Innovative Uses of FTA’s STOPS

Services Provided: STOPS Modeling, Research & Analytical Skills, and Instruction

Insight is about to begin a project exploring innovative uses of the Federal Transit Administration's Simplified Trips-on-Project Software (STOPS). This software, pivotal in generating transit ridership forecasts for Capital Investment Grant (CIG) projects seeking discretionary funding, is being used in other ways due to its national scope, FTA sponsorship, and ability to accept publicly available transit networks and geospatial data. The team, in collaboration with FTA, will document the diverse applications of STOPS across the United States since its release in 2013.

 In the second phase of the project, the team will develop detailed case studies in two distinct metropolitan areas. These case studies will  

 serve as practical examples of STOPS' effective utilization in transit planning. The selection of these case studies will be based on several criteria, including the soundness of the procedures used, the availability and types of local data, and the potential for the findings to be applied in other locations. The team will work closely with FTA staff and local agencies to ensure that the case studies are robust, insightful, and provide valuable information for future applications of STOPS.

Finally, the team will create a series of webinars and presentations to share their findings and insights. These materials will be developed based on the technical memorandums produced during the research and will include interactive elements to engage the audience. The goal of these presentations is to disseminate the findings to a wider audience and stimulate discussion on the innovative uses of STOPS. By the end of this project, the team aims to contribute significantly to the understanding and application of STOPS, paving the way for future enhancements and applications in the transportation planning industry.