A study conducted by interviews with management from public and private transit operators and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOS) intended to determine the feasibility and benefits of accomplishing five objectives in subsequent research. The objectives are to: 1. Identify the relation ship between excellence in the provision of transit and the use of contracting with the private sector; 2. Identify the criteria for determining when contracting will be beneficial; 3. Identify the management procedures for letting and managing successful contracts; 4. Identify innovative contracts for encouraging private operators to express their full contribution to transit. 5. Identify the ways in which metropolitan planning organizations (MPOS) can involve the private sector in regional planning, for which they are responsible, and in the provision of services they fund.
