This paper presents a case study utilizing qualitative methods to explore the institutional perceptions underlying the transit planning process. Careful transit planning is necessary for connecting people with their desired destinations, which include employment opportunities, health care, shopping, and recreation; however limited operating budgets, low-density land use, and diverse communities make providing effective, equitable transit service a difficult proposition. Existing research evaluating transit service has focused on spatial variation in service, optimal route and stop location, and service frequency; however these approaches do not attempt to probe the underlying causes for spatial or social variation in transit service. A more thorough understanding of institutional biases, policies, and perceptions is a vital link in the pursuit of equitable transportation. The case study presented in this paper is based on in-depth interviews with transit agency personnel, which seek to identify possible explanations for disparities in transit service. The results suggest that variations in transit service including marketing strategies, frequency of service, and the placement of routes and stops, occur as the result of conscious decisions made based on perceptions of patrons, potential patrons, and the service overall from the perspective of transit planners. These findings contribute broadly to the understanding of transit service provision by viewing it as a dynamic process that occurs at many levels. This approach and the findings presented should be informative to researchers and practitioners interested in understanding transportation accessibility.
Abstract