Exploring Transit’s Contribution to Livability in Rural Communities: Case Study of Valley City, ND, and Dickinson, ND

In both Valley City and Dickinson, surveys of residents showed they believe affordable housing, low crime, quality healthcare, overall cost of living, quality public schools, and available jobs are the most important factors contributing the livability of a community. While transit was not among the top factors, survey respondents expressed considerable support for providing transit services and funding it through various sources. Residents in both cities expressed the opinion that transit should be provided in their community as a transportation option for seniors, people with disabilities, those who choose not to drive, and those who cannot afford to drive. Transit riders in both cities indicated that transit is very important to their quality of life, and stakeholders from both communities said transit is a critical lifeline for people who are elderly and/or have a disability, individuals with no vehicle, and those who cannot drive.

The study method included conducting a series of stakeholder interviews, a resident survey, and a transit rider survey in the two communities. For each city, 1,500 resident surveys were distributed by mail in December 2015 to a random sample of residents. Transit rider surveys were conducted in each community with coordination from the local transit manager. Further, transit stakeholder surveys were conducted to understand their opinions on transit’s contribution towards community livability.