2008 Alberta Special Transportation Survey

In 2003, Rocky View Regional Handibus circulated a questionnaire to help draw a "snapshot" of the pressures faced by Alberta's specialized transportation providers. Results from some 37 participating organizations were compiled and circulated to every sitting MLA, sparking comment from all parties.

We think that it is time update that "snapshot" and ask how specialized transportation fits into current Alberta priorities. We dusted off the 2003 survey and added some 20 additional questions. Despite the additional questions, this survey should take less than 20 minutes to complete.

Detailed compiled results will be shared with survey participants and the Alberta Government. Contact information will not be disclosed unless you consent to such release (see question 41). A public version (with anonymized data) will be made available for the general public. Any questions or comments, contact Paul Siller (403) 948-2887 or manager@rockyviewbus.ca. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. This survey is also available online at: www.rockyviewbus.ca

Our 2003 survey is available at: www.rockyviewbus.ca/docs/2003abspectransurvey.pdf

ARE YOU READY TO BEGIN?

In addition to your agency's contact information, this survey features about 43 multiple choice or short answer questions. Please answer questions as they relate to your organization. For most answers, check the boxes most applicable to you or fill in the blanks. Question 44 is mandatory on the web version of this survey.

Please provide the following (*required)

First Name

Last Name

Title

Organization*

Address

City

Province

Postal Code

Phone

Email

Name Of Service Region

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Opinions

following questions will briefly survey your opinions regarding your transportation service. Read the following statements and select your response from the following options:

Strongly Agree- "I strongly agree with this statement"
Agree- "I agree with this statement"
Neither- "I neither agree nor disagree with this statement"
Disagree "I disagree with this statement"
Strongly Disagree- "I strongly disagree with this statement"

Please respond to these questions from the perspective of your 2007 operations. If you have no opinion regarding a statement, you may skip a response and proceed to the next statement.

Strongly Agree

Agree

Neither

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

We experience greater demand for transportation than our present capacity.

The province is supportive of accessible transportation needs.

Our local municipality is supportive of accessible transportation needs.

There has been a decrease in financial donations.

There has been a decrease in volunteer hours.

We want more collaboration with other transportation groups.

We want more training for our drivers and volunteers.

We must replace a vehicle in the next 18 months.

Grant requirements (applications and reporting) have become more cumbersome and time consuming.

We need computer technology assistance (hardware/ software/ training).

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Operations

This section focuses on your 2007 operations.

How many municipalities do you operate in?

	1
	2
	3
	4
	5 or more

Which category best describes the nature of your organization?

	Non-profit organization formed to operate a wheelchair accessible vehicle ("handivan/handibus")
	Non-profit organization formed to operate a regular vehicle (bus or sedan)
	Service club/organization operating a wheelchair accessible vehicle
	Service club/organization operating a regular vehicle
	Care facility operating a wheelchair accessible vehicle
	Community agency operating a wheelchair accessible vehicle
	Community agency operating a regular vehicle
	Municipal agency / authority providing transportation
	Municipal agency contracting other groups to provide transportation
	Private carrier / taxi / bus line or other for-profit organization
	Volunteer driver group
	Other:

How would you describe your operation?

	A rural operation
	An urban operation
	A rural and urban operation

What does your organization consider as a "special need"?

	(Select all that apply.)
	Developmental disability
	Balance problems
	Low income
	Chronic illness
	Physical disability
	Seniors
	Inability to drive
	Youth
	Cannot walk 250 m
	Must use a wheelchair
	Family violence
	Need for medical or community services
	Other:

What are your target age groups?

	(Select all that apply.)
	Pre-schoolers
	Children/youth (K-12)
	Adults
	Seniors
	Other:

Our transportation program is available to:

	General public who ask for transportation
	People living at or attending our facility (e.g. lodge bus)
	Other:

Our drivers are:

	Volunteers receiving no financial compensation
	Volunteers receiving and honorarium or mileage expenses
	Paid staff receiving nominal salary
	Paid staff receiving an hourly wage
	Paid staff receiving a wage for their other duties
	Other:

How many one-way trips did you provide in 2007? (N.B. one round trip equals 2 one-way trips)

How many people are listed /registered as a passenger with your organization?

What are your top three expenses?

	(Select three.)
	Staffing costs
	Fuel
	Repair & maintenance
	Insurance
	Admin/office
	Capital purchase
	Other:

What are your top three sources of revenue?

	(Select three.)
	Passenger fares
	Donations
	Fee for service contracts
	Family & Community Support Services Grant
	Municipal Accessible Transportation Grant (Unconditional Municipal Grant)
	Casino / bingo fundraising
	Volunteer efforts
	Other Municipal Contribution
	Other fundraising
	Other:

What percentage of your 2007 revenue was from passenger fares/ fees?

	None
	1-20%
	21-40%
	41-60%
	61-80%
	81-100%

What percentage of your 2007 revenue was from government sources?

	None
	1-20%
	21-40%
	41-60%
	61-80%
	81-100%

What percentage of your 2007 revenue was from fund-raising or donations?

	None
	1-20%
	21-40%
	41-60%
	61-80%
	81-100%

What percentage of your 2007 revenue was from sources other than passengers fares, government sources or fund-raising/donations??

	None
	1-20%
	21-40%
	41-60%
	61-80%
	81-100%

What form of record keeping system do you employ?

	(Select all that apply.)
	Reservation book
	A stack of post-it notes (or other pieces of paper)
	Spreadsheet
	Computer Booking and record-keeping system
	None
	Other:

Do you encounter other specialized or community transportation providers operating in or overlapping with your service area.

	Yes
	No
	Other:

Do you collaborate with other specialized or community transportation providers operating in or overlapping with your service area?

	Yes
	No
	Other:

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Equipment

How many vehicles do you operate / use?

	N/A Not Applicable
	1 - 4 vehicles
	5-8 vehicles
	9-15 vehicles
	16 -25 vehicles
	26 - 50 vehicles
	more than 50 vehicles

How many wheelchair accessible vehicles do you operate / use

	1-4 vehicles
	5-8 vehicles
	9- 15 vehicles
	16- 25 vehicles
	26-50 vehicles
	more than 50 vehicles

What year is your oldest vehicle?

	2008
	2007
	2006
	2005
	2004
	2003
	2002
	2001
	2000
	1999
	1998
	1997
	1996
	1995
	1994 or older
	other:

What year is your newest vehicle?

	2008
	2007
	2006
	2005
	2004
	2003
	2002
	2001
	2000
	1999
	1998
	1997
	1996
	1995
	1994 or older
	other:

Do you keep or have access to a spare vehicle?

	Yes
	No
	Other:

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Provincial Association

Are you aware of any provincial effort(s) to review funding for specialized transportation?

	Yes
	No

Would your organization interested in joining a provincial association of specialized or community transportation providers?

	Yes
	No
	Other:

As a member of a provincial association I would like to see the following benefits:

	(Select all that apply.)
	Annual workshop/ meeting
	Contacts for technical advice
	Fund-raising information
	Information on latest equipment
	Investigate group insurance
	Investigate tire discounts
	Investigate vehicle discounts
	information on best practices
	Information on provincial matters
	Lobby province for better funding
	Knowledge bank of sample policies
	Newsletter
	Resource library
	Training sessions
	Webforum (on-line advice)
	Other:

Organizations eligible for membership in a provincial association could include:

	(Select all that apply.)
	Agencies providing volunteer drivers
	Commuter transportation providers
	Community transportation providers
	Equipment suppliers
	Individuals (students, disability advocates and other interested parties)
	Local taxi companies
	Municipalities and Municipal agencies
	Provincial ministries (health, transportation, seniors, municipal affairs, etc.)
	Public transportation providers
	Specialized transportation providers
	Other:

Are you aware of any provincial efforts to advocate or facilitate increased funding for specialized transportation?

	Yes
	No

A reasonable annual membership fee would be in the range of:

	Free
	$25-$50 per year
	$55-$100 per year
	$101-$150 per year
	$151-$250 per year
	$20 per bus
	Other:

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Follow-Up

Please contact us for any follow-up surveys.

	Yes
	No

Please inform us of any follow-up related to establishing a provincial association for Alberta's community transportation providers.

	Yes
	No

Please post our contact information for the use of other groups participating in this survey (N.B. any public version of this survey will not include contact information of participant groups).

	Yes
	No

Do you have any comments or suggestions?

Are you ready to submit this questionnaire? (required before submitting survey)

	Yes
	No

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