One approach is coordinating efforts between public and private agencies through a program, sponsored by the Utah Department of Transportation, currently being tried in the Uinta Basin. The program organizes small-scale transportation services, many of which use smaller vehicles like a 15-passenger van that can accomodate wheelchair passengers, into a transportation network.

C. Ross Peterson, a public transportation specialist for H.W. Lochner Inc., which is participating in the program, said that they are using GPS units in each vehicle to help dispatchers coordinate the various transportation options.

"People can call one number for a ride ... instead of the six or so they are currently calling," he said.

The vehicle locator unit, and communication with existing transit, would allow a central controller to coordinate rides on agency vehicles or direct callers to public transit. In addition to adding a new level of service for challenged riders, agencies can make better use of their vehicles, which Peterson said sit idle for the most part.

"We're not taking resources away from anyone," Peterson said. "We're creating efficiencies that they benefit from."

Peterson added that agencies could also realize a new revenue stream through selling the empty seats they're not using.

Other areas flagged by conference participants included the role of developers in transportation planning, and coordinating stakeholder interests to address evolving transportation challenges.

UTA organization consultant Drusilla Copeland said the discoveries of participants would be addressed by "action-planning teams."

"The action-planning teams will take the next steps," Copeland said. "Their work will lead to implementation of ideas generated by this gathering."

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E-mail: araymond@desnews.com