Project Number: PSR-17-17

Funding Source: USDOT

Contract Number: 69A3551747109

Funding Amount: $39,984

Start and end dates: 3/23/2018 to 12/31/2018

Project Description

This project will investigate barriers to accessing the Davis Amtrak Station and inform a pilot project that will include new mobility and other multi-modal solutions for first-/last-mile access to the Davis Amtrak station. Currently, the Davis station has the third highest passenger usage along the Capitol Corridor and ridership is increasing. However, the parking lot fills up before 6am; thus, parking availability limits potential ridership. The parking lot is not priced and there is limited interest in and ability to add new parking capacity. The City of Davis is exploring new mobility solutions to improve access to the station, make commuting by train easier, and to enable potential passengers to make their commutes more productive, affordable, and travel-time competitive.

This project will involve surveys and focus groups of Davis residents in order to assess the interest in and barriers to accessing the Davis station and using the Capitol Corridor. This research will inform the implementation of a pilot program to support the use new mobility options and other modes to access the Davis station. The pilot may include a partnership with on-demand ridehailing (Uber, Via, etc.) or rideshare (e.g., Carzac, Scoop). Past surveys conducted by the City, and by Amtrak have only included individuals who are already passengers (either intercept surveys on the train, or to individuals using the parking lot). This project will survey a random sample of Davis residents, and thus include some individuals who do not currently use the station/Capitol Corridor. The survey will be implemented in late spring 2018, and will improve understanding of the factors that are barriers to use of the Davis station and the Capitol Corridor. Such factors likely include vehicle and bicycle parking constraints, limited local bus service hours for station access, last mile challenges at the non-Davis end of the trip, travel times and costs, and the convenience of driving for regional travel.