MnDOT's Mobility-as-a-Service Platform: Assessing User Behavior and Measuring System's Benefits

Abstract

A Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform was implemented in Southern Minnesota to streamline transit use and promote rural transit use, incorporating features like interactive trip planning and mobile payment. The project commenced with an area analysis, followed by a literature review highlighting MaaS's potential benefits for rural regions. Pre-deployment ridership data analysis revealed the impact of COVID-19 and seasonal variations on mid- and long-term ridership trends. Analysis of reservation and ride data provided insights into transit use patterns and user/operator experiences, informing areas for improvement through MaaS deployment. The post-deployment analysis employed a time series model to estimate MaaS's impact on ridership, showing a notable average monthly increase of 4.2% for demand-responsive transit (DRT) and paratransit services over nine months, compared to a marginal 0.2% rise in the control group. In addition, a before-and-after study of trip location data demonstrated MaaS's efficacy in boosting transit service rates in areas with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, underscoring its equity-driven effectiveness.