With limited funding, transit agencies search for ways to more cost effectively serve their riders, particularly in low-density communities. Transit incorporating mobility-on-demand (TIMOD) is one possibility, but how does it compare to services such as fixed transit or ride-hailing services? This study compared the cost-effectiveness of TIMOD to that of other modes in suburban and rural settings.

The need for maintenance of active transportation facilities is relatively new, and the development of consistent levels of service and treatment intervals for all aspects of these facilities is just emerging. This project explored the challenges and opportunities associated with maintaining these facilities, with particular emphasis on lanes that serve bicyclists.

This study assessed the application of multimodal performance measures and indicators in the design process of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The report presents lessons learned from the literature and multimodal practice leaders. The project also examined six WSDOT multimodal case studies, including evaluating how those projects have integrated best practices for multimodal planning and performance measurement, as well as opportunities for improvement.

On October 2, 2021, Sound Transit of the Puget Sound, Washington, began Link light rail service to three new stations on the 1 Line. These stations serve the University District, Roosevelt, and Northgate areas in Seattle. This project examined the changes in regional travel behavior that occurred as a result of those changes in transit service.

A large portion of all transit rides in the greater Puget Sound region are paid for with the One Regional Card for All (ORCA) electric transit fare card. TRAC researchers have developed a business intelligence system that takes advantage of data from the ORCA system to allow transit agencies to analyze farecard transactions and better understand transit travel.

This project analyzed changes in the rates of active school transport captured in the 2016 and 2019 Washington State Student Travel Surveys and also evaluated the likely impacts of Safe Routes to School projects on rates of active school transport. It was part of a long-term collaboration between the University of Washington and the Washington State Department of Transportation to model the environmental determinants of active school transport (AST) in order to help support and promote AST and to ensure the safety of students traveling to school.

Many agencies and companies are interested in developing technologies that will remove barriers to mobility and transportation for individuals with disabilities, but how can the success of such technologies be accurately evaluated? This project created a framework that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) can use to develop evaluations of new technologies intended to improve mobility for people of all abilities.

The increasing availability of shared mobility options is affecting travel behavior and travel demand. Smartphone-based technology has permitted the rapid spread of shared mobility options, which has affected how people use traditional travel modes. Although transportation policies need to consider these changes, a lack of data impedes the development of programs and policies that could address both the positive and negative aspects of the new travel options. This project aimed to provide much needed information about how app-based shared mobility options affect the demand for traditional private individual and public transit travel.

The Via to Transit service in the Puget Sound region was a pilot implementation of an on-demand transit access service that connected riders going to or from five Sound Transit Link light rail stations with their trip origins/destinations. This project demonstrated the viability of a public agency partnership with a private sector transportation network company and evaluated the results of providing the pilot Via to Transit on-demand, first-mile/last-mile access to transit services.