Rural transit agencies provide a vital service to their users, connecting them to healthcare services, educational institutions, employment, shopping, social activities and other important activities. Rural transit riders, which include a high percentage of seniors, people with disabilities, and others who cannot drive or do not have access to a vehicle, have limited transportation options, and many would not be able to travel without transit. While transit systems in rural areas are often viewed as valuable community assets, the value of those services has been largely unmeasured, and there are other impacts that go unidentified.

The objective of this research is to measure the economic impact of rural transit services in Minnesota. The research approach will include a literature review, surveys and interviews, the development of a cost-benefit framework, case studies, and an estimation of the statewide impacts of rural transit service. The main outcome will be to document the economic impacts of public investments in rural transit services. One of the benefits of this research will be to provide information to local leaders and MnDOT about the benefits of transit, which could be used to justify funding requests.

The overall research effort is led by the Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU. WTI serves as a subcontractor, providing recommendations for and review of all research tasks.