Douglas J. Cross Transportation Consulting

(Fully retired as of April 2025; however, I can be contacted regarding technical questions about any of the documents I authored, which are are contained within this site, usually via links that say "click here". I can also be contacted for references to certain other consultants in my fields of expertise, which, however, are very limited in number. Please do not contact me about expert witness work, or with any questions about subjects that are not within the realm of disabled accessibility and safety on passenger transportation [ground only].)

Douglas J. Cross Transportation Consulting specializes in:

  • Transit accessibility
  • Paratransit policy and operations
  • ADA training for drivers and supervisors
  • Small transit system operations
  • Community transit alternatives
  • Program and performance evaluations
  • Report and proposal writing/editing

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

A seasoned transit/paratransit planner and manager with over 33 years of experience in the following:

  • Operations
  • Training
  • Vehicle and equipment design and research
  • Policy and industry standards
  • Expert consultation and evaluation
  • Service design
  • Public involvement
  • Funding
  • Government relations
  • Experience spanning 12 years as Accessible Services Manager for AC Transit (Oakland) and Sacramento Regional Transit:
    • Coordinated all aspects of fixed route bus and light rail accessibility
    • Managed contracted regional ADA paratransit programs
    • Developed innovative accessibility programs and vehicle features
  • Representation for US transit industry to national & international wheelchair standards and research bodies (ANSI, ISO, RERC-WTS)
  • Experience as operations manager for three 40-vehicle paratransit operations, in Oakland, Cincinnati, and Lake County (Ohio)

VITAE

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SERVICES OFFERED

Independent consulting, from technical advice to formal projects, such as plans and evaluation reports, either individually or teamed with other professionals. I offer assistance in many areas of expertise:

Vehicle and service accessibility:

Paratransit:

  • Service structure and design
  • Service policies and eligibility certification
  • Dispatch and operations procedures
  • Scheduling and communications technology

General transit:

  • Contracting with public agencies and private firms
  • Performance monitoring, tracking, and reporting
  • Vehicle selection and specifications
  • System-wide performance evaluation
  • Employee recruitment, screening, and training

Customer and public involvement:

  • Rider surveys and research
  • Rider guides and educational materials
  • Complaint procedures and quality monitoring
  • Consumer advisory and advocacy strategies

Community transit alternatives:

  • Development of neighborhood circulators and "hybrid" services
  • Identifying appropriate transit services for senior and disabled travelers
  • Market research for target group mobility needs

Professional, high-quality writing and editing:

  • Studies and evaluation reports
  • Grant applications and proposals
  • Marketing and educational materials

PROJECT EXAMPLES

As a consultant:

  • Assistance in bus system wheelchair securement policy, procedures, and training for several transit systems in California, as well as for a statewide insurance pool
  • Developed and delivered transit agency training programs in lift & ramp usage/safety and ADA/passenger assistance
  • Expert witness evaluation/testimony in litigation involving wheelchair securement, passenger assistance, and paratransit service performance
  • On-board service monitoring and analysis for public transit systems in Sacramento and Orange County, Calif.
  • Researched and co-authored a national study on wheelchair access in transportation sponsored by Easter Seals Project ACTION
  • Frequent presenter at industry conferences and workshops (see “vitae” section for publications and presentations)
  • Served as instructor for the California Transit/Paratransit Management Certificate Program (University of the Pacific) course, “A Transit Manager's Guide to Regulations and Funding”
  • Operational and needs assessment for a small city senior center-based paratransit program
  • Analysis/revision of ADA stop announcement requirements for Sacramento Regional Transit District
  • Operational and ADA compliance evaluation for ADA paratransit programs in Baltimore, Austin, Texas, and Breckenridge, Colorado

As a transit system planner and manager:

  • Developed a wheelchair marking and tether strap program for customers, coordinated pilot demonstrations of new wheelchair securement equipment designs, and coordinated the design of new rear-facing wheelchair stations in AC Transit's European BRT-style buses
  • Managed a study of the services design and structure of the East Bay Paratransit Consortium (AC Transit and BART)
  • Coordinated participation in, and responses to, FTA ADA reviews of ADA Paratransit (East Bay) and Key Station accessibility (Sacramento)
  • Managed a performance evaluation and ADA compliance review of the Sacramento ADA paratransit program
  • Wrote and managed ADA paratransit plan updates for Sacramento and East Bay Paratransit & Sacramento light rail key station accessibility plan
  • Developed rider policies for East Bay Paratransit, and gave “how to” training presentations at NTI, APTA, and state association meetings
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