University of California Transportation Center

Rapid suburban employment and population growth during the 1980's has prompted many U.S. transit agencies to introduce a host of reforms designed to improve service to suburban market areas. To date, little research attention has been given to their impact. this paper inventories suburban-targeted service strategies being used by U.S. transit agencies. It also focuses on whether any demonstrable benefits have been realized from the implementation of these strategies.

The primary vehicle for obtaining this information was an extensive literature review on suburban transit programs and a national survey of transit agencies. Based on survey results, this paper examines the experiences to date with introducing these service reforms.