MADISON – New research by graduate students in the La Follette School of Public Affairs recommends that the adjoining Wisconsin cities of Hudson, New Richmond, and River Falls should regionalize their shared-ride taxi (SRT) systems to reduce administrative costs, further connect the communities, and increase economic access for residents.
These recommendations resulted from an in-depth analysis at the request of the City of River Falls. La Follette students Katie Gienapp, Johanna Schmidt, Quinn Wakley, and Yiding Zhang found that consolidation of the three systems using fares set to the median of the three cities’ current pricing would increase access to jobs, healthcare, and grocery stores for residents while being politically feasible and more administratively efficient than the current system.
SRT systems are government-subsidized transportation services used to bridge gaps and provide transportation to specific populations, especially those that are less likely to drive. They are commonly used in sparsely populated areas where it may not be profitable to run other transport systems such as buses. The SRT systems that are currently in place in Hudson, New Richmond, and River Falls allow residents to travel within the boundaries of their own city, as well as a 5-mile radius around it.
This means that many areas remain inaccessible to residents without the use of a car, as service boundaries leave some areas completely cut off. The City of River Falls asked the La Follette students to analyze the effects of regionalization, including grant funding, costs, and accessibility, as well as the overall feasibility of a SRT regionalization project. The students conducted the assessment as part of their capstone course required to complete the master’s program at La Follette.
“The shared-ride taxi service has proven to be a valuable asset to our residents,” said Amy White, Community Services Director and City Clerk with the City of River Falls. “We appreciate the students’ time and dedication to look deeper into the shared-ride taxi systems in River Falls and our neighboring communities. These findings will help us make informed decisions as we consider what the future of the SRT service looks like in River Falls.”
The study, done in collaboration with UW-Madison’s UniverCity Alliance, compared two models of regionalized alternative SRT systems, looking at political and fiscal feasibility, as well as access, opportunity, and administrative ease. In the recommended model, the City of River Falls would take over the administrative duties of the other two towns, consolidating the redundant administrative workload of the current systems. Riders would be able to travel within the boundaries of the three cities through a single service, increasing job access and employment opportunities, and improving accessibility to essential services, like commercial centers, medical facilities, and universities.
“The concept of shared services between local governments is one that many localities are facing. As the front door to UW-Madison for local governments, UniverCity was excited to connect La Follette students with the City of River Falls to address this relevant and challenging issue,” UniverCity Alliance Managing Director Gavin Luter said.
The report concluded that the cities should also consider engaging in community planning processes and aim to factor in the input of the public in their decisions and implementation of the new model. The students also recommend that the cities look to expand the regionalized system to include smaller towns and villages in the area that may be interested and have the financial capability to join, further expanding the access of SRT services.
