A Study of the Activities and Roles of Public Transit Boards

This study examines public transit boards of directors' role performance, prescribed activities that facilitate role performance, relationships between the roles and prescribed activities, and characteristics of boards and their members that affect members' involvement in board activities. It surveys public transit boards and analyzes the resulting data, using factor analysis, structural, and stepwise regression equations. The study finds that transit boards' role performance is enhanced by board members' involvement in contextual, analytical, strategic, interpersonal, and political activities, but not by involvement in board educational activities. Additionally, it finds positive relationships between many of the board member characteristics examined and most of the prescribed board activities. Exceptions to these positive relationships are also revealed. Negative relationships exist between the level of formal education of board members and such activities as setting aside time to learn about the organization and discussing future directions of the organization with other board members. Appointment of board members by state governments exerts a negative effect on board members' attentiveness to decision‐making processes, and the use of long‐range plan priorities in making strategic decisions. Service on other boards negatively affects members' involvement in transit board‐related interpersonal activities.