Paris Metro Transportation

Description

Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) is a voluntary coalition of local governments formed by nine northeast Texas counties, and one southwest Arkansas county. With a mission of improving the quality of life of local citizens, ATCOG engages in community problem solving and coordinates services, resources, and funding. In 2011, when reports indicated that Paris's demand-response transportation system required twenty-four hour advance scheduling requests and that older and disabled citizens were waiting hours for transportation home after medical appointments, ATCOG — already operating a rural transportation system in several other counties — recognized it might be able to assist with local needs.

Leveraging the U.S. Department of Transportation's P3 framework, a contractual risk-sharing agreement between a public transit agency and a private entity, ATCOG's first step included a local needs assessment, followed by creating a formal business plan complete with financial commitments and other partner-support expectations. The plan also included flexible funding support levels paired with potential return on investment information. An additional focus was on gaining a 50% matched state funding opportunity that depended on the private partners' investment levels.

After formulating the initial business plan, ATCOG reached out to potential partners. The first stakeholder identified was Paris's largest employer, Paris Regional Medical Center, now Paris Regional Health. The medical center, sharing ATCOG's mission for improving healthcare access and economic opportunities, supported a 3-year funding commitment. Owned by RCCH Healthcare Partners, the 300 bed, acute care hospital providing health and wellness services, also agreed to supply a rent-free, central transportation office in unused medical space.

Next, ATCOG identified a local project champion. Paris's United Way chapter became the local voice presenting the ATCOG project to local businesses and educational institutions through Rotary and Kiwanis organizations. This effort gained support from six additional partners: the City of Paris, Paris Junior College, the RAM Foundation, the St. Joseph's Foundation, the Texas Oncology group, and The Results Company. In July 2016, after approximately five years of planning, Paris Metro began routine weekday, 12-hour operations.

Still connected with the Ark-Tex Council of Government's Rural Public Transit District (ATCOG RTD) transportation program, in the years since the initial grant funding the transit network continues to evolve to meet new needs.

Paris Metro was the recipient of the Texas Transit Association's 2016 "Innovative Project of the Year Award," a recognition based on innovative problem-solving techniques applied to the public transportation industry.

Services offered

Initial services at grant implementation included:

• Two buses on four routes run every 30 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
• Fifty cent fare per ride, and free for anyone age 60 and older, or disabled
• For those unable to ride the fixed route, paratransit service and rides by appointment can be scheduled for $1 per trip

In 2018, 100% grant funding supported the purchase of 2 new, larger buses, complete with ramps instead of lifts for easier boarding.

Current services:

Now existing as a mature transportation network, online and phone scheduling is available for now regular hours and routes — a fixed-route bus system runs hourly Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with hard copy and online maps available.

• Fares are still $0.50 for youths and adults and free for the disabled; children under age 5; adults, age 60 and older; and local college students.
• For local residents with special medical conditions, either a subscription or reservation Disability Act/ADA Complementary Paratransit Service option is also still offered with a healthcare provider's referral.

Results

Initial grant cycle results:

• In May 2017, the service tabulated 3500 trips per month since its start in August 2016. Extrapolated data suggested that the area will experience a 200 percent increase from the prior transportation option. For 2018, the service was expected to reach 52,000 for that year, for this community of around 25,000.
• Initial data tracking also found a decrease in overall emergency room visits, likely a result of providing residents with a reliable transportation option for day-time scheduled appointments, a success factor measured by PRMC.

Challenges

Extended project planning intervals:

• The initial anchor community partnership with PRMC required time since the decision-making board was at a distance.
• After anchor partnerships joined, additional time was required to engage other community partners.

Replication

• Have familiarity with the P3 Checklist
• Have complete and clear goals, a formal business plan, and stakeholder expectations outlined prior to meeting with stakeholders
• Present clear information on benefits to the partnership
• Ensure local champion(s) outside of the public entity to gain legitimacy and confidence of private stakeholders
• Find stakeholders with mutual shared community service vision to expedite business decisions

For more information: Public Transportation Guidebook for Small- and Medium-Sized Public-Private Partnerships, Transportation Research Board, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Contact Information