D1-1-Discipline 1_Transit Planning Studies.pdf

ADOT On-Call Transit Consultant Ser vices | BPM007068DISCIPLINE 1: TRANSIT PLANNING STUDIES targeting both transit riders and broader audiences. We focus on developing concise, well-targeted surveys designed to maximize response rates. Our team is also skilled in publicizing surveys through a variety of channels, including social media, website updates, paid advertising, press releases, email campaigns, and coordination with partner agencies.

STATE DOT EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Parametrix works closely with state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) across the western United States, serving as an extension of agency staff. We support improved coordination with grant subrecipients and rural counties, helping streamline communication and enhance program delivery. Recent experience supporting state DOTs includes:

NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (NDOT)

■ Rural Transit Program Support: Provided oversight and assistance administering NDOT’s Rural Public Transit Program, including FTA Section 5304, 5310, 5311, and 5339 grants.

■ Rural County Engagement: Developed a framework to facilitate coordination between NDOT and Nevada’s 14 rural counties, including a detailed engagement plan and staff process manual.

■ Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Assistance: Provided program implementation assistance, including internal NDOT staff training and applicant outreach and education.

■ Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Support: Facilitated coordination between NDOT and the state’s four Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), completed detailed staff training materials, and developed a consolidated process document.

UTAH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (UDOT)

■ Central Corridor: Developed a feasibility study on the preferred transit mode and alignment connecting a rural area in Utah County, which is expected to more than double in population by 2050. This included a two-tiered alternatives analysis process, as well as extensive public and stakeholder engagement.

■ South Valley: Evaluated options for providing expanded regional transit service in the southern portion of Utah County in anticipation of long-term future expansion of the region’s passenger rail network (FrontRunner).

FIRM EXPERIENCE

OVERVIEW

Parametrix is a 100% employee-owned firm with over 56 years of experience providing quality services. Our team of over 850 professionals provides comprehensive multidisciplinary services, including multimodal and transit planning, design and engineering, environmental clearance, performance-based programming, agency collaboration, and community engagement. We collaborate with our clients to understand their goals and deliver thoughtful, innovative solutions to create lasting value in their communities.

The Parametrix team has experience conducting transit planning studies for a variety of community types and sizes. Our work spans the spectrum of feasibility studies, operations planning, short- and long-range plans, route and system planning, and complementary infrastructure such as Complete Streets and active transportation elements.

Parametrix also has staff who are adept at travel forecasting and modeling, using most of the major systems and platforms available. Traffic Forecasting and Modeling Lead Jennifer John is a recognized industry leader in transit ridership forecasting using Remix and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Simplified Trips-on-Project Software (STOPS) model.

Parametrix strongly values meaningful engagement with stakeholders, agencies, and communities, and employs a variety of effective tools to support and enhance outreach efforts. We can lead or support survey efforts

During her time at the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), Jennifer Valentine served as the project manager for four of the agency’s key transit feasibility studies, including the Regional Bus Rapid Transit Feasibility Study, Regional Commuter Bus Feasibility

Study, Avondale-Goodyear Transit Study, and the Gila River Indian Community Transit Feasibility Study. In her role as project manager, Jennifer facilitated extensive coordination between MAG staff, consultant teams, and member agency technical staff.

NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (NMDOT)

■ Context Sensitive Solutions Guidelines: Currently developing design guidelines and a GIS tool to help define context using factors like roadway functional class, land use, environmental resources, and historic properties.

■ Capital Programs and Investments Support: Serves as a trusted advisor to NMDOT via their Capital Programs On-Call. We provide grant writing, process and procedure manual development, and resource augmentation services.

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (ODOT)

■ Oregon Public Transportation Plan: Developed a plan to guide future development of the statewide public transportation system.

■ Mobility Hubs Feasibility Study and Pilot Project: Supported ODOT and the City of Bend in developing mobility hub best practices and typologies to address first/last mile access to transit needs.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES AND APPROACH

Although each plan or study will be unique, there are common elements among transit planning studies. Our team’s approach to and experience with each of these key elements is summarized in the following sections.

EXISTING CONDITIONS ANALYSIS

We will use data and analysis to build a shared understanding of existing transit service. Data is an important starting point for any plan or study, bringing objectivity and setting the stage for needs identification. Transit planning studies provide an opportunity to evaluate existing transit systems using data to identify how service hours, staffing, and capital can be best allocated to improve access and increase ridership, especially for vulnerable populations.

Parametrix is adept at analyzing ridership trends by time, day, direction, and key stops, and using tools like Replica to understand shifts in travel patterns and better inform service improvements. When appropriate, we also consider alternatives to fixed-route service that provide additional flexibility for lower density areas.

FORECASTING FUTURE NEEDS

Our team has extensive experience working with most major modeling programs and software, including ArcGIS, Synchro, STOPS, Remix, and regional travel demand models. Our modeling specialists, Jennifer John and Amir Almotahari, have a strong understanding of the inputs, drivers, and nuances involved in modeling across various geographic scales, including the regional and corridor levels.

DEVELOPING CONTEXT-APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS

There is no “one-size-fits-all” transit solution. Land use patterns, key community origins and destinations, demographics, and other factors influence the potential viability of different types of solutions. The Parametrix team brings extensive experience developing transit planning studies for diverse communities across the country. We have worked in rural, suburban, and urban areas, and understand the unique mobility needs of different types of communities. Our team is intimately familiar with the role and benefits of various types of transit services, including fixed-route bus, demand-response, paratransit, high-capacity transit (HCT), commuter bus, community circulators, and microtransit.

OUR SERVICES

■ Transit Feasibility Studies

■ Transit Service Implementation Plans

■ Transit Operations Planning Studies

■ Transit Facility Planning

■ Transit Marketing Plans

■ Short-Range Transit Plans

■ Regional Mobility and Coordination Planning

■ Ridership Surveys

■ Origin and Destination Studies

■ Route Planning

■ System Efficiency Studies

■ Regional Planning with a Transit Component

■ Travel Forecasting and Modeling

■ Bicycle and Pedestrian Network Studies

■ Complete Streets Studies

■ Safety Plans

■ Transit Asset Management Plans

■ Statewide Transit Planning

COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Parametrix is well known for developing and implementing inclusive, effective, and purposeful engagement. We tailor engagement activities to the type of feedback we hope to receive and offer a variety of tools to facilitate this process. Potential engagement tools for use in Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) transit planning studies include:

We will involve key project stakeholders early in the planning process and provide meaningful opportunities for engagement throughout the course of planning studies.

■ Virtual or in-person public meetings

■ Pop-up community events

■ General (stakeholder or community) surveys about needs, perceptions, and preferences

■ On-board rider surveys

■ Online comment maps

■ ArcGIS StoryMaps or project web pages

■ Infographics, 3D visualizations, and before and after renderings

Parametrix’s ENGAGE Virtual Public Meeting Room

Our team has a proven history of carrying out highly inclusive studies that result in broad consensus and implementable transit route and service solutions.

MARKET ANALYSES

For many transit planning studies, a market analysis is a useful tool to inform recommendations for new or enhanced transit service, including mode, frequency, and other service characteristics. As part of a market analysis, our team considers:

The underlying demand for transit service. Although transit ridership data provides us with information about usage of existing service offerings, additional analysis is needed to understand latent demand in areas where service is not currently provided. Data collected during the existing conditions work will help us understand which areas are most likely to have a high latent demand for transit service. Key data points often include population and employment densities, socioeconomic characteristics that correspond with transit ridership, land use patterns, and the presence (or absence) of supportive first- and last- mile solutions.

Trip origins and destinations. Our team has experience using a variety of modeling platforms to analyze travel flows. Our modeling experts, Jennifer John and Amir Almotahari, have a strong understanding of the inputs, drivers, and nuances involved in modeling across various geographic scales, including the regional and corridor levels.

Discrepancies between demand and existing or planned service. The final step in a market analysis is overlaying existing or planned service onto areas of high demand to identify notable gaps. This information will serve as a critical input to developing efficient, equitable, and cost-effective route and service recommendations.

OPERATIONS AND SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS

As part of most planning studies, our team will consider the following types of service enhancements and associated capital improvement needs:

■ Additional modes, such as express bus, vanpool, microtransit, and ridesharing/taxi partnerships

■ Additional local bus routes

■ Enhancements to existing routes, including:

» Routing and bus stop location modifications

» Change in service frequency

» Transit stop types and spacing

» Fleet evaluation

» Passenger facilities and amenities

» Transit corridor improvements

» Regional coordination among routes and services

» Coordination with non-motorized plans and studies

» Bus stop ADA accessibility improvements

» Safety and security strategies

■ Emerging technology integration, including transit signal priority integrated with intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and automated data analysis and management using traffic camera feeds, as appropriate

■ New or enhanced regional connections

A data-driven framework can be used to compare alternatives, considering factors such as population and key destinations served, ridership potential, land use compatibility, and technical feasibility. We will integrate community input into the analysis of alternatives to reflect local priorities whenever possible. The evaluation will also include operating cost estimates for proposed services, as well as any impacts on paratransit service requirements. A Title VI analysis will be incorporated into technical studies to make sure equity considerations are addressed.

FIRST/LAST MILE SOLUTIONS AND MOBILITY HUBS

Our team has experience integrating transit with effective first- and last-mile solutions, recognizing that most transit trips require another mode to reach both origins and destinations. We regularly work on plans to improve access to all types of transit, including complementary pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements, mobility hubs, bicycle and scooter share, and ADA/Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) compliance. Team member Eddie Montejo recently led the development of ODOT’s Mobility Hubs Feasibility Study and Pilot Project, and brings national expertise in planning and designing mobility hubs for a variety of community types and sizes.

As part of most transit planning studies, our team evaluates multimodal access to existing bus stops, considering factors such as network connectivity (e.g., infrastructure/walkability, safety, user experience), stop-level ridership, parking availability, and surrounding land use, including Transit-Oriented Development potential. By combining this analysis with tools like travel demand modeling, we will identify strategies—such as improved crossings and micromobility options—that enhance access and extend the reach of transit. Regional connectivity can also be an important consideration, including programs like vanpool, microtransit, and the potential for express/ commuter bus routes to targeted destinations.

Mobility hub rendering created by Parametrix for ODOT

Parametrix was selected by NDOT to support the administration and provide oversight of its Rural Public Transit Program, including subrecipient compliance monitoring and policy development. Leveraging experience from NDOT’s Rural County Engagement Revitalization (RCER) and TAP, the team streamlined the application process for FTA Section 5304, 5310, 5311, and 5339 grants; developed accessible guidance materials; and conducted training workshops for subrecipients. As an extension of NDOT staff, Parametrix provided coordination with local agencies, reviewed reimbursement materials, and implemented a comprehensive oversight program that included desk and on-site reviews, corrective action tracking, and documentation of compliance performance.

PROJECT EXAMPLES

RURAL PUBLIC TRANSIT PROGRAM ASSISTANCE

Project Duration: 2024 – 2025

Client: NDOT

Key Staff: Amy Cummings, Jillian Emery, Jennifer Valentine, Jackie Kuechenmeister, Dan Doenges

Reference: Guinevere Hobdy, Multimodal Program Development Assistant Chief, 775.888.7219, ghobdy@dot.nv.gov

Project Duration: 2021 – ongoing

Client: Spokane Transit Authority (STA)

Key Staff: Amy Cummings, Jennifer Valentine, Jennifer John, Jillian Emery, Sam Erickson

Reference: Don Skillingstad, Sr. Project Manager, 509.344.1869, dskillingstad@spokanetransit.com

DIVISION STREET BUS RAPID TRANSIT

Parametrix is evaluating station locations, routing, transit performance, general purpose traffic impacts, active transportation access to transit, and transit centers for STA’s Division Street Bus Rapid Ttransit (BRT) project. The project includes the development of an operating plan and associated financial plan, as well as transit ridership forecasting, which incorporates linkages to the regional transit network. We assessed local land use policies, zoning regulations, parking requirements, and development review processes to evaluate how effectively they encourage transit-supportive development and affordable housing. We have developed a robust, inclusive, and transparent stakeholder and community engagement plan to make sure all voices are heard, particularly those in historically underserved populations.

COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES PLAN UPDATE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY

Project Duration: 2025 – ongoing

Client: Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO)

Key Staff: Dan Doenges, Jennifer Valentine, Jillian Emery, Sam Erickson, Amy Cummings

Reference: Kelly Norman, Senior Transportation Planner, 775.283.7525, knorman@carson.org

Parametrix is assisting CAMPO with updates to their Regional Transportation Plan, Coordinated Human Services Plan (CHSP), Short-Range Transit Plan, and long-term transit vision. Our team is providing technical analysis, public engagement, and preparation of core Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) documents. One of the outcomes of the CHSP will be enhanced coordination with senior service providers and non-profit organizations to better assist clients with transportation options to essential services and medical appointments. Other tasks include support for project prioritization, performance management, and financial analysis.

Project Duration: 2019 – 2020

Client: Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG)

Key Staff: Jennifer Valentine (MAG Project Manager)

Reference: Audra Koester Thomas, Assistant Executive Director/Chief of Staff, 602.254.6300, akthomas@azmag.gov

Jennifer Valentine served as MAG’s project manager for the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) Transit Feasibility Study, which assessed the need for expanded transit service within the Community and identified potential regional connections through inclusive public engagement.

Final recommendations were delivered in five phases, combining service improvements such as extended hours, regional connections, better bus stops and shelters, and a potential transit center based on growth. Jennifer led coordination with GRIC staff, stakeholders, and the consultant team throughout the study.