The Gulf Regional Planning Commission functions as a transit advocate for the three coastal counties of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In doing so, the GRPC promotes transit in various capacities as an alternative mode of transportation, a component of the congestion management system and as a component of GRPC’s Transportation Demand Management tasks.  As a transit advocate, GRPC assists MPO members, the Coast Transit Authority (CTA), civic and citizens groups with the development, of transit projects and studies. 

Recently completed transit planning activities developed by GRPC for the Mississippi Gulf Coast include:

·     The development of public involvement events, workshops and surveys for the Coast Transit Authority 

·     The development of a post –event Emergency Transit Operations Plan for the Mississippi Gulf Coast

·     A Transit feasibility study that evaluated the potential for demand response service in Diamondhead

·     A Study of Bus Route 34 that analyzed ridership patterns and made recommendations to improve bus stop facilities

·     The administration and management of the FY 2008 NTD Route Sampling Survey process for Coast Transit Authority, which satisfies FTA’s Section 15 reporting requirements and provides CTA with valuable data on ridership characteristics for capital facilities planning.

·     The development of a Technical Memorandum for conducting the NTD process at the local level

·     The development of a Program Management Plan for Job Access Reverse and  New Freedom funding for the Mississippi Gulf Coast

·     Development of the transit component of the Moss Point Comprehensive Plan

·     A study that made recommendations for park-n-ride facilities along the I-10 corridor of the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Ongoing and upcoming transit planning projects for the Mississippi Gulf Coast for fiscal years 2009 to 2010  include: 

·     General planning assistance to CTA; including the creation of maps

·     Development of a Title VI General Compliance Plan for Coast Transit Authority

·     A Service Area and Route Analyses Recommendation study to asses existing and proposed service area expansion; which may include portions of Biloxi, Gulfport, and Ocean Springs

·     A study that makes recommendations for the placement of shelters along the Hwy 90 bus route.

·     A route study to determine ridership patterns and implementation of a plan for the placement of bus stop shelters on the D Iberville rout 

·     An update to the Transit Development plan in FY 2010. This  plan will be a component of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Long Range Transportation Plan