This document outlines a case study on the failure of a prepaid fare program between the University of Connecticut and the town of Mansfield that aimed to provide unlimited access transit services. It reviews literature on unlimited access programs and rural transportation challenges. The analysis examines why the program failed due to a lack of long-term coordination and willingness between the university and town to define goals and interests jointly. It concludes that small-town unlimited access programs require sustained stakeholder engagement and may be vulnerable to changes in public funding support over time.

1. Sustainable Transportation Challenges: Case Study on the UConn Prepaid Fare Program Failure Edmund J. Zolnik, Ph.D. Assistant Professor School of Public Policy George Mason University Van Pool Boot Camp George Mason University Arlington, VA USA November 7, 2011

2. Research Question Review of the Literature Analysis Conclusions Acknowledgments Outline

3. Research Question Is Unlimited Access (UA) a solution to the problem of transit demand management in the nonmetropolitan US?

4. Review of the Literature

5. Review of the Literature D Number of Trips Income D '' D ' S Key D' = Private D '' = Public

6. Rural Transportation Problem Definition: Low Density Long Trips Over reliance on private modes of transportation Complications: Rural Rebound -> Congestion Air Pollution

7. Review of the Literature

8. Review of the Literature

9. Unlimited Access (UA) Definition: Students, faculty and staff (as well as residents) are afforded unlimited use of transit services. Operation: University Transit Agency Municipal Government Private Contractor Funding: Federal, State and Local Governments Student Fees Parking Permits and Fines General Funds

10. Sources: Brown, Hess and Shoup, 2001; Miller, 2001 Benefits of UA for both Town… Provides economic development stimulus. Reduces traffic congestion. Decreases the number of single-occupant vehicle trips. Improves air quality. Improves overall transit services. Reduces the operating costs per rider. Increases transit ridership. Fills empty seats. Provides operating revenue. Decreases wear and tear on local roads.

11. Sources: Brown, Hess and Shoup, 2001; Miller, 2001 … and Gown Reduces demand for parking. Promotes greener campuses. Increases transportation equity. Increases access to off-campus housing and employment. Reduces the costs of attending college. Helps to recruit and retain students.

12. Review of the Literature Brown, Hess and Shoup, 2001 “ The diversity of locations where universities offer Unlimited Access – from small towns to large cities – indicates that it can work almost anywhere…” (p. 235) “ No university has terminated a (UA) program, and some university administrators told us that Unlimited Access was one of the greatest success stories on their campus.” (p. 259)

13. Examples University of California at Los Angeles University of Washington Iowa State University University of Massachusetts at Amherst

14. Prepaid Fare Program Gown Transportation Services Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Graduate Student Senate (GSS) Town Prepaid Fares for Mansfield Residents If you are a Mansfield resident with a valid Town-issued pass, your fare has been pre-paid by the Town of Mansfield. Please show your pass when boarding. Pre-paid fares apply to the Storrs-Willimantic fixed route service only. Mansfield passes are available at the Mansfield Town Clerk’s office. Windham Regional Transit District Mansfield, Connecticut University of Connecticut

15. Storrs Willimantic Fixed Route Bus Service

16. Analysis

17. Analysis

18. Analysis

19. Analysis

20. Willingness-to-Coordinate Hypothesis

21. Coordinating Transportation Path Diagram Source: Adapted from Saltzman (1980, p. 185)

22. Conclusions Successful UA programs require annual stakeholders meetings. Towns and gowns may define green differently in the long-term. The interests of university administrations may not coincide with the community in the long-term. Small-town UA programs in the northeast are vulnerable to fiscal shortages at the state level. Source: Ewing et al. 2003

23. Babinicz, A. Executive Director, Clemson Area Transit, Clemson, SC Byam, A. General Manager, UMass Transit, Amherst, MA Freniere, J. Manager, Transportation Services, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Hultgren, L. Director of Public Works, Mansfield, CT Miller, R. Director, Office of Environmental Policy, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT Acknowledgments