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The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the Department of Transportation University Transportation Centers Program and the Florida Department of Transportation, in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged assume no liability for the contents or use thereof. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Florida Department of Transportation or the Florida Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged.

Changing demographic, land use, and social characteristics are prompting transit agencies to rethink the traditional business model of operating in a fairly independent manner within their jurisdictional boundaries. As a result, the planning and implementation of regional fare programs ranging from simple interagency agreements to allow for free transfers between systems to complex multi-agency programs with a technology focus have increased in recent years. The continued evolution and increasingly widespread usage of electronic payment technologies have facilitated fare integration efforts by making possible a greater range of payment options and offering a more efficient means of distributing fare media. This report documents recent experiences related to regional fare programs in the United States, with an emphasis on institutional arrangements, technological impacts, customer acceptance, data processing enhancements, and costs and benefits. Five case studies are included to demonstrate a variety of approaches to regional fare coordination. A summary of best practices for the implementation of regional fare programs identified in the literature review and case studies is included for agencies who may be evaluating regional fare program options.

The objective of this project was to develop a guidebook for use by agencies in the process of initiating first time transit systems, as well as to provide a comprehensive overview of the planning and programming aspects of the public transportation environment. The guidebook is designed to act as a consolidated source to inform agency personnel of various activities, procedures and programs related to initiating and continuing to operate a public transit agency. By detailing the wide assortment of information related to starting and operating public transportation agencies, this document was also envisioned as a resource document and transit primer for those employees and policy makers new to the public transit industry. The report provides an overview of the institutional environment that public transit systems must understand, including the Florida DOT and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Federal and state transit funding sources, regulations and requirements are summarized. The key steps involved in the initiation of new transit systems are detailed and general timelines are provided.

The goal of this project was to meet the expressed needs of Florida transit agencies for the development of a guide for special event transportation services that could benefit transit agencies and the organizations they must coordinate with for the provision of services. An overview of transportation planning and management for special events is presented. The current practices of Florida public transit systems involved in supporting special events in their communities is documented. An overview of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) charter regulations is provided, including an outline of the procedures for compliance. Also, a summary of recent pertinent FTA cases and rulings related to charter service provision and special events is provided. Best practices in planning guidelines and strategies are presented for use by transit agencies to improve their involvement in community planned special events.