Demand response transit, specialized transit and other existing services have an opportunity today that is almost unprecedented. The environment that led to the rise of jitney service 100 years ago (when there were some 62,000 jitney cabs in the US) is close to what we’re seeing today.
For two years the Federal Transit Administration has been withholding funding for transit projects. Less than 1/5 of the amount appropriated (made available to use) by congress in both 2017 and 2018 has actually been released. Many approved projects simply do not know what the status of their projects is as no word has been given on when the funds will be released. The Government Accounting Office even warned the FTA that it needed to release these funds.
This failure to release funds means that services with a demonstrated need are not available. This unexpected federal position has come at a time when Transportation Network Companies, TNCs, have virtually unregulated the market for livery or car-for-hire services. For entrepreneurs the market is wide open. If you own a vehicle, insure it, and are licensed to operate it, in most of the US, you can start taking passengers today, for profit.
TransitExec is an all-in-one web-based software that helps manage transit businesses. It is designed expressly for demand response type services. This includes paratransit, dial-a-ride, NEMT, volunteer driver, driver escort, RSVP and others. If you are already operating a demand response transit service and would like to improve your bottom line, TransitExec is ideal for you. Call 608-592-0581 or fill out the inquiry form on our web site. Even better, take a minute and sign up for a free trial today!
