# ![](media/image1.png){width="8.51875in" height="11.0in"}  {#section .unnumbered}

# **EXECUTIVE SUMMARY**

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S VISION**                           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ***"Public transportation is the mode of choice in America"***        |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **FTA STRATEGIC RESEARCH MISSION**                                    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ***"Deliver Solutions that Improve Public Transportation"***          |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **FTA STRATEGIC RESEARCH GOALS**                                      |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                                       |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **OBJECTIVES BY GOAL**                                                |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| +-----------+-------------+------------+------------+-----------+     |
| | **1.1     | **2.1       | **3.1      | **4.1      | **5.1     |     |
| | Ensure    | Identify    | Identify   | Identify   | F         |     |
| | transit   | best        | practices  | solutions  | acilitate |     |
| | research  | practices   | and        | to improve | de        |     |
| | supports  | and         | te         | transit    | velopment |     |
| | national  | t           | chnologies | safety**   | of        |     |
| | goals**   | echnologies | to control |            | tec       |     |
| |           | to increase | capital    | **4.2      | hnologies |     |
| | **1.2     | transit     | costs**    | Identify   | to        |     |
| | Continue  | ridership** |            | solutions  | improve   |     |
| | to        |             | **3.2      | to reduce  | energy    |     |
| | improve   | **2.2       | Identify   | criminal   | e         |     |
| | research  | Identify    | solutions  | activity** | fficiency |     |
| | man       | and         | to control |            | and       |     |
| | agement** | overcome    | operating  | **4.3      | reduce    |     |
| |           | barriers to | costs**    | Identify   | transit   |     |
| | **1.3     | the         |            | solutions  | vehicle   |     |
| | F         | adoption of | **3.3      | to improve | em        |     |
| | acilitate | ridership   | Identify   | transit    | issions** |     |
| | imple     | enhancement | methods    | emergency  |           |     |
| | mentation | t           | and        | prep       | **5.2     |     |
| | of        | echniques** | te         | aredness** | Identify  |     |
| | research  |             | chnologies |            | and       |     |
| | results   | **2.3       | to improve |            | overcome  |     |
| | by the    | Identify    | transit    |            | barriers  |     |
| | transit   | solutions   | o          |            | to        |     |
| | i         | to provide  | perational |            | adoption  |     |
| | ndustry** | public      | ef         |            | of clean  |     |
| |           | tra         | ficiency** |            | techn     |     |
| |           | nsportation |            |            | ologies** |     |
| |           | for         | **3.4      |            |           |     |
| |           | targeted    | Identify   |            |           |     |
| |           | po          | solutions  |            |           |     |
| |           | pulations** | to improve |            |           |     |
| |           |             | transit    |            |           |     |
| |           | **2.4       | infr       |            |           |     |
| |           | Identify    | astructure |            |           |     |
| |           | cos         | mai        |            |           |     |
| |           | t-effective | ntenance** |            |           |     |
| |           | solutions   |            |            |           |     |
| |           | to provide  | **3.5      |            |           |     |
| |           | rural       | Improve    |            |           |     |
| |           | public      | the        |            |           |     |
| |           | tra         | capacity   |            |           |     |
| |           | nsportation | of the     |            |           |     |
| |           | services**  | transit    |            |           |     |
| |           |             | industry   |            |           |     |
| |           |             | and        |            |           |     |
| |           |             | w          |            |           |     |
| |           |             | orkforce** |            |           |     |
| +-----------+-------------+------------+------------+-----------+     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Message from the Associate Administrator

I am pleased to share with you the Federal Transit Administration's
(FTA) Strategic Research Plan for FY2006 -- FY2010. This Plan follows
the Strategic Research Plan set forth in October 2004 and sets the
strategic framework for FTA's research priorities and will be our
"touchstone" for investing scarce public funds in relevant and useful
research projects that will improve our Nation's public transportation
systems.

This Strategic Research Plan is the result of an ongoing dialogue with
transit industry leaders, university researchers, FTA staff, and USDOT
modal professionals. Based on this input, we have identified what we
think are the "right" areas to research and it is our intention to
research them in the "right" way to produce results that matter.

This Strategic Research Plan describes our strategic goals and provides
a framework for how we will measure our success. This plan also
describes how we will work in partnership with our customers and
stakeholders to achieve our research goals.

An important feature of this Strategic Research Plan is its dynamic and
flexible nature. We need to be able to adapt to emerging challenges and
opportunities, and revise our priorities accordingly. Therefore, we plan
to update this Strategic Research Plan periodically.

We welcome your continued interest and participation as we work to
deliver solutions that improve public transportation for the American
people.

Barbara A. Sisson, P.E.

Associate Administrator

Office of Research, Demonstration

> and Innovation

**[Table of Contents]{.underline}**

[**Introduction** 1](#introduction)

[**1. The Purposes of FTA Research** 1](#__RefHeading___Toc113756733)

[FTA Strategic Research Mission 2](#fta-strategic-research-mission)

[**2. Research Plan** 3](#__RefHeading___Toc113756735)

[Goal 1: Provide transit research leadership
3](#__RefHeading___Toc113756736)

[Goal 2: Increase transit ridership 6](#__RefHeading___Toc113756737)

[Goal 3: Improve capital and operating efficiencies
10](#__RefHeading___Toc113756738)

[Goal 4: Improve safety and emergency preparedness
15](#__RefHeading___Toc113756739)

[Goal 5: Protect the environment and promote energy independence
17](#__RefHeading___Toc113756740)

[**3 Administering the FTA Strategic Research Plan**
19](#__RefHeading___Toc113756741)

[Relevance of Research 20](#__RefHeading___Toc113756742)

[Quality of Research 20](#__RefHeading___Toc113756743)

[Performance of Research 21](#__RefHeading___Toc113756744)

[Criteria for Developing Technologies That Address Industry Issues
21](#__RefHeading___Toc113756745)

[**Appendix 1 Transit Research Programs**
23](#appendix-1.-transit-research-programs)

[Appendix 2 Stakeholders and Transit Research Analysis Committee
26](#appendix-2-stakeholders-and-the-transit-research-analysis-committee)

# 

#   {#section-2 .unnumbered}

#  {#section-3 .unnumbered}

# **Introduction**

This Strategic Research Plan identifies key Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) goals and priorities for investing in transit
research during 2006-2010. It incorporates the suggestions, ideas and
comments of transit agencies, Congressional committees and staff,
transit business leaders, public transportation researchers, the U.S.
Department of Transportation (USDOT) modal administrations, and FTA
staff. This plan is designed to be reviewed and updated periodically, in
conjunction with key stakeholders, to ensure that it remains
strategically relevant, provides leadership regarding new ideas, and
responds to transit industry needs as they are identified.

The plan explains to stakeholders how FTA research fits into the broader
context of transit research conducted by other organizations. FTA cannot
achieve its research objectives in a vacuum. The agency will work in
partnership with its customers and stakeholders to achieve research
goals for the transit industry. FTA will work with its stakeholders on
research aimed at common needs and will help guide the direction of such
research through participation in a variety of partnerships.

This Plan has three parts, each of which answers one of the following
questions: *why* FTA conducts and sponsors transit research; *what* FTA
researches; and *how* FTA conducts and sponsors transit research.
Section 1 presents the impetus for FTA's involvement in transit
research. Section 2 lays out the goals, objectives, strategies, and
performance measures for FTA's research activities. Note that currently
the National Research and Technology Program is the only program over
which FTA exercises discretion in the use of its funds. Section 3
addresses research program administration, including the important issue
of determining how well the research accomplishes the goals of the
program. Section 3 also sets forth the principles for how FTA selects,
manages, evaluates, and undertakes research.

**1. The Purposes of FTA Research**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756733
.anchor}

The central purposes of FTA research are to: (1) provide industry and
policy makers with the information and skills to make good business
decisions with regards to transit technology, operational, and capital
investments; (2) use research results to identify best practices and
share this information with others who can benefit from it; and, (3)
show a range of outcomes that helps direct where future investments
should be made.

Transit plays a major role in achieving important social, economic, and
environmental goals including getting people to work, reducing air
pollution and congestion, improving the mobility of
transportation-disadvantaged persons, and supporting efficient urban and
rural development. This plan positions FTA to act as a catalyst to
foster innovation in the transit industry through exchange of
information and dissemination of technology leading to better designed
and more efficient transit services.

# **FTA Strategic Research Mission**

FTA's Strategic Research Mission is designed to support FTA's vision to
*Make Public Transportation the Mode of Choice in America* (See Figure
1). FTA is committed to a research program that delivers results to the
American public and provides real solutions to the transit industry. To
achieve this mission, FTA has identified five strategic research goals.
These goals flow from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
Strategic Goals and FTA's Core Accountabilities.[^1] Each strategic
research goal has associated research objectives and research strategies
which are fully described in Section 2 of this plan. Performance
measures are in the process of being identified.

**FIGURE 1: FTA's Vision, Strategic Research Mission, and Strategic
Research Goals**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  **FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S VISION**

  ***"Public transportation is the mode of choice in America"***

  **FTA STRATEGIC RESEARCH MISSION**

  ***"Deliver Solutions that Improve Public Transportation"***

  **FTA STRATEGIC RESEARCH GOALS**

  -----------------------------------------------------------------------

FTA seeks a balanced portfolio of transit research efforts. A large
portion of FTA's research programs will be directed towards solving
problems faced by the transit industry. A certain portion will also be
directed towards longer-term research projects. As the Federal agency
responsible for transit, FTA assumes a leadership role in supporting
research unlikely to be undertaken by the private sector, including
long-term, high-risk, high potential payoff investigations of new
technologies. Long-term projects represent an important investment in
the future of the transit industry even though they may have no
immediate tangible benefits. They also inform long-term investment
strategies into the needs of the transit industry 10 to 20 years from
now.

This plan is directed to multiple audiences which have different needs
for information, keeping in mind that the American public is the
ultimate customer of transit services (See Table 1). FTA seeks to
identify research areas of common interest and opportunities to partner
and avoid duplication of effort.

**TABLE 1: Audiences for FTA's Strategic Research Plan and Their Reasons
for Needing Information**

  ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------
  **Audience**     **Reasons for Needing Information**

  Congress and the To help inform funding decisions
  Office of        
  Management and   
  Budget           

  Transit          To help them make use of the results of FTA's research
  providers        and inform their own research activities

  FTA staff        To establish goals and objectives for in-house
                   research and awards of funding to external researchers

  Other DOT &      To work with FTA in identifying areas of common
  Federal agencies interest/overlap and opportunities for collaborative
                   research

  Equipment        To assess their own research activities and priorities
  manufacturers    against the backdrop of FTA's policy and technology
  and systems      priorities and help them work with FTA to identify
  developers       research that may be appropriate for Federal funding

  Industry groups/ To identify research areas of common interest and
  associations     opportunities to work in partnership with FTA and to
                   avoid duplication of effort

  University       To identify research activities that are not only of
  researchers      academic merit but also relevant to FTA's research
                   strategy/priorities

  Wider research   To learn about FTA's priority research areas and
  community        identify areas of common interest
  ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------

**2. Research Plan**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756735 .anchor}

The primary mission of FTA research is to deliver solutions that improve
public transportation (See Figure 1). Of FTA's five Strategic Research
Goals, four are focused on specific areas where FTA should concentrate
its research efforts. However, FTA understands that its research
programs are part of a broader transit industry research effort. The
first goal therefore seeks to provide transit research leadership by
linking all transit research efforts across the industry.

**Goal 1: Provide transit research
leadership**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756736 .anchor}

FTA recognizes that besides federally sponsored research, transit
research is carried out by a number of entities throughout the United
States, including State Departments of Transportation, transit agencies,
universities, and industry-sponsored research. However, FTA alone has
the responsibility for looking at transit research from a national
perspective. Thus, it is important to articulate how the FTA will assert
a leadership role for all transit-related research.

FTA will ensure its research programs are balanced and support national
goals. FTA's Research Programs, as amended by the *Federal Public
Transportation Act of 2005,* are composed of the following major
programs: The National Research and Technology Program (NRTP)[^2], the
National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program, the Transit
Cooperative Research Program (TCRP), and the University Transportation
Centers Program (UTC). FTA also receives considerable funding from the
DOT Intelligent Transportation Systems Program. (Additional information
about each program can be found in Appendix 1.)

As it undertakes research, FTA will first identify and analyze
appropriate candidate methods, techniques or technologies for further
research. This will be followed by testing, demonstrating, and
evaluating these methods, techniques, or technologies. Once completed,
FTA will work to ensure that research results are disseminated for
implementation by the industry, including possible standards
development.

Besides domestically conducted research, FTA will share international
best practices with the U.S. industry. Beyond just the transmittal of
reports, FTA will provide decision-makers with the appropriate tools and
data analysis they need to make informed decisions.

*What strategies are needed*

Objective 1.1 Ensure transit research supports national goals

The FTA will develop an effective and innovative approach to conducting
and promoting transit research. This approach will be strategic in that
it will identify selected research that promises to have high payoffs in
terms of achieving national goals. Our approach will also identify and
attempt to fill existing research gaps. FTA's research funds will also
be highly leveraged by including partners in many of its research
projects and by identifying research that is already taking place.
Finally, FTA will maximize its influence by working with the leadership
of other transit research programs to direct, coordinate, and support
related transit research efforts.

FTA will also seek to ensure its research programs are appropriately
balanced. Most research carried out through the TCRP and UTC programs is
responsive in nature to immediate industry needs, is shorter term, and
typically lower-risk. To create a balanced program, FTA intends to
direct NRTP research to those goal areas that are not otherwise
adequately funded. In addition, the characteristics of that research
will be directed towards more high risk/high reward projects to ensure
an overall balanced portfolio.

Congress has traditionally designated a portion of the NRTP for
specified uses by specific organizations. As this is FTA's only
discretionary research program, this practice severely hampers efforts
to be strategic in nature. In FY 2004, for example, out of \$35.5
million appropriated for the National Planning and Research Program (now
the NRTP), approximately \$9 million was discretionary. This increased
to approximately \$16 million in FY 2005. Thus, the ability of the FTA
to fund research projects that strategically support its mission has
been compromised by the high level of Congressional earmarking and the
extent to which these earmarks support transit industry improvements.

Objective 1.2 Continue to improve research management

To effectively lead transit research, FTA will work to build the
research management capability necessary to deliver excellence in all of
its research programs. This objective seeks to establish mechanisms to
ensure research projects consistently produce high-quality data and
deliverables and to improve the research administration strategies
outlined in Section 3 of this plan. This includes the development of the
research assessment structures necessary to ensure research projects are
carried out with sufficient technical rigor and that they are
appropriately evaluated.

Objective 1.3 Facilitate implementation of research results by the
transit industry

As the transit research leader, FTA's research office envisions itself
as the "go-to" resource to improve transit systems. Therefore, FTA will
continually strive to be aware of other research being done both in the
United States and internationally. To support implementation of results,
the transit industry must receive the information it needs to make
informed decisions about practices and technologies. Information will be
presented in a manner that is useful to decision-makers. However, beyond
just dissemination of results, FTA will analyze and help overcome
barriers to adoption of new practices and technologies by transit
agencies.

+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **GOAL 1. PROVIDE     |                                               |
| TRANSIT RESEARCH      |                                               |
| LEADERSHIP**          |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **OBJECTIVES**        | **STRATEGIES**                                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 1.1 Ensure transit    | -   Strategic Planning                        |
| research supports     |                                               |
| national goals        |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Receive advice on transit research from   |
|                       |     Transit Research Analysis Committee       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Work with State DOT's, universities, and  |
|                       |     the transit industry to coordinate        |
|                       |     research efforts                          |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Ensure a balanced portfolio of research   |
|                       |     projects across FTA research programs     |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 1.2 Continue to       | -   Monitor and implement research best       |
| improve research      |     practices                                 |
| management            |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Measure, control, and compile quality     |
|                       |     research data and deliverables            |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Develop and implement research assessment |
|                       |     processes                                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 1.3 Facilitate        | -   Identify and track domestic and           |
| implementation of     |     international transit research            |
| research results by   |                                               |
| the transit industry  |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Ensure research results are presented in  |
|                       |     a useable format and are easily           |
|                       |     accessible                                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Identify barriers to adoption of          |
|                       |     practices or technologies                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

**Goal 2: Increase transit ridership**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756737
.anchor}

Each year, Americans take over 9 billion trips using public
transportation. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
estimates that more than 31 million trips are taken each weekday, by
more than 14 million people. Public transportation ridership has grown
by nearly 22 percent since 1995, faster than highway or air travel. [^3]
Still, transit's share of the overall "transportation market" remains
small.

This plan identifies increasing transit ridership as a primary goal of
FTA research. In setting this goal, FTA recognizes that increasing
ridership is not an end in itself but rather a means to other ends, such
as increasing mobility, achieving economically vibrant communities,
improving access for the transit dependent, and reducing air pollution.
Transit ridership is a proxy for a range of societal benefits that
derive from increased ridership. This proxy relationship informs the
aims and scope of FTA's research conducted in support of the ridership
goal as well as the development of appropriate measures of research
performance.

The accrual of the benefits of transit depends on attracting riders. If
potential riders fail to take advantage of the convenience of transit,
congestion will strangle our metropolitan areas and harm economic
growth. If public transportation does not enjoy the confidence and
support of elected officials and the public at large, we will not make
the investments necessary to have the capacity to evacuate our cities
when emergencies strike. If elective riders won't choose to ride a
transit bus, we will not be able to sustain transit systems that meet
community mobility needs for those who are dependent on our systems.
This plan seeks to identify solutions to assist the industry to continue
to increase ridership.

*Where research is needed*

Objective 2.1 Identify best practices and technologies to increase
transit ridership

There continues to be a need for a better understanding of public
perceptions and attitudes about transit as FTA and the transit industry
develop strategies to increase ridership. We need to understand why
individuals choose to ride transit, or inversely why they choose not to
ride transit. Research will also identify how to serve existing
passengers better.

FTA will continue to monitor ridership trends to identify why transit
ridership is increasing in some systems and declining in others.
Successful and unsuccessful efforts to increase transit ridership cost
effectively need to be better documented and disseminated within the
transit industry. FTA intends to develop mechanisms for identifying
successful ridership promotion strategies. We will analyze why they were
successful and disseminate the findings of these studies within the
industry.

FTA will also continue to research transit operating practices to
analyze how they affect ridership. This includes new forms of transit
services, parking policies, fare strategies, and service redesigns to
determine which have the potential to attract new and retain existing
riders.

Objective 2.2 Identify and overcome barriers to the adoption of
ridership enhancement techniques

There have been a number of studies examining why transit ridership
increases. TCRP Project J-6, Task 51 was an Evaluation of Recent
Ridership Increases. As with other studies, it found that the most
significant ridership increases took place when the transit agencies
undertook a combination of the following types of initiatives:[^4]

-   Service adjustments -- including service reconfigurations and
    expansion and new service models;

-   Fare and price adaptations -- including introduction of new fare
    media and technologies;

-   Marketing and information initiatives;

-   Shifts in planning orientations -- including increased emphasis on
    strategic planning and customer-oriented planning; and,

-   New efforts in service coordination, collaboration, and partnership
    -- especially those with universities.

Some methods for increasing transit ridership are not a mystery.
However, not all transit agencies are adopting techniques that are most
likely to lead to increased ridership. A recent study completed by the
Mineta Institute for FTA concluded that transit organizations that have
adopted innovative technologies and programs exhibit some of the
following behavioral characteristics:[^5]

-   Ability to overcome high initial costs;

-   Ability to form partnerships;

-   Ability to identify and target market segments;

-   Ability to take or overcome risk; and,

-   Ability to integrate technology with finance, planning, and
    operations.

Future research will examine how to support transit agencies in these
areas. This includes developing new forums for transit agencies as well
as organizations such as the American Public Transportation Association
(APTA), the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), and
the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) to exchange successful and unsuccessful experiences with
attempts to increase ridership.

External factors affecting transit ridership will also be examined.
Transit ridership is affected by a number of factors beyond the direct
control of transit agencies such as the economy and employment levels.
These issues are beyond the primary scope of FTA research. However,
there are other factors on which the transit industry may be able to
exact more influence, such as signal priorities, urban parking policies,
and traffic management.

Objective 2.3 Identify solutions to provide public transportation for
targeted populations

Public transportation services are often targeted at specific population
groups, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, low-income
dependent riders, and reverse commuters. Often elderly travelers are
grouped into the same category as those with disabilities, yet the
travel needs of these populations are likely to be different. Research
is needed to improve our understanding of how best to serve these
populations so that transit services can be improved to serve all
customers' travel needs.

A large and growing proportion of the U.S. population experiences some
type of limitation on their mobility. It is estimated that by the year
2025, 18 percent of the U.S. population will be over the age of 65 and
many will no longer be able to drive.[^6] In 2004, the Surface
Transportation Policy Project reported that on any given day, 50 percent
of non-drivers over 65 years old stay at home, partially because they
lack transportation options, and as a consequence made 15 percent fewer
trips to doctors and 65 percent less social trips.[^7]

Transit agencies have dramatically improved the accessibility of their
systems since the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA). For example, agencies have increased the percentage of lift- or
ramp-equipped buses. Buses with less than 25 seats increased from 79
percent compliance in 1993 to 99 percent compliance in 2003. Articulated
buses increased from 38 percent to 96 percent compliance over the same
period.[^8] Research is needed to identify new methods and technologies
to improve accessibility for all persons to our transit systems.

At the same time, transit services offered to mobility-impaired
populations are often expensive. Research is needed as to how to
efficiently and cost-effectively provide transit service to this growing
segment of the population. This includes coordination of human services
transportation and examining technologies, such as Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS), that can improve accessibility. When
addressing these targeted populations, research will examine "universal
design" solutions that are integrated with mainstream transit systems
and do not necessarily add another layer of service.

Objective 2.4 Identify cost-effective solutions to provide rural public
transportation services

Transit service is also important in rural areas, where currently 40
percent of residents do not have access to public transportations
services and another 25 percent only have minimal access. Providing
service in these areas is vital for the 29 million rural Americans who
are transit-dependent.[^9] This includes seniors, Americans with
disabilities, and low-income families.

Not only are rural services different from urban services, but rural
services themselves are not equal. Research is needed to determine a
reasonable stratification of rural transit services and what are logical
approaches to providing transit services in these disparate rural areas.
This will also include identifying effective performance measures for
demand response services. Coordination of rural services, including
interstate issues, is also important to supporting more cost-effective
operations.

Another avenue for research is examining appropriate vehicles and
technologies, such as ITS, for rural use. Rural services may not require
the large buses that are common in urban areas. Rural transit vehicles
may also have different requirements in terms of terrain and weather.

+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **GOAL 2. INCREASE    |                                               |
| RIDERSHIP**           |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **OBJECTIVES**        | **RESEARCH STRATEGIES**                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 2.1 Identify best     | -   Examine why individuals choose to ride or |
| practices and         |     choose not to ride transit                |
| technologies to       |                                               |
| increase transit      |                                               |
| ridership             |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Determine logical classifications of      |
|                       |     transit travel markets and identify       |
|                       |     appropriate transit services for them     |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Monitor ridership trends to identify best |
|                       |     practices and what hasn't worked          |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Research and demonstrate methods to       |
|                       |     improve services for existing riders      |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Develop and experiment with pricing,      |
|                       |     parking, yield management strategies,     |
|                       |     etc.                                      |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 2.2 Identify and      | -   Examine strategies to overcome hurdles    |
| overcome barriers to  |     faced by transit agencies in adopting new |
| the adoption of       |     methods                                   |
| ridership enhancement |                                               |
| techniques            |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Develop new forums for the exchange of    |
|                       |     successful and unsuccessful experiences   |
|                       |     with transit operator attempts to         |
|                       |     increase ridership                        |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Examine external factors that affect      |
|                       |     ridership that the transit industry can   |
|                       |     influence                                 |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 2.3 Identify          | -   Determine how to expand transit services  |
| solutions to provide  |     to elderly and mobility impaired          |
| public transportation |     populations, with an emphasis on using    |
| for targeted          |     existing systems                          |
| populations           |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Research and demonstrate methods to       |
|                       |     improve coordination of human services    |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Research and demonstrate technologies to  |
|                       |     improve accessibility                     |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 2.4 Identify          | -   Determine classifications of transit      |
| cost-effective        |     services in rural areas                   |
| solutions to provide  |                                               |
| rural public          |                                               |
| transportation        |                                               |
| services              |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Research logical approaches to transit in |
|                       |     rural areas                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Identify parameters for appropriate       |
|                       |     vehicles for rural use                    |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

**Goal 3: Improve capital and operating
efficiencies**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756738 .anchor}

FTA is focused on ensuring that every transit project produces a good
return on investment for the American public. To accomplish this, FTA
has placed increased attention on improving capital and operating
efficiencies. This includes reducing and controlling capital costs of
both infrastructure and vehicles in order to produce projects that are
delivered on time, within budget, and that achieve the ridership
projected. Once a capital investment is in place, return on investment
is maximized by ensuring that operations are both cost effective and
efficient over its useful life.

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity
Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) authorizes a total of \$45.3
billion in guaranteed funding for Federal transit programs for FY 2005
through FY 2009, an increase of 46 percent over the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21^st^ Century (TEA-21) funding. However, requests
for investment in transit infrastructure continue to grow, as evidenced
by the FY 2006 New Starts Report, which recommends funding for 16
existing, 4 anticipated Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGAs), and a
group of 6 other New Starts projects.[^10] FTA needs to continue to seek
to maximize these investments by finding ways to better manage capital
costs for optimum service performance.

At the same time, transit operations face considerable challenges to
control operating costs. Operating expenses, in large part due to the
expansion of existing systems and the addition of new systems, increased
nearly 57 percent between 1991 and 2003 to a total of \$24.2
billion.[^11]

Tied to reducing operating costs, is improving transit operational
efficiencies. One measure of efficiency, the average operating speed of
all transit modes, was 19.6 miles per hour in 2000, down from 20.3 in
1997.[^12] Another measure, miles between major system bus failures, has
shown improvement, increasing by 56 percent from 2001 to 2003. The
transit industry needs information to make appropriate decisions on
service operations. It also requires support to build the capacity, both
of the workforce and the manufacturing industry, to meet these
challenges.

*Where research is needed*

Objective 3.1 Identify practices and technologies to control capital
costs

In 2003, \$13.2 billion was spent in the United States on transit
capital expenses, 57 percent for facilities, guideways, stations, and
administrative buildings, 28 percent for rolling stock, and 15 percent
for other expenses. Almost 40 percent of this funding comes from the
Federal government.[^13] To ensure an appropriate return on these
investments, and to stretch federal funds further, FTA is determined to
identify methods to control capital costs.

To demonstrate the importance it places on controlling capital costs,
FTA has set forth a goal for its executive team that 100 percent of New
Starts projects with FFGAs will not exceed their current baseline cost
estimate by more than five percent. A clear understanding of the
interrelations of cost overruns, cost escalation, and the evolving
nature and scale of major capital projects is necessary to meet this
goal. FTA recognizes that any major construction project involves risk.
Building tunnels, acquiring property, and navigating the unpredictable
process of public involvement are all risky ventures. FTA will continue
to focus on methods to improve risk management.

Research is needed to develop and implement better ways to control costs
through better design and improved methods of cost control. FTA will
work closely with new project sponsors to analyze project costs,
identify important capital cost variables in project design, and to use
this information to help communities design and build cost-effective
transit projects.[^14]

FTA will also examine the capital costs of non-rail vehicles. A study
prepared for FTA indicates that as the number of bus orders continues to
decline, vehicle costs for most types of buses are increasing. In just
one year, the average cost of articulated buses and 40-ft. buses has
increased by more than \$30,000. The average cost of a 40' transit
vehicle increased from \$287,000 in 1999/2000 to \$341,000 in 2004/2005.

The capital cost savings and other potential benefits of utilizing
standards also needs to be better quantified. Typically, standards are
performance-based, and are not specifically developed to save costs. FTA
will examine the development of a package of standards that may help in
controlling costs.

Objective 3.2 Identify solutions to control operating costs

Controlling operating costs remain a challenge for the transit industry.
Operating expenses per unlinked passenger trips increased 37 percent
between 1999 and 2003, greater than the 34.3 percent rate of
inflation.[^15] All modes, except heavy and commuter rail, had increases
greater than inflation

FTA will examine methods to reduce operating costs, including
alternative service delivery providers and automation. Salaries, wages
and fringe benefits account for nearly 80 percent of the total directly
operated expenditures. Fifty-two percent of total expenditures are
devoted to vehicle operations, 20 percent for vehicle maintenance, 10
percent for non-vehicle maintenance, and 17 percent for general
administration.[^16]

Research will also examine life-cycle costing. This includes the impact
of capital expenditures on future operating costs as well as the
operating costs of adopting new practices and technologies.[^17] FTA
will consider the costs and benefits of producing innovative designs and
technologies for bus and rail systems and vehicles. Research will also
identify platforms for systems integration to ensure technologies are
interoperable.

Objective 3.3 Identify methods and technologies to improve transit
operational efficiency

Bus operations remain by far the largest component of transit services
in the United States, comprising 54 percent of vehicle miles, followed
by heavy rail at 18 percent, demand response at 16 percent, commuter
rail at 8 percent, and light rail at 2 percent.[^18] Therefore, given
their share of the market, the most promising opportunities for
operational improvements reside with bus, heavy rail, and demand
response operations.

FTA will seek to identify methods and technologies to improve operations
of fixed route bus and heavy rail services. This will include
examinations of fleet operations and mobility management. It also
includes the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems.

Transit operations continue to be transformed by the rise in demand
response services. The share of vehicle revenue miles for demand
response has steadily increased from slightly more than 7 percent in
1991 to 16 percent in 2003 while the share of vehicle revenue miles for
buses decreased from 62 percent to 54 percent. However, given that
demand response services represent 20 percent of vehicle miles, but less
than 1 percent of unlinked passenger trips, research will focus on
improving the efficiency of demand response services.[^19]

Objective 3.4 Identify solutions to improve transit infrastructure
maintenance

The 2002 Conditions & Performance Report estimates that an annual
capital investment in transit infrastructure of over \$9.1 billion would
be needed to maintain the current condition and performance of public
transit assets. Over \$5.8 billion is needed to rehabilitate and replace
rail assets and over \$3.3 billion is required to rehabilitate and
replace non-rail assets.[^20] Given these requirements, FTA will seek
methods to facilitate and improve the monitoring and maintenance of
transit infrastructure. This includes development of improved and
integrated maintenance and management systems to monitor the state of
defects and repairs on transit systems. FTA will also research the
ability of Geographic Information Systems to improve the capability of
transit systems to track, analyze, and control transit assets.

Objective 3.5 Improve the capacity of the transit industry and workforce

Closely tied to improving capital and operating efficiencies is
improving the capacity of the transit industry. This includes both
developing the transit workforce as well as helping strengthen the
domestic transit industry's suppliers and manufacturers. By improving
the position of the domestic industry, FTA can ensure a market
environment necessary to keep costs of infrastructure and rolling stock
competitive in a global economy.

There are about 351,000 transit workers in the United States, of which
338,000 are involved in transit operations.[^21] Transit agencies often
cite severe problems in recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce, in
part due to technology and demographic changes.[^22] A TCRP Research
Results Digest found that while a number of innovative programs exist,
"the absence of mechanisms that help the industry as a whole learn from
the successes of individual properties means that innovation is not
shared effectively."[^23] Therefore, FTA will focus on filling this gap
to identify and share best practices on workforce development.

Another issue facing the transit industry is the viability of the
non-rail vehicle market. Service is provided by thousands of agencies
within the United States. Almost 2,000 agencies provide bus service and
about 5,300 agencies provide demand response services.[^24] Yet only
about 3,200 buses were built in 2004 and about 2,500 were on order in
January 2005 from about 15 manufacturers.[^25] Therefore, the small size
and fractured nature of the bus market hinders the development of a
strong domestic market.

The 2000 Bus Summit identified the following issues for further
examination:[^26]

-   Improved cooperation and interaction among industry stakeholders
    through communication, information, and the Internet;

-   Vehicle procurement and procurement guidelines;

-   Deployment of new technologies; and,

-   FTA policies and regulations

+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **GOAL 3. IMPROVE     |                                               |
| CAPITAL & OPERATING   |                                               |
| EFFICIENCIES**        |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **OBJECTIVES**        | **RESEARCH STRATEGIES**                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 3.1 Identify          | -   Improve risk management                   |
| practices and         |                                               |
| technologies to       |                                               |
| control capital costs |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Improve design and cost control methods   |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Analyze capital cost variables            |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Identify appropriate standards needs      |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 3.2 Identify          | -   Analyze alternative delivery providers    |
| solutions to control  |                                               |
| operating costs       |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Examine full life-cycle costs of capital  |
|                       |     investments                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Analyze costs of technology adoption on   |
|                       |     operations                                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Identify and analyze platforms for        |
|                       |     systems integration                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 3.3 Identify methods  | -   Research and demonstrate methods to       |
| and technologies to   |     improve bus and heavy-rail efficiency     |
| improve transit       |                                               |
| operational           |                                               |
| efficiency            |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Examine operational delivery strategies   |
|                       |     involving fleet operations, mobility      |
|                       |     management, and ITS                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Analyze technologies and practices to     |
|                       |     improve demand response performances      |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 3.4 Identify          | -   Research improved inspection and          |
| solutions to improve  |     integrated maintenance systems            |
| transit               |                                               |
| infrastructure        |                                               |
| maintenance           |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Examine the use of Geographic Information |
|                       |     Systems to track infrastructure assets    |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 3.5 Improve the       | -   Promote transit workforce development     |
| capacity of the       |     best practices                            |
| transit industry and  |                                               |
| workforce             |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Promote the development of the U.S.       |
|                       |     transit manufacturing industry            |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Strengthen viability of the non-rail      |
|                       |     vehicle market                            |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

**Goal 4: Improve safety and emergency
preparedness**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756739 .anchor}

Transit is one of the safest modes of travel. The National Safety
Council's 2004 "Injury Facts" reports that riding a transit bus is 79
times safer than automobile travel. Transit rail passengers are 42 times
safer than those traveling by auto are.[^27] However, in 2003 there were
234 fatalities reported by transit agencies (most not to passengers) and
about 18,235 injuries reported to FTA.[^28] Therefore, safety remains a
continuing concern of FTA and transit operators.

It is also important to distinguish between safety and security when
discussing transit. Safety involves concerns such as driver training and
performance and vehicle and roadway/guideway design. Security, however,
involves protection against any intentional act or threat of violence or
personal harm, either from a criminal or terrorist act. In the
prevention of security breaches from a terrorism perspective, FTA works
closely with the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation
Security Administration (TSA).

*Where research is needed.*

Objective 4.1 Identify solutions to improve transit safety

As previously mentioned, transit is one of the safest modes of
transportation in the United States. However, given the number of
fatalities and injuries reported on public transportation, FTA will
continue to seek solutions to improve transit safety. To develop
strategies to improve safety, it is important to know where and how
these are occurring. Of the 234 fatalities reported in 2003, buses
accounted for 87, commuter rail 77, heavy rail 49, light rail 17, and
demand response for 4.[^29] Passengers, however, only accounted for 19.7
percent of all fatalities.[^30] Approximately 63% (11,493) of the 18,235
reported injures were on buses.[^31]

Using National Transit Database (NTD) data and working with State
Departments of Transportation and insurance providers, FTA will identify
risk factors that are causing transit incidents to determine which areas
require the most focus. Potential areas to improve transit safety
include improving grade crossing safety, reducing trespassing, improving
vehicle crashworthiness design, and developing collision avoidance
systems. These efforts will be coordinated with DOT sister agencies such
as the Federal Railroad Administration, the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, and the Federal Highway Administration. FTA will
also identify potential barriers to the adoption of these new
technologies and strategies for overcoming these barriers so that
transit agencies will be more able to employ them.

Objective 4.2 Identify solutions to reduce criminal activity

In 2003, there were 5,290 crimes against people (e.g., assault, robbery)
across all transit modes. This translates to only 0.57 incidents per
million trips and only 0.11 incidents per million passenger miles. Given
the modal share of buses, it is not surprising that this mode had the
most incidents overall, 2,500.[^32]

Since the majority of security incidents for bus transit, 76 percent,
occurred onboard buses, security efforts will focus on making vehicles
more secure. By contrast, most rail incidents occurred at stations, so
research efforts will focus on improving station safety. [^33]

Developing methods to reduce fare evasion should also reduce crime as it
is the most common security problem reported, comprising about 37
percent of all security incidents, followed by disorderly conduct at 25
percent.[^34]

Objective 4.3 Identify solutions to improve transit emergency
preparedness

As part of a continuous effort to secure our nation's transit
infrastructure, FTA has undertaken an aggressive nationwide security
program, receiving full cooperation and support from every transit
agency. FTA has conducted risk and vulnerability assessments and
deployed technical assistance teams to help strengthen security and
emergency preparedness plans, and has funded emergency response drills
conducted in conjunction with local fire, police, and emergency
responders.

It is critical to integrate security throughout every aspect of transit
programs, operations, and infrastructure. Public transportation also
plays a critical role in evacuations. Therefore, FTA has implemented a
program to improve public transit security focusing on three priorities:

-   Training all transit employees and supervisors;

-   Improving emergency preparedness; and,

-   Increasing public awareness of security issues.

Research will focus on improving FTA's abilities to meet these three
priorities. This includes identification of best practices, research and
demonstration of technologies, and ensuring results are implemented in
the industry.

+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **GOAL 4. IMPROVE     |                                               |
| SAFETY & EMERGENCY    |                                               |
| PREPAREDNESS**        |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **OBJECTIVES**        | **RESEARCH STRATEGIES**                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 4.1 Identify          | -   Improve grade crossing safety             |
| solutions to improve  |                                               |
| transit safety        |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Improve vehicle crash worthiness and      |
|                       |     occupant protection                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Develop collision avoidance and warning   |
|                       |     systems                                   |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Identify barriers to the adoption of      |
|                       |     safety technologies                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 4.2 Identify          | -   Improve onboard bus and rail security     |
| solutions to reduce   |                                               |
| criminal activity     |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Improve bus and rail station security     |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Analyze and demonstrate methods to reduce |
|                       |     fare evasion                              |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 4.3 Identify          | -   Improve security training for all transit |
| solutions to improve  |     employees and supervisors                 |
| transit emergency     |                                               |
| preparedness          |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Improve emergency preparedness            |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Increase public awareness of security     |
|                       |     issues                                    |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

**Goal 5: Protect the environment and promote energy
independence**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756740 .anchor}

Transit agencies have increasingly focused on incorporating new fuel
technologies to make their systems cleaner and more efficient and to
reduce fuel consumption. This change is in part due to community
pressures and in part due to changes in emission standards set forth by
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and agencies such as the
California Air Resources Board (CARB).

A FY 2005 analysis of electric-drive technologies carried out for FTA
reports that transit agencies' primary interest in cleaner fleets was
driven by regulatory and political pressure to reduce emissions and/or
to bring their region into compliance with Federal air quality
standards.[^35] Specifically, heavy-duty transit bus engines are
regulated by EPA for the following pollutants: particulate matter (PM),
carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hydrocarbon (HC)
emissions. These standards become more stringent in 2007 and again in
2010.

While compressed natural gas (CNG) buses helped meet many of these
goals, and comprised 11 percent of the total bus fleet in 2003, many
transit agencies have been reluctant to deploy CNG buses due to
associated expenses and the performance of these vehicles. [^36]
Therefore, many transit agencies are interested in finding clean
alternatives to CNG, such as ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) with diesel
particulate filters and hybrid-electric buses.

*Where research is needed*

Objective 5.1 Facilitate development of technologies to improve energy
efficiency and reduce transit vehicle emissions

Continuing research, development and demonstration efforts that increase
the efficiency of electric drive buses will enhance their commercial
viability. The current generation of hybrid electric buses relies on
lead acid battery technology that has limitations in terms of weight,
charge acceptance, reliability, durability and cost.[^37] FTA will
examine several different options in the energy storage area to address
these concerns. These options include different battery chemistries,
ultracapacitors, and flywheels. Advancements in power electronics and
control would also prove beneficial to hybrid electric buses. Similar
benefits would be derived from advancements in electrically driven
accessories.

Researching technologies to reduce vehicle weight can also lead to
important reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. The power
required to accelerate a bus and overcome rolling resistance is directly
proportional to vehicle weight. Composite materials are one example of
an FTA research area aimed at reducing vehicle weights.

Over the last decade, the FTA has undertaken a number of research
projects that demonstrate clean vehicle technologies, including
fuel-cell buses, many of them Congressionally directed. To better manage
these projects and to help lead the transit industry into the future,
FTA will analyze and collect data on the performance of these projects.
However, demonstrations of these fuel cell buses are only the first
steps to the commercialization of fuel cell buses, as their cost,
performance, reliability and durability currently do not meet the needs
of transit operators as they are not yet affordable for revenue service.

As it undertakes research in this area, FTA recognizes that other
federal agencies, especially the Department of Energy (DOE) have a much
larger role and significantly more resources to advance the basic
science of these technologies. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 will
provide significant resources for DOE to lead hydrogen and fuel cell
development as well as a program to carryout fuel cell transit bus
demonstrations. FTA will seek to partner with, rather than duplicate
these other basic science research efforts, to ensure the needs of
transit are kept in mind as new systems are developed, and to ensure
that transit is able to implement these technologies and systems once
they are commercially available.

Objective 5.2 Identify and overcome barriers to adoption of clean
technologies

Transit agencies around the country have already begun the process of
deploying clean fuel technologies as they have become available and
affordable, with funds from FTA's Bus and Bus Facility Program. The
percentage of bus fleets nationwide using alternative fuels increased
from 1.2 percent in 1992 to 11.4 percent in 2003, with most using
CNG.[^38]

However, the adoption of alternative fuel systems has been stymied by
several factors. The cost of a hybrid bus is typically more than
\$500,000, while CNG requires additional infrastructure costs of over
\$1.7 million for a single fueling station. And the first 40-ft.
hydrogen fuel cell vehicle produced for the Santa Clara Valley Transit
Authority in California cost more than \$1.6 million. The reliability,
maintenance, and performance of alternative fuels and propulsion systems
are also important factors that require further development before they
will be practical for widespread transit revenue service.[^39]

FTA will provide transit agencies and policy makers with the information
they need to make appropriate investment decisions on these
technologies. FTA will also research policies and methods to facilitate
the adoption of cleaner technologies.

+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **GOAL 5. PROTECT THE |                                               |
| ENVIRONMENT &**       |                                               |
|                       |                                               |
| **PROMOTE ENERGY      |                                               |
| INDEPENDENCE**        |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| **OBJECTIVES**        | **RESEARCH STRATEGIES**                       |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 5.1 Facilitate        | -   Improve energy storage systems            |
| development of        |                                               |
| technologies to       |                                               |
| improve energy        |                                               |
| efficiency and reduce |                                               |
| transit vehicle       |                                               |
| emissions             |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Develop more advanced electric drive      |
|                       |     technologies                              |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Research to decrease vehicle weights      |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Evaluate fuel cell deployment results     |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
| 5.2 Identify and      | -   Provide transit agencies with up-to-date  |
| overcome barriers to  |     information on clean fuel technologies    |
| adoption of clean     |                                               |
| technologies          |                                               |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+
|                       | -   Develop methods to improve reliability,   |
|                       |     maintainability and performance of clean  |
|                       |     fuel technologies                         |
+-----------------------+-----------------------------------------------+

> .

**3. Administering the FTA Strategic Research
Plan**[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756741 .anchor}

The FTA approach to conducting and undertaking transit research is
focused on meeting the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Research
& Development Investment Criteria. There are three criteria: relevance;
quality; and performance, and they apply to all Federal R&D programs. An
additional fourth section lays out criteria for programs such as FTA's
that are designed to develop technologies that address industry issues.
The FTA plan is designed to position the agency as a *catalyst* for
change in how the country views and uses transit services.

***Relevance of Research***[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756742 .anchor}

As laid out by OMB, research programs must have clear plans, must be
relevant to national priorities, agency missions, relevant fields, and
"customer" needs, and must justify their claim on taxpayer resources.
Review committees should assess program objectives and goals on their
relevance to national needs, "customer" needs, agency missions, and the
fields of study the program strives to address.

*Strategies*

FTA intends to meet this requirement through the Strategic Planning
Process. Section 1 & 2 of this Strategic Plan lay out the need for
Federal transit research, the role of FTA, our strategic goals, and
outcomes we hope to achieve.

In 2004, FTA supported the establishment of the Transit Research
Analysis Committee (TRAC) at the National Academies Transportation
Research Board. The TRAC is comprised of twelve transit professionals
who serve in an advisory capacity to the FTA. The TRAC makes
recommendations to FTA on transit research and advises FTA on its
strategic research agenda and measurement methods. TRAC members are
appointed by the President of the National Academies and serve on a
rotating basis with initial terms of one to three years in length. The
list of current TRAC members is included in Appendix A. The TRAC has
been instrumental in reviewing and commenting on drafts of the Strategic
Plan and will continue to do so in the future.

The TRAC provides an independent review and assessment of the needs of
the public transportation industry that could be met through future
investment in a national research and technology program. The committee
will advise FTA as it develops a strategic agenda for transit research
and will identify the roles that FTA and industry stakeholders could
play in carrying out that agenda. The committee will advise FTA
regarding:

1\. The Federal role in transit research, relative to the roles and
activities of others (private sector, Transit Cooperative Research
Program \[TCRP\], states, universities, etc.) engaged in transit
research:

2\. High-priority opportunities proposed by the agency; and,

3\. Processes that should be in place to ensure that the FTA receives
the input and cooperation of transit research stakeholders in developing
a Federal research program.

***Quality of Research***[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756743 .anchor}

Federal research programs are required to maximize the quality of the
R&D they fund through the use of clearly stated, defensible methods for
awarding a significant majority of their funding through competitive,
merit-based processes. A customary method for promoting competitive,
merit-based quality is the use of requests for proposals with peer or
expert panel selection processes. Program quality must be assessed
periodically through expert review.

*Strategies*

FTA's ability to maximize the use of competition to award funds is
dependent on the extent of Congressional direction placed in its
programs. To the maximum extent possible, FTA employs a competitive
process to award research grants. FTA proposes to increase the
percentage of research projects selected in this way on an annual basis.
Additionally, FTA will develop a peer review process for its research
projects to ensure research is undertaken in a quality manner. For a
significant portion of transit research, the Transit Cooperative
Research Program already employs a competitive, merit-based process for
project selection. The TRAC described above will play an instrumental
role in assessing program quality through expert review.

***Performance of Research***[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756744 .anchor}

OMB requires research programs to maintain a set of high-priority,
multi-year objectives with annual performance measures and milestones
that show how one or more outcomes will be reached. Metrics should be
defined not only to encourage individual program performance but also to
promote broader goals, such as innovation, cooperation, education, and
dissemination of knowledge, applications, or tools. Program managers
must demonstrate an ability to manage in a manner that produces
identifiable results. At the same time, taking risks and working towards
difficult-to-attain goals are important aspects of good research
management, especially for basic research. OMB requires research
programs to: track and report relevant program inputs annually; define
appropriate output and outcome measures, schedules, and decision points;
and, document performance annually.

*Strategies*

FTA is in the process of identifying performance metrics for its
research programs. Inputs, such as administrative expenses, are
accounted for and tracked separately. As a follow-on to this Strategic
Plan, FTA will be developing a Multiyear Program Plan to define
schedules and decision points. FTA also uses a Quarterly Review process
to examine the project management of all of its research projects and
will be producing an annual report to document performance.

***Criteria for Developing Technologies That Address Industry
Issues***[]{#__RefHeading___Toc113756745 .anchor}

OMB recognizes that the purpose of some technology demonstration
programs and projects such as FTA's is to introduce some product or
concept into the marketplace. Therefore, public-private partnerships are
encouraged. However, some of these efforts engage in activities that
industry is capable of doing and may discourage or even displace
industry investment that would occur otherwise. OMB requires that
research programs avoid duplicating research in areas that are receiving
funding from the private sector, especially for evolutionary advances
and incremental improvements.

As a condition for Federal investment, substantial market barriers must
exist that hinder the ability of private industry to undertake the
research without Federal involvement. For projects involving the
development of technology, research must focus on substantial
improvements that are necessary for a technology to become commercially
viable for public transportation. Research and development investments
must be relevant to national priorities, agency mission, and transit
customer needs.

*Strategies*

Proposed FTA research projects are evaluated for their estimated
relevance using a graded scorecard system. Each proposed project is
evaluated by FTA on the following criteria: (1) to what extent does the
proposed research project support the attainment of DOT and FTA goals;
(2) will it produce measurable results; (3) does the proposed research
project need to be carried out by the Federal government; (4) is similar
research being carried out in other projects or by other organizations;
(5) is the project national in scope; (6) is there technological risk
that requires Federal support to overcome; (7) can the results of the
proposed research project be implemented within a reasonable horizon;
and, (8) will the project have an appropriate return on investment.

Once a project is approved, a project evaluation plan is required to be
incorporated into the project's work plan as part of the approval
process. When the evaluation plan is activated in the development phase
of the project, data are collected and analyzed to measure and evaluate
progress. At the culmination of the development phase, a milestone
review guides FTA in determining whether to continue the project.

# Appendix 1. Transit Research Programs

# 

The following tables describe the purpose and funding levels for each of
FTA's research program. In addition, the tables highlight the Strategic
Goals supported by each program as well as general characteristic of the
program in terms of levels of project risk and project timeframes.
Funding levels are those authorized by SAFETEA-LU.

  ----------------- ------------------- -------------- ------------ ----------------
  National Research                                                 
  and Technology                                                    
  Program (49 USC                                                   
  5314, 49 USC                                                      
  5312)                                                             

  Administered by                                                   
  FTA for both                                                      
  earmarked and                                                     
  discretionary                                                     
  research,                                                         
  development,                                                      
  demonstration,                                                    
  and deployment                                                    
  projects. FTA may                                                 
  make grants,                                                      
  contracts,                                                        
  cooperative                                                       
  agreements, or                                                    
  other agreements                                                  
  for research,                                                     
  development,                                                      
  demonstration,                                                    
  and deployment                                                    
  projects, and                                                     
  evaluation of                                                     
  technology of                                                     
  national                                                          
  significance to                                                   
  public                                                            
  transportation.                                                   
  This research                                                     
  should either                                                     
  improve public                                                    
  transportation                                                    
  service or help                                                   
  public                                                            
  transportation                                                    
  service meet the                                                  
  total                                                             
  transportation                                                    
  needs at a                                                        
  minimum cost.                                                     

  Strategic Goals:                                     Risk: Low &  
  Across all 5                                         High Risk    
  areas                                                             

  Timeframe: Short                                     Reward: Low  
  and Long Term                                        & High       
                                                       Reward       

  FY2006            FY2007              FY2008                      FY2009

  \$33,700,000      \$36,400,000        \$40,600,000                \$44,450,000
  ----------------- ------------------- -------------- ------------ ----------------

  ---------------- ------------------- -------------- ------------ ----------------
  National Fuel                                                    
  Cell Bus                                                         
  Technology                                                       
  Development                                                      
  Program (49 USC                                                  
  5309, Federal                                                    
  Public                                                           
  Transportation                                                   
  Act of 2005)                                                     

  FTA will award                                                   
  three projects                                                   
  to                                                               
  geographically                                                   
  diverse                                                          
  recipients to                                                    
  conduct fuel                                                     
  cell bus                                                         
  technology and                                                   
  infrastructure                                                   
  research to                                                      
  facilitate the                                                   
  development of                                                   
  commercially                                                     
  available fuel                                                   
  cell bus                                                         
  technology.                                                      

  Strategic Goal:                                     Risk: High   
  Environment &                                       Risk         
  Energy                                                           

  Timeframe: Long                                     Reward: High 
  Term                                                Reward       

  FY2006           FY2007              FY2008                      FY2009

  \$11,250,000     \$11,500,000        \$12,750,000                \$13,500,000
  ---------------- ------------------- -------------- ------------ ----------------

  ---------------- ------------------- ------------- ------------ ----------------
  Transit                                                         
  Cooperative                                                     
  Research Program                                                
  (TCRP) (49 USC                                                  
  5313)                                                           

  Administered by                                                 
  the                                                             
  Transportation                                                  
  Research Board                                                  
  of the National                                                 
  Academies of                                                    
  Sciences, TCRP                                                  
  funds research                                                  
  for innovative                                                  
  near-term                                                       
  solutions in                                                    
  response to the                                                 
  needs of transit                                                
  service                                                         
  providers.                                                      
  Projects are                                                    
  competitively                                                   
  selected for a                                                  
  variety of                                                      
  transit research                                                
  fields including                                                
  planning,                                                       
  service                                                         
  configuration,                                                  
  equipment,                                                      
  facilities,                                                     
  operations,                                                     
  human resources,                                                
  maintenance,                                                    
  policy, and                                                     
  administrative                                                  
  practices.                                                      

  Strategic Goals:                                   Risk: Low    
  Loosely aligned                                                 
  to 4 goals                                                      

  Timeframe: Short                                   Reward: Low  
  Term                                               & High       

  FY2006           FY2007              FY2008                     FY2009

  \$9,000,000      \$9,300,000         \$9,600,000                \$10,000,000
  ---------------- ------------------- ------------- ------------ ----------------

  ------------------ ------------------- ------------- ------------ ----------------
  University                                                        
  Transportation                                                    
  Centers (UTC) (49                                                 
  USC 5506)                                                         

  Administered by                                                   
  the Research and                                                  
  Innovative                                                        
  Technology                                                        
  Administration,                                                   
  funds are                                                         
  transferred to                                                    
  universities                                                      
  designated by                                                     
  Congress to                                                       
  advance                                                           
  significantly the                                                 
  state-of-the-art                                                  
  in transportation                                                 
  research and                                                      
  expand the                                                        
  workforce of                                                      
  transportation                                                    
  professionals                                                     
  through research,                                                 
  education, and                                                    
  technology                                                        
  transfer.                                                         

  Strategic Goals:                                     Risk: Low    
  Loosely aligned to                                                
  4 goals                                                           

  Timeframe: Short                                     Reward: Low  
  Term                                                              

  FY2006             FY2007              FY2008                     FY2009

  \$7,000,000        \$7,000,000         \$7,000,000                \$7,000,000
  ------------------ ------------------- ------------- ------------ ----------------

+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+
| Intelligent  |                  |      |           |               |
| Tr           |                  |      |           |               |
| ansportation |                  |      |           |               |
| Systems      |                  |      |           |               |
+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+
| Funded by    |                  |      |           |               |
| the ITS      |                  |      |           |               |
| Joint        |                  |      |           |               |
| Program      |                  |      |           |               |
| Office and   |                  |      |           |               |
| managed by   |                  |      |           |               |
| FTA staff,   |                  |      |           |               |
| the mission  |                  |      |           |               |
| of the ITS   |                  |      |           |               |
| Transit      |                  |      |           |               |
| Program is   |                  |      |           |               |
| to enhance   |                  |      |           |               |
| the ability  |                  |      |           |               |
| of the       |                  |      |           |               |
| nation's     |                  |      |           |               |
| public       |                  |      |           |               |
| tr           |                  |      |           |               |
| ansportation |                  |      |           |               |
| systems to   |                  |      |           |               |
| provide      |                  |      |           |               |
| customer     |                  |      |           |               |
| focused,     |                  |      |           |               |
| seamless,    |                  |      |           |               |
| responsive,  |                  |      |           |               |
| and          |                  |      |           |               |
| efficient    |                  |      |           |               |
| end-to-end   |                  |      |           |               |
| mobility for |                  |      |           |               |
| all by       |                  |      |           |               |
| leading the  |                  |      |           |               |
| innovative   |                  |      |           |               |
| development  |                  |      |           |               |
| and          |                  |      |           |               |
| application  |                  |      |           |               |
| of ITS       |                  |      |           |               |
| technologies |                  |      |           |               |
| through      |                  |      |           |               |
| research,    |                  |      |           |               |
| operational  |                  |      |           |               |
| tests/       |                  |      |           |               |
| deployments, |                  |      |           |               |
| evaluation,  |                  |      |           |               |
| training,    |                  |      |           |               |
| and outreach |                  |      |           |               |
| in           |                  |      |           |               |
| coordination |                  |      |           |               |
| and          |                  |      |           |               |
| cooperation  |                  |      |           |               |
| with the     |                  |      |           |               |
| transit      |                  |      |           |               |
| industry.    |                  |      |           |               |
|              |                  |      |           |               |
| FTA          |                  |      |           |               |
| participates |                  |      |           |               |
| in the       |                  |      |           |               |
| following    |                  |      |           |               |
| ITS          |                  |      |           |               |
| initiatives: |                  |      |           |               |
| Integrated   |                  |      |           |               |
| Corridor     |                  |      |           |               |
| Management   |                  |      |           |               |
| Systems;     |                  |      |           |               |
| Integrated   |                  |      |           |               |
| Vehicle      |                  |      |           |               |
| Based Safety |                  |      |           |               |
| Systems;     |                  |      |           |               |
| Mobility     |                  |      |           |               |
| Services for |                  |      |           |               |
| All          |                  |      |           |               |
| Americans.   |                  |      |           |               |
| FTA is also  |                  |      |           |               |
| exploring    |                  |      |           |               |
| Vehicle      |                  |      |           |               |
| Assist and   |                  |      |           |               |
| Automation   |                  |      |           |               |
| Systems for  |                  |      |           |               |
| Transit      |                  |      |           |               |
| Operations   |                  |      |           |               |
+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+
| Strategic    |                  |      | Risk: Low |               |
| Goals:       |                  |      | & High    |               |
| Across first |                  |      |           |               |
| 4 areas      |                  |      |           |               |
+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+
| Timeframe:   |                  |      | Reward:   |               |
| Short and    |                  |      | Low &     |               |
| Long Term    |                  |      | High      |               |
+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+
| FY2006       | FY2007           | FY   |           | FY2009        |
|              |                  | 2008 |           |               |
+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+
| \            | \$9,000,000\*    | \    |           | \$9,000,000\* |
| $9,000,000\* |                  | $9,0 |           |               |
|              |                  | 00,0 |           |               |
|              |                  | 00\* |           |               |
+--------------+------------------+------+-----------+---------------+

-   Estimate based on TEA-21 averages

  ------------------- ------------------- -------- ------------ ----------------
  Small Business                                                
  Innovative Research                                           
  Program                                                       

  Congress                                                      
  established the                                               
  Small Business                                                
  Innovation Research                                           
  (SBIR) Program to                                             
  stimulate                                                     
  technological                                                 
  innovation, utilize                                           
  small business to                                             
  meet federal                                                  
  research and                                                  
  development needs,                                            
  encourage                                                     
  participation by                                              
  minority and                                                  
  disadvantaged                                                 
  businesses in                                                 
  technological                                                 
  innovation, and                                               
  increase private                                              
  sector                                                        
  commercialization                                             
  of innovations                                                
  derived from                                                  
  federal R&D.                                                  

  Strategic Goals:                                 Risk: Low &  
  Across first 4                                   High         
  areas                                                         

  Timeframe: Short                                 Reward: Low  
  Term                                             & High       

  FY2006              FY2007              FY2008                FY2009

  Funding is derived                                            
  as a 2.6% takedown                                            
  of research and                                               
  research &                                                    
  development                                                   
  projects from the                                             
  programs described                                            
  above.                                                        
  ------------------- ------------------- -------- ------------ ----------------

The following are additional programs administered in connection with
FTA's research program. They are mainly involved in training and
technical assistance, rather than research or demonstration. They assist
in the deployment of best practices and technologies.

  ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- ----------------
  National Transit                                         
  Institute (49                                            
  USC 5315)                                                

  Administered by                                          
  Rutgers                                                  
  University, the                                          
  National Transit                                         
  Institute                                                
  develops and                                             
  conducts                                                 
  training for                                             
  Federal, State,                                          
  and local                                                
  transportation                                           
  officials and                                            
  members of the                                           
  transit industry                                         
  on public                                                
  transportation                                           
  issues.                                                  

  FY2006           FY2007              FY2008              FY2009

  \$4,300,000      \$4,300,000         \$4,300,000         \$4,300,000
  ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- ----------------

  ------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------
  Bus Testing                                                
  Facility (49 USC                                           
  5309, 49 USC 5318)                                         

  Administered by                                            
  Penn State                                                 
  University, all                                            
  new bus models                                             
  acquired using FTA                                         
  funds must be                                              
  tested at the                                              
  facility for                                               
  maintainability,                                           
  reliability,                                               
  safety,                                                    
  performance                                                
  (including braking                                         
  performance),                                              
  structural                                                 
  integrity, fuel                                            
  economy,                                                   
  emissions, and                                             
  noise.                                                     

  FY2006             FY2007              FY2008              FY2009

  \$3,000,000        \$3,000,000         \$3,000,000         \$3,000,000
  ------------------ ------------------- ------------------- ----------------

  ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- ----------------
  Project ACTION                                           
  (49 USC 5314)                                            

  Administered by                                          
  the Easter Seals                                         
  Society of                                               
  America for                                              
  demonstration                                            
  programs,                                                
  research, public                                         
  education, and                                           
  other activities                                         
  to help mass                                             
  transportation                                           
  providers comply                                         
  with the                                                 
  Americans with                                           
  Disabilities                                             
  Act.                                                     

  FY2006           FY2007              FY2008              FY2009

  \$3,000,000      \$3,000,000         \$3,000,000         \$3,000,000
  ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- ----------------

  ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- ----------------
  National                                                 
  Technical                                                
  Assistance                                               
  Center for                                               
  Senior                                                   
  Transportation                                           
  (49 USC 5314)                                            

  Provider to be                                           
  selected                                                 
  competitively.                                           
  Will provide                                             
  grants and                                               
  technical                                                
  assistance for                                           
  senior                                                   
  transportation                                           
  programs                                                 

  FY2006           FY2007              FY2008              FY2009

  \$1,000,000      \$1,000,000         \$1,000,000         \$1,000,000
  ---------------- ------------------- ------------------- ----------------

# Appendix 2 -- Stakeholders and the Transit Research Analysis Committee

+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| **Key Stakeholders**              | **Transit Research Analysis       |
|                                   | Committee**                       |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
| [Federal Government]{.underline}  | Michael S. Townes, Chair          |
|                                   |                                   |
| Federal Highway Administration    | *Hampton Roads Transit, Hampton,  |
| (FHWA)                            | VA*                               |
|                                   |                                   |
| Federal Motor Carrier Safety      | Karen Antion                      |
| Administration (FMCSA)            |                                   |
|                                   | *Karen Antion Consulting,         |
| Federal Railroad Administration   | Stamford, CT*                     |
| (FRA)                             |                                   |
|                                   | J. Barry Barker                   |
| ITS Joint Program Office          |                                   |
| (ITS/JPO)                         | *Transit Authority of River City, |
|                                   | Louisville, KY*                   |
| National Highway Traffic Safety   |                                   |
| Administration (NHTSA)            | David Bayliss                     |
|                                   |                                   |
| Research and Innovate Technology  | *Halcrow Group, London, England*  |
| Administration (RITA)             |                                   |
|                                   | Ronald L. Epstein                 |
| USDOT Research and Technology     |                                   |
| Coordinating Council (RTCC)       | *New York State Department of     |
|                                   | Transportation, Albany, NY*       |
| U.S. Department of Energy         |                                   |
|                                   | Santo A. Grande                   |
| U.S. Department of Homeland       |                                   |
| Security                          | *Delmarva Community Services,     |
|                                   | Inc., Cambridge, MD*              |
| U.S. Congress                     |                                   |
|                                   | Delon Hampton                     |
| [Non-Federal]{.underline}         |                                   |
|                                   | *Delon Hampton and Associates,    |
| American Association of State     | Washington, DC*                   |
| Highway Transportation Officials  |                                   |
| (AASHTO)                          | Paul E. Jamieson                  |
|                                   |                                   |
| American Public Transportation    | *WABCO Transit Division,          |
| Association (APTA)                | Spartanburg, SC*                  |
|                                   |                                   |
| American Society of Civil         | Brian Macleod                     |
| Engineers (ASCE)                  |                                   |
|                                   | *Gillig Corporation, Hayward, CA* |
| Community Transportation          |                                   |
| Association of America (CTAA)     | Clarence W. Marsella, Jr.         |
|                                   |                                   |
| Conference of Minority            | *Denver Regional Transportation   |
| Transportation Officials (COMTO)  | District, CO*                     |
|                                   |                                   |
| Council of University             | Michael H. Mulhern                |
| Transportation Centers (CUTC)     |                                   |
|                                   | *Jacobs Engineering, Boston, MA*  |
| Eno Transportation Foundation     |                                   |
|                                   | Nigel H.M. Wilson                 |
| Institute of Transportation       |                                   |
| Engineers (ITE)                   | *Massachusetts Institute of       |
|                                   | Technology, Cambridge, MA*        |
| ITS America                       |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Private Sector Professional       |                                   |
| Associations Project ACTION       |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Transit Agencies                  |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Transit Suppliers & Manufacturers |                                   |
|                                   |                                   |
| Transportation Research Board     |                                   |
| (TRB)                             |                                   |
+-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

# Stakeholder Meetings

As part of the strategic research plan development process, the
Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation held
the following meetings:

  --------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
  [Dates]{.underline}   [Attendees]{.underline}

  July 23-24, 2003      FTA Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation
                        Staff

  September 4, 2003     Senior Management from across FTA

  September 9, 2003     USDOT Research and Technology Coordinating Council

  September 15, 2003    APTA Hosted Industry Working Session with COMTO,
                        CTAA, Project Action

  January 16, 2004      Industry/Government Dialogue

  April 5-6, 2004       Transit Research Analysis Committee

  December 2-3, 2004    Transit Research Analysis Committee

  July 7-8, 2005        Transit Research Analysis Committee

  August 26, 2005       Transit Research Analysis Committee
  --------------------- ----------------------------------------------------

[^1]: The USDOT Strategic Goals are: Safety, Mobility, Global
    Connectivity, Environmental Stewardship, Security, and
    Organizational Excellence and FTA's Core Accountabilities are:
    Transit Ridership Growth, Safety and Security Readiness, Major
    Project Cost Control, and Grant Processing Efficiency.

[^2]: Formerly the National Research and Planning Program

[^3]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book*, APTA (2005) p. viii.

[^4]: Stanley, Robert G. and Robert Hyman. "Evaluation of Recent
    Ridership Increases." TCRP Research Results Digest (April 2005) p.
    2.

[^5]: Mineta Transportation Institute. "Literature Review: Adoption of
    Innovation in Public Agencies." (June, 2005) p. 10.

[^6]: Bailey, Linda. "Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options."
    Surface Transportation Policy Project (April 2004) p. 3.

[^7]: Bailey, p. 4.

[^8]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. FTA (2005) p. 23.

[^9]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book.* p. xii.

[^10]: *Annual Report on New Starts: Proposed Allocations of Funds for
    Fiscal Year 2006*. FTA (2005) p. 3.

[^11]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 14.

[^12]: *2002 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit:
    Conditions & Performance Report to Congress*, U.S. Department of
    Transportation (2003) p. ES-7.

[^13]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book*. p. 36.

[^14]: Important variables that affect transit construction costs
    include: land acquisition and clearance, the degree of environmental
    impact mitigation, inflation, financing charges, availability of
    right-of-way, number and size of vehicles, stations, tracks, lanes,
    maintenance yards, parking lots or garages, bridges, fare machines,
    etc.

[^15]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 15.

[^16]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 15.

[^17]: Part of the rise in operating costs is due to the increase in
    capital investments. Vehicle revenue miles (the miles a transit
    vehicle travels while in revenue service) increased by nearly 39
    percent between 1991 and 2003. Light rail and demand response
    experienced 139 percent and 193 percent increases respectively.
    *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 6.

[^18]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 11.

[^19]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 11.

[^20]: *2002 Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges, and Transit:
    Conditions & Performance Report to Congress*, U.S. Department of
    Transportation (2003) p. 7-22.

[^21]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book*. p 23.

[^22]: Vogel, Brian H. "Identification of the Critical Workforce
    Development Issues in the Transit Industry" *TCRP Research Results
    Digest* Number 45 (December 2001) p.1.

[^23]: Vogel, p.3.

[^24]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book*. p. 9.

[^25]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book*. p. 53

[^26]: *Proceedings of Bus Summit 2000: Ensuring a Healthy U.S. Bus
    Industry.* FTA (October 2000) pp. 4-7.

[^27]: *Public Transportation Fact Book*. p. xiii.

[^28]: "Transit Safety and Security Statistics and Analysis Annual
    Report, Fatalities by Mode and Year." FTA

[^29]: "Transit Safety and Security Statistics and Analysis Annual
    Report, Fatalities by Mode and Year."

[^30]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends*. p. 21.

[^31]: "Transit Safety and Security Statistics and Analysis Annual
    Report, Fatalities by Mode and Year."

[^32]: *Safety & Security Newsletter*. Volume 2, issue 1 FTA (Spring
    2004) p. 6.

[^33]: Ibid.

[^34]: *2005 Public Transportation Fact Book*. p. 30.

[^35]: Callaghan, Lisa and Sheila Lynch. "Analysis Of Electric Drive
    Technologies For Transit Applications:

    Battery-Electric, Hybrid-Electric, and Fuel Cells." FTA (August
    2005) pp. 7-8.

[^36]: Callaghan, p. 8.

[^37]: Callaghan, p. 12.

[^38]: *2003 National Transit Summaries and Trends.* p. 41.

[^39]: Hidalgo and Devries. p. 16.