Best practice demand-responsive transport (DRT) policy

People living in regional cities and towns around the world expect governments to deliver reasonable levels of public transport services in their local area. They understand that a small population base can limit the frequency and span of public transport, but want and deserve an acceptable minimum level of service that offers travel choices. Low patronage bases in these regional centres mean that many fixed-route bus services are unsustainable and greatly strain the public purse. Queensland public transport administrators and service providers are addressing this trend by considering changing the planning and decision-making focus to include demand responsive solutions to address unsustainable public transport scenarios. This paper presents recent demand-responsive transport research and seeks to identify public transport delivery trends and best practice planning and decision-making approaches that could be applied in the Queensland context. The research indicates that this change in policy focus can be consistent with improved public transport service delivery in regional areas and can enhance community prosperity, safety and lifestyle in rural and regional areas.