MPC
Research Projects (2002-03)

Identifying Number

MPC-227

Project Title

Small Urban University Transit: A Case Study

University

North Dakota State University

Project Investigator

Jill Hough
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
North Dakota State University
(701)231-8082
jill.hough@ndsu.edu

Ayman Smadi
Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
North Dakota State University
(701)231-8101
ayman.smadi@ndsu.edu

External Project Contact

N/A

Project Objective

To design and develop an internal campus transit system that serves the close proximity to campus and interfaces with the city-wide system to better meet the needs of the expanding NDSU campus. The study will assess the possibilities of implementing a university transit service that meets user needs and takes advantage of advanced technologies (i.e., ITS). The development of the system would capitalize on university students and faculty resources within the programs of engineering and business. The study will identify users' preferred transit characteristics and technologies and their willingness to use transit services.

Project Abstract

University campuses have unique transportation requirements that may be characterized with a high concentration of trips during multiple peak periods (ile., morning, lunch, and afternoon). These campuses are often the largest employers in small to medium size cities and it is therefore critical to coordinate campus mobility needs with the overall transportation system. Many colleges and universities recognize transit as an effective mode for meeting campus mobility and have developed transit systems to serve those needs. However, successful campus transit systems include several factors such as careful planning, understanding user preferences, efficient design of system services, and coordination with existing city transit service. Universities are not homogenous (i.e., enrollment levels, campus location, size of community) so they will have different needs. This study will examine these factors through a case study of North Dakota State University (NDSU).

NDSU has an enrollment of approximately 10,500 students and employs just over 2,000 full-time faculty and staff, most of them living in the Fargo and Moorhead community area (two joint cities). The NDSU campus has experienced exceptional growth the past couple of years and has forecasted continued growth to more than 11,000 students next year. The campus is already experiencing parking problems. Growth with additional programs such as Equine studies will require further expansion of the land used to house the buildings and programs of study. The architecture, landscape architecture and visual arts program are scheduled to utilize buildings in downtown Fargo, requiring students to travel off-campus to take classes. In addition, NDSU is one of three colleges in the Fargo-Moorhead area which make up the Tri-College (in addition to NDSU, Concordia College and Minnesota State University-Moorhead). Students in the Tri-College program take classes from the three universities and are required to travel among the three campuses. NDSU has also expanded to include a research park housing businesses that use some of the campus facilities as well as employ students.

Task Descriptions

• Task 1 – Create a Project Advisory Committee. The committee would consist of student body representatives and campus faculty, and a faculty member from Penn State University. (July 2002)
• Task 2 – Conduct a literature review. Review studies that address university transportation issues. (August 2202)
• Task 3 – Conduct site visit to a university that has implemented a successful transit system. Potential site visits include: University of California - Davis; Penn State University; and Colorado State University, Fort Collins. CO. (September 2002)
• Task 4 – Develop the study sample frame. Develop surveys for student body based on the literature review and site visit information. Develop surveys for faculty based on the literature review and site visit information. Questionnaires will be tested by sending each to a select number of university representatives. (January 2003)
• Task 5 – Conduct the initial survey and collect the necessary data. Mail survey to faculty and students. Input survey data. Analyze the data collected in each survey. (March 2003)
• Task 6 – Develop written report. Develop an executive summary to the research findings. Deliver the written report and executive summary to MPC and NDSU President. (June 2003)

Milestones, Dates

• Starting Date: July 1, 2002
• Ending Date: June 30, 2002

Yearly and Total Budget

$20,000

Student Involvement

One undergraduate student.

Relationship to Other Research Projects

N/A

Technology Transfer Activities

N/A

Potential Benefits of the Project

The findings from this study would be useful to other universities investigating implementing a transit system to service their campus.

TRB Keywords

University public transportation