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This product is part of the RAND Corporation monograph series. RAND monographs present major research findings that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND monographs undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity.

Qatar's School Transportation System

Supporting Safety, Efficiency, and Service Quality

Keith Henry, Obaid Younossi, Maryah Al-Dafa, Shelly Culbertson, Michael G. Mattock, Thomas Light, Charlene Rohr

With Sarah Al-Dorani, Hamad Al-Ibrahim, Mashail Al-Naimi, Louay Constant, Mohammed Makki, Georgette Mansour, Joy S. Moini, Parisa Roshan, Paul Sorensen, Flavia Tsang

Prepared for the Qatar Amiri Diwan

RAND-QATAR POLICY INSTITUTE

The research described in this monograph was prepared for the Qatar Amiri Diwan and conducted within RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment, a division of the RAND Corporation, and the RANDQatar Policy Institute, a collaboration between RAND and the Qatar Foundation.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Henry, Keith. Qatar's school transportation system : supporting safety, efficiency, and service quality / Keith Henry, Obaid Younossi, Maryah Al-Dafa, Shelly Culbertson, Michael G. Mattock, Thomas Light, Charlene Rohr.

pages cm Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-0-8330-6024-2 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. School children--Transportation--Qatar. I. Title.

LB2864.H46 2012 371.8'72095363--dc23

2012003379

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Preface

In 2007, at the request of the Supreme Education Council of Qatar, the RANDQatar Policy Institute (RQPI) conducted an exploratory scoping study of the school transportation system in Qatar (Pernin et al., 2008). That study reviewed the strategy, operations, and organization of the school transportation system of Qatar and recommended actions that the Supreme Education Council could take to improve its school transportation system. In 2009, as a follow-on effort, the Amiri Diwan asked RAND to conduct a new study to help fulfill the recommendations of the first study.1 In response to that request, RQPI conducted this study to assess stakeholder perspectives on school transportation, identify a vision and goals for the school transportation system, and identify strategies to achieve that vision and better align Qatar's school transportation system with international norms. This monograph describes the results of that research.

This project was conducted under the auspices of RQPI and RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment. RQPI is a partnership of the RAND Corporation and the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development. The aim of RQPI is to offer rigorous and objective analysis to clients in the greater Middle East. In serving clients in the Middle East, RQPI draws on the full professional resources of the RAND Corporation. RQPI is an integral part of Education City, which is being developed by Qatar Foundation under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned. Education City is a community of institutions--from kindergarten through postgraduate university studies--contributing to education and research in both Qatar and the Gulf region.

For further information on RQPI, contact the director, Obaid Younossi. He can be reached by email at obaid@, by telephone at +974-4454-2502, or by mail at P.O. Box 23644, Doha, Qatar. For more information about RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment, contact the director, Debra Knopman. She can be reached by email at knopman@; by telephone at 1-703-413-1100; or by mail at 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202-5050 USA.

1 The Amiri Diwan is the executive office of the Amir of Qatar.

iii

Contents

Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Figures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix Abbreviations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxi

CHAPTER ONE

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Motivation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Approach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Organization of This Monograph. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CHAPTER TWO

Key Observations About School Bus Transportation and the Perceptions of Parents and Administrators.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Context of Qatar's School Transportation System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Schools in Qatar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Organizational Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The School Bus Fleet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Bus Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Modes of Transportation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Cost of Bus Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Utilization of Bus Capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

A Look into Demand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Introduction of the Independent Schools Model. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Student Population Growth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Assessing Perspectives on School Transportation .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Administrator Perspectives on School Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Perspectives of Independent and Semi-Independent School Administrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

v

vi Qatar's School Transportation System: Supporting Safety, Efficiency, and Service Quality

Perspectives of Private School Administrators.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Parental Perspectives and School Transportation Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Data from Prior Study and Choice of Attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Findings from the Parent Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Observations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Parents and Administrators Have a Positive View of School Buses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Parents and School Administrators Have Common Concerns--Journey Time,

Safety, and Student Behavior. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 While Good School Transportation Is Important, Parents Primarily Base

Their School Choice on School Characteristics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Ridership May Be Increased by Broadening Service to More Neighborhoods . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Children's Preference for Traveling by Car Is a Significant Factor That Limits Bus

Ridership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Parents Prefer Home Pick-Up and Bus Monitors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

CHAPTER THREE

Vision and Goals for Qatar's School Transportation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Vision Element 1: Provide Safe, Efficient, and High-Quality Transportation for Qatar's Students. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Vision Element 2: Support Educational Options by Enabling Mobility and Access. . . . . . . . 31 Vision Element 3: Provide a Transportation Experience That Is Supportive of

Qatari Values and Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Vision Element 4: Minimize the Impact on Traffic Congestion and the

Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Goals to Support the Vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Efficiency.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Service Quality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Access and Mobility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Preserving Values and Culture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Minimizing Impact on Traffic and Environment.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Summary of Linkages from Vision to Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Finding Strategies to Support the Goals and Vision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

CHAPTER FOUR

Candidate Strategies for Qatar's School Transportation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Identifying Strategies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Review of Gulf Cooperation Council School Transportation Models. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Assessment of Qatar's Experiences with School Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

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