportation system in the city of Jackson also receives a federal assistance of $344,022 to maintain its operations. The revenue from fare only amounts to $601,436 which indicates an inability to sustain the system. Buehler et al. (2011) are of the opinion that more than 70% of the funds expended are used to pay salaries, wages and employee benefits. The statistics reveal that little or no funds are left to purchase more transportation facilities.
The 2010 United States Census indicates that 15% of the population in the city of Jackson was 65 years and above. According to the Office of Administration, the percentage is expected to increase to 21% of the whole population of the country. It means that by the year 2030, the population will mainly comprise of the seniors resulting from the aging of the current young population (Taylor et al., 2011). The aging baby boomer generation will be more active than the previous generations and will, therefore, require more transportation means than those currently offered. The shortage is likely to arise as the public transmission system will not meet its demands. Failure to offer the services to the passengers’ expectations will proof the system to be ineffective in the long-run. Besides, an increase in the percentage of seniors in the city means that there will be fewer people in prime income period in their career to continue supporting further transportation investments. The residents aged 20 and below will comprise 20% of the total population in the city. In the real sense, the seniors and the young are less active in the economic growth of a sector compared to the middle-aged persons. It is right to conclude that the future of the public transportation system is at risk of closure or a significant reduction of routes of operations.
Buehler et al. (2011) indicate that the transit system in the City of Jackson does not offer services on all days of the week and major holidays. The service remains closed on Sundays. People planning to travel using the system on this particular day have to look for an alternative means. The transportation system management sets aside Sundays for resting. In actual sense, not all users of the public transport rest on Sundays. Some industries, for example, the catering and hotel industry continues with operation in almost all days in a year.
Benefits of having a successful system
A successful transportation saves fuel and reduces congestion in the cities. Use of private means of transport would increase the number of vehicles operating on the same route. Recent research conducted in the United States shows that in 2011, adoption of public transportation saved 865,000,000 hours of travel time and fuel to approximately 450 million gallons in urban areas (Matthew et al., 2012). The research reveals that if the public transport were not used in 2011, the congestion cost would have increased to $142 billion from $121 billion in the urban areas. Public transportation serves as a crucial tool in reducing congestion in the urban areas as well as saving fuel. Congestion causes delays and inconveniences in the transportation system. Workers fail to arrive at workplaces on time due time wastage. The output of human capital employed reduces hence slowing economic growth.
Use of efficient public transportation system saves money. Choosing public means is an appropriate method to beat the increasing prices of gas. APTA’s Transit Saving Report shows that a household comprising of two persons can save $10,174 in a year by using one car (Matthew et al., 2012). A successful transportation system proofs to be affordable and the best alternative to private driving. Many people in the city of Jackson prefer the public means to reduce the travelling cost.
Adoption of public transportation reduces levels of carbon emission in the urban cities. In the whole of United States, public transit results in a reduction of carbon emission. In a year, emission of 37 million metric tons is avoided. A person who commutes for 20 miles in a day by public means emits 20 pounds of carbon daily or an equivalent of 4,800 pounds every year. Switching to public means that such carbon emission into the environment would be avoided. One person in every household reduces carbon emission by 10% (Buehler et al., 2011). Ensuring a sustainable environment in the cities serves an important role in the maintaining a healthy living.
Taylor et al. (2011) argue that a well planned and coordinated public transportation system promotes personal opportunities in the cities. Efficient transit system enhances the mobility of individuals from all walks of life. Individuals have different levels of incomes in an economy that is, not everybody can afford private means to get to work. Public transport comes in to make transportation services affordable to every person. Employees get to work on time as students and visitors get to their respective destinations as planned. A public transportation system also provides job opportunities to many Americans, especially in cities. It offers individuals freedom and choices as to the time and route to use based on convenience. Jackson Transit System in the city provides a variety of route that riders can use with a standard transfer point at union station. The buses arrive at the bus stop every 60 minutes hence reducing the waiting time. Indeed, many Americans are now discovering the importance of buses and trains to commute.
Transportation system serves the purpose of connecting people to various points in the cities. The growth in economic activities has increased the rider demand. The transit lines extend to cover all routes that require additional transit facilities. The availability of on-demand services in public transportation enables the system to meet the increasing demand. Bus shuttles provide transport to workers from rail to their workplace at affordable prices. Public transport system is used by the public assistance agencies to help individuals to join the workforce. For example, thousands of people entering first jobs get help from The Federal Transit Administration job access program.
Idea to improve the transportation system for an area considered metropolitan
Munoz et al. (2016) outline that Installation of new signs to indicate local services at minor interchanges can improve the transportation system. The signs should show railway station and shops. The transit system would move its services close to the needs of its customers. More than 30% of people who use the public transport have to walk for a distance from the bus stop. An increase in bus stops would make the services more efficient and satisfy the needs of its users considerably. More bus stops would make the transportation system slower. A deep analysis of implementing this idea shows that its advantages would outweigh its disadvantages. Its implementation is, therefore, worthwhile as it will result in quality and better services.
The use of modern technology for the introduction of timely and quality information at all bus stops is an important idea. Travellers who are equipped with an adequate information stand a better chance to understand any inconvenience in the transportation system. Partial information is worse than no information. Inaccurate information makes the passengers adopt wrong procedures. For example, a delay in one route may make passengers look for an alternative that may proof to be longer and more expensive, yet the delay would not have taken long. Information concerning any breakdown or a failure of a bus to operate either because of the logistical problem or otherwise would serve a crucial purpose as its user would plan accordingly. Any delays expect in the transit system if well communicated would reduce the impact of the delay compared to noncommunication.
Another viable idea is the introduction of traffic-calming precautions to enhance service reliability and delivery. Traffic delays are evidenced in the transportation system. Implementing these measures renders the system preference to many people working in the city (Munoz et al. 2016). A full-time response team to manage the traffic would be useful. In the history of road transport, traffic is one of its major challenges and an attempt to control the traffic would greatly improve the transit system. The management of the transport system should ensure that buses stick to their designated time and route to avoid any confusion. Assigning more buses to the on demand services would also enable the system to transport people on time hence reducing human traffic at the bus stops. Traffic-calming measures would increase the safety and comfort of the riders as they will arrive at their respective destinations at the scheduled time.
Hub city transit
It is a transit system located in the city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, an area considered to be metropolitan. The main aim of Hub City Transit system is to offer an alternative method of public transportation. The transit system offers an innovative and a low-cost service to the people of Hattiesburg. It has a total of three routes that operate from 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. every day. The transit system has 270 major bus stops that make the transport facility more accessible. Unlike JATRAN that fails to offer services on Sundays, The Hub Transit services are available on a daily basis. The reliability of the transit increases as riders are sure that the system is always in operation.
Benefits of hub city transit to the city of Hattiesburg
Research conducted in by Munoz et al. (2016) indicated that the transit system majorly serves the low-income earners. The state takes up the responsibility of serving low-income demographic in the city. The transit system is affordable to most people in the city. The affordability has led to an increase in ridership in the recent past. The prices charged by the transit system enable its user to save more than 10% of their total earning. The income saved serves a crucial purpose in improving the standard of living of riders. A detailed analysis of the transit reveals that the system is an essential facility as most people in the city needs it. The transit system is used to access important places and facilities, for example, workplace and health care services. Other riders use the public means to get to grocery stores.
Taylor et al. (2011) argue that the ridership of the transit system is increasing especially in routes located in areas with a disorder in the landscape. The increasing ridership enables more people to get to their destinations on time. Most people choose to use the public transit as it offers comfort to the riders. The riders also perceive the means to be safe hence the increasing ridership. The Hub City Transit provides a unique perception and view of the city as it is accessible and a reliable means of transport is available to the riders.
The hub transit system provides quality service to elderly and the challenged persons. The fixed route provides services to 86,000 riders while demand response services provide the service to approximately 11,000 (Taylor et al. 2011). The Para-Transit services are available from Monday to Friday starting from 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The on-demand services are only available for qualified persons, for example, people with mobility impairments who would otherwise be unable to use the fixed routes.
Most passengers who use the Hub city transport services are satisfied with the services offered by the transit. The ability of the transit to remain relevant despites the changes in public transportation systems in the US is a recommendable achievement. The transit has continued to use the modern technology in both transport and communication to improve their service delivery. Incorporation of high-level technology has helped the management of the transit system to meet the expectations of riders across the city of Hattiesburg.
The Hub City transport receives funds from FTA. The funds enable the city to transform the transport infrastructure. Another source of fund is the federal assistance that amounts to 5% of the total budget. The local funds also play a vital role in financing the transit as its contribution to the totals revenues earned is 68%. State funds account for 7% of the income earned (Buehler et al. 2011). The level of revenue received remains inadequate for rapid infrastructural development in the transit system. The transit system derives revenues from fare although the income alone cannot sustain the operations of the transit. A project that cannot raise enough revenue for self-maintenance must rely on funds from outside. However, the transit system is a public good in the city hence, the funding by the state to improve the welfare of the people. The state is concerned with the general well-being of its citizens and the ability of the citizens to work together to grow the economy. The state, therefore, does not hesitate to fund the projects to ensure mobility of labours and access to health and other crucial services in the city.
Conclusion
This paper critically analysis the transportation shortcomings in the City of Jackson. The Jackson Transit System fails to meet the demand in the city. The revenues received from the transport fare are not adequate to meet its expenditure. It's projected that usefulness of the transit system will reduce by 2030 as the population will majorly comprise the old and young generations. JATRAN does not operate on Sundays and major holidays hence inconveniencing those planning to commute on these particular days. The paper also contains the benefits of having a successful transportation system in the city. Use of a well designed public transportation system reduces congestion, saves money and reduces the emission of pollutant gases into the environment. Other contents in the paper are ideas to improve the transportation systems for an area considered metropolitan. Installation of new signs to indicate local services and minor interchanges would improve the transportation system significantly. Adoption of modern technology to ensure timely and quality information to the passengers is a valid idea. The management of the transit system should create an all-time traffic response team to reduce its effect on the main routes. The Hub City Transit system has successfully increased the ridership in the city of Hattiesburg. It serves the low-income earners by offering transportation services at affordable prices.
References
Taylor, Brian D., Douglas Miller, Hiroyuki Iseki, and Camille Fink. Analyzing the determinants of transit ridership across the US urbanized areas." Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 43, 2011.
Matthew A. Coogan. Strategies for Improving Public Transportation Access. Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board, 2012.
Altshuler, Alan, James P. Womack, and John R. Pucher. "The urban transportation system: Politics and policy innovation." Journal of Economic Literature, 2012.
Munoz, Juan Carlos, and Paget-seekins, Laurel. Restructuring Public Transport Through Bus Rapid Transit An International and Interdisciplinary Perspective. Policy Pr, 2016.
Buehler, Ralph, and John Pucher. "Making public transport financially sustainable." Transport Policy, 2011.
