Acknowledgements

This report has been prepared with funds provided by the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center (SURTC). The Center receives its funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in Washington, D.C.

The authors would like to thank the four Centers for Independent Living - Dakota Center for Independent Living, Bismarck, N.D.; Freedom Resources Center for Independent Living Inc., Moorhead, Minn.; Independence, Inc., Minot, N.D.; and Options Interstate Resource Center for Independent Living, East Grand Forks, Minn., for their assistance in administering the survey. Thanks also are extended to Jennifer Swenson for her work in the survey development, Crystal Bahe for data entry and Beverly Trittin for final report preparation.

Disclaimer

The contents presented in this report are the sole responsibility of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute and the authors.

Abstract

The disadvantaged population have barriers to a normal life style, which may not be experienced by those not disadvantaged. Mobility is one of these barriers. Approximately 15.4 percent of North Dakota's population is disadvantaged. These individuals live in the metropolitan areas and in the rural low population density counties, which have limited available transportation.

The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute (UGPTI) developed a survey to identify the transportation needs and measure how well the needs of the disadvantaged population are being met. The UGPTI worked with four Centers for Independent Living that serve the state of North Dakota. Each of the centers selected a random sample of their clients and mailed the survey to them.

The results of the study are based on a 21 percent response rate. Results showed that more people would use transit if it were available to them. Almost 60 percent of the disadvantaged use transit either daily or weekly, and the majority perceived they rode less than five miles per trip. The majority of respondents use transit for medical appointments and shopping. The respondents indicated they primarily use demand response transit, which usually is provided by taxi, senior bus, and paratransit. Riders think the drivers are well trained to accommodate their needs and times at bus stops are adequate. The weekend and holiday hours of services were the most inadequate followed by scheduling and number of trips provided.

This study found that a higher percentage of North Dakota disadvantaged reported problems with transportation than the national average.