Learning About Our Customer: The Results of the 1994 Keystone Rail Service On-Board Survey

摘要

Local passenger rail service on AMTRAK's Harrisburg to Philadelphia corridor isknown as the Keystone Service. As recently as 1980, Keystone trains carried as many as one million passenger trips per year; however, ridership has fallen steadily to less than one third this level. This precipitous drop can be attributed to at least two factors. First, the frequency and quality of the service has declined over the past decade. Second, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has expanded its commuter rail service to as far as Parkesburg and siphoned away daily commuters to Philadelphia. The Bureau of Public Transportation (BPT) administers a wide range of grant programs to public and private transportation providers. The BPT had, consequently, requested the participation of the PennDOT/MAUTC Partnership to assist with several tasks related to 'customer service,' as well as to provide technical assistance related to the shared-ride program. Three of the tasks are directly related to the shared-ride program that funds reduced-fare paratransit trips for senior citizens. MAUTC staff have prepared information publications that will assist the BPT in publicizing the programs that it administers, and will provide present and future grantees with the names of contact persons. The shared-ride database to help PennDOT and systems manage performance has also been updated. MAUTC researchers prepared a six-year statistical report for the shared-ride program and provided technical assistance support for a review of shared-ride program regulations.