Comparing Public Transportation Services for Rural States in the Upper Midwest and Great Plains Region

The objective of this research is to compare the level of public transportation services provided in North Dakota to those of surrounding states. The study focuses on North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska (excluding the Omaha metro area), and Minnesota (excluding the Twin Cities metro area). This involves an analysis of the level of service provided, measured in terms of geographic coverage, service availability, number of vehicles in use, and vehicle hours and miles of service; the amount of service consumed, measured in terms of ridership; the level of investment from different sources; and measures that evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of service. The analysis also considers the varying levels of need throughout the region. The scope of the project includes all rural transit agencies receiving Section 5311 funding and small urban systems receiving Section 5307 funds. Overall, North Dakota performs well by some measures and not as well by others, but the level of service in the state is generally comparable to what is found in surrounding states. Statewide averages show how the states compare to each other, but there are significant variations within states regarding the level of service provided, for both rural and urban transit.