1. Introduction

Clay County Rural Transit (CCRT) is considering the implementation of an express bus system to serve commuters between the Wahpeton-Breckenridge and Fargo-Moorhead metro areas, a 55-mile trip. CCRT runs a similar service between Detroit Lakes, Barnesville, and Fargo-Moorhead. The bus would stop at designated areas using a park and ride system. A questionnaire was created to determine travel needs of potential users and gauge potential interest in such a service.

The objectives of the study were to:

1. Determine the number of regular commuters between the Wahpeton-Breckenridge and Fargo-Moorhead metro areas,
2. Make commuters aware of the cost of driving their personal automobile and compare that cost to that of using commuter bus service,
3. Discover the willingness of commuters to utilize commuter bus service,
4. Determine what commuter bus service features were of utmost importance to travelers, and
5. Gauge the awareness of local commuters to commuter bus service and its features.

The report begins with a description of common commuter service features, followed by a discussion of the proposed commuter bus service. Survey design methodology is then discussed highlighting companies whose employees completed the survey. This was followed by survey results and findings. The study concluded with recommendations for commuter service between Fargo-Moorhead and Wahpeton-Breckenridge. For those interested, an in-depth literature review of express bus aspects referred to as bus rapid transit (BRT) and political frameworks for BRT are included in Appendix A.

2. Commuter Service Features

The research team was unable to find information pertaining to commuter service in small urban and rural communities. Little service exists on this level and research based on existing small urban and rural commuter service is even harder to find. However, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) encompasses many similar features when compared to commuter service. Its objectives are similar, although more complex than commuter service when comparing features. Commuter service, as proposed in this research, can be considered a simpler form of BRT, which is found in urban locations in the United States and throughout the world. For detailed information on BRT, see Appendix A.

2.1 Common Elements

The five major elements the BRT systems encompass are 1) vehicles, 2) guideways, 3) control systems, 4) fare collection systems, and 5) passenger information systems. The systems may not have each of these elements, but they are likely to have all or some combination of them. Commuter service in rural areas is much less complex, but uses the same idea of getting riders to their point of destination in a scheduled amount of time. Quality vehicles are important to maintain the efficiency of the entire operation and passenger information via the Internet can provide riders with stop times and route information allowing them to plan their optimal route. Elements such as guideways, control systems and high-tech fare collection systems are of little use in rural areas due to low volume traffic and ridership.

2.2 Western Minnesota Commuter Bus Service

The Clay County Rural Transit (CCRT) Authority in Moorhead, Minnesota, operates two commuter service routes serving western Minnesota. Figure 2.1 shows both routes and the communities they serve. It is also expected that CCRT would operate the proposed Wahpeton-Breckenridge commuter route if this service is approved.

The Detroit Lakes to Fargo-Moorhead route serves six communities with morning service from 6:20 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. and a return trip from 4:45 p.m. to 6:00 pm. The six communities served by this route include Dilworth, Glyndon, Hawley, Lake Park, Audubon, and Detroit Lakes. The Barnesville to Fargo-Moorhead route serves four communities starting from 6:15 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. with return service from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. The four communities served by this route include Sabin, Baker, Downer, and Barnesville.

Wahpeton-Breckenridge express bus service runs on a similar schedule with possible stops being made in the vicinity of the Oxbow, Wolverton, and Kent. The total mileage of the route is nearly identical to that of the current Detroit Lakes route. Thus, the potential timing of the new route originates at approximately 6:30 a.m. in Wahpeton-Breckenridge and terminates in Fargo-Moorhead at 7:30 a.m. and return service departs Fargo-Moorhead at approximately 4:45 p.m. and arrives in Wahpeton-Breckenridge at 6:00 p.m.

Figure 2.1 Current and Proposed Express Routes

Ridership data for both the Detroit Lakes route and the Barnesville route are highlighted below in Table 2.1. Data includes ridership and mileage for the first seven months of 2005. Ridership has a natural tendency to increase during winter months and decrease as the weather warms throughout the spring and summer. The Detroit Lakes commuter route serves greater populated communities compared to the Barnesville route. This is the main reason for the difference in total ridership between the routes.

2.3 Summary

BRT history and the research pertaining to it play an important role in shaping the development and structure of future commuter services everywhere. Developing commuter service connecting Wahpeton-Breckenridge to Fargo-Moorhead must take into consideration both the advantages and disadvantages that the service will include. Awareness must also be taken of current express bus routes in the areas that will provide useful insight as to the makeup of the Wahpeton-Breckenridge route. Particular attention must be paid to the Detroit Lakes route as it has similar length and stop times compared to the proposed service. The following chapter develops the methodology of the research and contains both the survey instrument design and its distribution.