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Scope of Work <br /> Task 1 : Data Collection <br /> Purpose <br /> The purpose of Task 1 is to obtain the information needed for the study. This data will provide <br /> the Contractor the information needed to develop recommendations, and the City the information <br /> it needs to make future decisions about the trolleys. <br /> Approach <br /> The Contractor will collect all existing data on the trolleys from the Decatur Public Transit <br /> System (DPTS) including historical ridership, costs, schedules, downtime, etc. In addition, the <br /> Contractor will research Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations concerning the <br /> possibility of the City using the trolleys for non-fixed route service, either directly operated by <br /> DPTS or in a "non FTA-funded" environment (i.e., the City would pay back the FTA funds to <br /> purchase the trolleys to own them outright and then operate them with non-FTA funded drivers, <br /> maintenance, etc.). <br /> The Contractor will conduct two surveys for the study. One will be an on board survey of riders <br /> on both trolley routes on a typical weekday and a typical Saturday. This survey will reflect <br /> socioeconomic characteristics of riders, ridership by time of day and route, rider origins and <br /> destinations, dollars spent (i.e. shopping) on a particular trip, etc. All riders on the Downtown <br /> Trolley route will also be asked questions about their use of the trolley to travel through the <br /> downtown area while parking on the perimeter. The Contractor will develop a proposed <br /> methodology and present it to the City for approval prior to the initiation of the survey. <br /> The second survey will be a general public, mail back survey of the citizens of Decatur. The <br /> Contractor will use an experienced vendor to handle sample selection, printing, etc., with a goal <br /> of obtaining 400 survey responses. The purpose of the survey will be to assess public opinion <br /> regarding the trolley service now provided and the service the public would like to have. A <br /> portion of the survey will address economic benefits. The survey will also examine issues such <br /> as fares, different routes that could be operated, impact on parking, etc. The Contractor will <br /> develop a proposed methodology and present it to the City for approval prior to the initiation of <br /> the survey. <br /> The data collection effort will also include contacts with business owners and people parking <br /> downtown (particularly workers parking in "shopper" spaces) to assess public opinion regarding <br /> the trolley as a means of travel between parking facilities on the perimeter of downtown and their <br /> work destinations. <br /> The final portion of this task will be up to 20 individual meetings (one-on-one or one-on-two) <br /> with community leaders, business people, representatives of Millikin University, and others to <br /> identify their specific views about the trolley service. <br /> Decatur Public Transit System � Trolley Study <br />