Texas A&M Transportation Institute seeks input for TCRP Project B-57 to help develop practical marketing and customer communication resources for rural transit agencies.

The South West Transit Association (SWTA) encourages rural, Tribal, and frontier transit providers throughout SWTA Nation to participate in a national research survey being conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI).

The survey is part of Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Project B-57: Innovative Marketing and Customer Communication Strategies for Rural Transit.

The research aims to develop practical guidance and resources to help rural public transportation agencies improve how they promote services, communicate with customers, and address marketing challenges.

The survey deadline is October 28, 2026.

Helping Shape the Future of Rural Transit Communications

Rural public transportation providers face unique challenges when promoting services and communicating with the communities they serve.

Geographic distances, limited staffing and resources, diverse customer needs, and changing communication technologies can create barriers to reaching potential riders and keeping existing customers informed.

Through this research, TTI is gathering information directly from transit agencies about their current marketing practices, communication strategies, and organizational needs.

The survey seeks to better understand:

• How rural transit agencies currently promote their services.
• Methods used to communicate with riders and communities.
• Marketing and communication approaches that have proven effective.
• Challenges agencies face when reaching customers.
• Tools, training, and resources that could strengthen future efforts.

The findings will help inform the development of practical guidance and a toolkit designed to support rural transit agencies and state departments of transportation.

Why Participation Matters

The experiences of rural, Tribal, and frontier transit agencies are essential to ensuring that national research reflects the needs of communities throughout the country.

SWTA represents an eight-state region that includes a wide variety of rural and Tribal transit providers serving communities with distinct transportation needs.

By participating, SWTA members can help researchers better understand the realities of marketing and customer communications in rural public transportation.

The goal is to develop resources that are useful, practical, and informed by the experiences of the agencies that will ultimately use them.

Complete the Survey by October 28

Survey Deadline: Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Take the Survey:

https://tti.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_71zVcN6DoQ0GQlg

SWTA encourages eligible agencies to participate and share this opportunity with colleagues who may have valuable experience to contribute.

Additional Information

For questions about the overall research project, contact:

Kelly Blume

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

k-blume@tti.tamu.edu

512-407-1170

For questions specifically about the survey, contact:

Troyee Saha

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

troyee-saha@tti.tamu.edu

Help ensure the experiences and perspectives of SWTA Nation are represented in this important national research effort!