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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2004. Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13784.
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Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2004. Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13784.
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Page 9
Page 10
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2004. Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13784.
×
Page 10
Page 11
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2004. Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13784.
×
Page 11
Page 12
Suggested Citation:"Chapter 1 - Introduction." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2004. Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13784.
×
Page 12

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8CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION During the past 20 years, a great deal of effort has been made to increase coordination among publicly funded trans- portation services for people with disabilities, clients of human services agencies, and others who can be described as trans- portation disadvantaged. Throughout the 1980s, local orga- nizations, seeking to eliminate duplication or stretch scarce transportation resources, demonstrated that the coordination of transportation services among providers (defined to include both operators and agencies that purchase transportation ser- vices) could result in improved efficiency and service quality. Initiated by local champions—either individuals or agencies— these efforts were successful, but could be difficult to maintain and were often challenging to replicate in other areas. At the federal level, the U.S.DOT and the U.S. DHHS began working together in the 1980s to foster increased coor- dination among the transportation services sponsored by each agency. Likewise, a number of states developed programs and guidance to improve coordination among the transportation services they fund or administer. These federal and state ini- tiatives encouraged and contributed to the success of sub- sequent local coordination efforts. In many instances, local efforts have resulted in reduced transportation costs, improved mobility for transportation-disadvantaged individuals, and increased administrative efficiency. Despite the progress that has been made, there are still many opportunities to improve the local and regional coordination of transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged. Duplication of services or administration, insufficient funding, unmet trip demand, numerous regulatory constraints, lack of interagency coordination, and poor service quality still exist. Moreover, the rapid growth and suburbanization that has taken place in many communities has made it far more costly and difficult to provide publicly funded transportation access to many destinations at a time when public resources at many levels are constrained. These conditions make the coordina- tion of transportation services for the transportation disad- vantaged an even more desirable goal than ever. STUDY OBJECTIVES The primary objective of TCRP Project H-30 was to iden- tify strategies for initiating or improving coordination of local and regional publicly funded transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged. An important foundation for the research effort was the extensive work that has already been done in the area of transportation coordination, but innovative approaches and strategies were a primary focus. Other key focal points included coordination strategies that have been implemented at a variety of levels—state, regional, and local—and those that increase mobility for clients in addition to improving the use of transportation resources. The study included the following elements: • Documentation of current funding sources, decision- making processes, and service types that can be utilized by entities wishing to improve the coordination of their transportation services. • New case studies highlighting approaches and strategies not investigated to date. • Collection of updated information about previous case study sites that have been shown to illustrate the bene- fits of coordination or important elements of successful strategies. • Analysis of existing and new case study information to identify overall themes, elements of success, and rec- ommended approaches. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The following paragraphs summarize the approach taken by the research team to the first three tasks of the project, which focused on the identification of the funding sources, planning and decision-making processes, and types of ser- vices usually associated with transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged. The selection of the case study sites is also discussed. Typical Funding Sources and Service Types Research into funding sources and service types typically associated with transportation for the transportation disad- vantaged was conducted through several means. The first was an extensive literature review. Next, the team conducted com- prehensive Internet searches. Key printed and online sources are listed in Table 1. Finally, an e-mail survey was sent to over 500 state agen- cies or divisions, based on a listing of state agencies that

9have a direct connection with the provision of public or com- munity transportation prepared by the Community Trans- portation Association of America (CTAA). This list included departments or divisions such as transportation, aging, family services, human resources, human services, social services, health, labor, workforce development, education, vocational rehabilitation, rehabilitation services, and developmental disabilities. The survey requested information on state programs that fund or support transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged and asked for examples of exemplary coordi- nated systems or practices operating in each state. Approxi- mately 100 surveys were returned. Many respondents stated that they did not offer transportation programs, declined to complete the survey, or referred the research team to another person or to a website. About 40 survey responses contained useful information. Typical Decision-Making Processes The research team also used a variety of methods to col- lect information on the processes used by transportation and human services agencies to make transportation funding and programming decisions. Telephone interviews with state, regional, and local officials and staff involved with the pro- gramming and planning of federal transportation and human services funding were the primary source of information. Team members conducted these interviews with MPOs and other regional planners, state DOT officials with oversight responsibility for coordination issues, and directors and staff from state agencies charged with developing and adminis- tering state coordination efforts. The states contacted were primarily a subset of those iden- tified by the research team at the outset of the project as hav- ing successful approaches to coordination, particularly in the area of planning. Additional states and localities were iden- tified during the course of the interviews. In addition to these interviews, team members conducted secondary research, including an online review of new fed- eral initiatives and advocacy group websites and a review of other relevant documents. Case Study Approach To look into recent coordination efforts in more detail, the research team conducted a number of case studies. Seven full case studies each involved a site visit. Nine mini–case studies were conducted through telephone inter- views, to update earlier work, investigate a different aspect of a previously documented coordination effort, or develop a brief profile of a promising strategy. In addition, several mini– case studies were combined into two theme-based clusters, one focused on coalition building and the other on the use of technology. The process used to select case study sites is summarized below. As the research team reviewed the literature on coordination, conducted searches of Internet sites, conducted e-mail surveys of state officials, and interviewed representatives of organiza- tions involved with coordination, a running list of successful efforts that might be potential case study sites was assembled. In compiling the list, the team sought examples of innovative approaches and representation of a variety of operating envi- ronments (e.g., urban, small urban, suburban, rural, and statewide) and organizational levels (e.g., state, regional, and local). In addition, team members sought to identify practices that not only increased the efficiency of transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged, but resulted in improved mobility for transportation-disadvantaged individuals. • The most recent federal funding source report from the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) and Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA) — Building Mobility Partnerships: Opportunities for Federal Funding (March 2002) • A recent study conducted by the Institute for Transportation Research and Education (ITRE) on the subject of Regionalizing Public Transportation Services • Pertinent federal and state legislation and program information regarding transit funding • U.S.DOT and FTA • CTAA • American Public Transportation Association (APTA) • Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) • Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Online • TRB/TCRP • Each state’s DOT • Human services agencies in each state (identified from a list of agencies provided by the American Public Human Services Association) • Community or regional transit agencies (RTAs) with innovative practices TABLE 1 Sources for literature review and internet searches

The list that resulted was quite long. To facilitate selection of the best examples and to ensure that case study recom- mendations covered a range of strategies and environments, the team collectively developed a set of selection criteria. These included the following: • Innovation • Documented benefits • Freshness (not previously documented) • Transferability to other areas • Operational longevity Ideally, each potential case study would have all of these features. In addition, the following attributes were identified for each case study site, so that the final list of candidates would be suf- ficiently varied: • Geographic region • Service area characteristics—urban, suburban, rural, statewide • Lead/participating agencies—public and nonprofit trans- portation providers, human services agencies, MPOs, state DOTs • Client groups/trip types served—older adults; people with disabilities; low-income individuals; human ser- vices agency clients; students; medical, job access, hu- man services program trips • Service provider types—public, private, nonprofit • Transportation modes—fixed route, paratransit, volun- teer drivers, taxi, vanpool • Organizational levels—state, regional, local An evaluation matrix that combined the selection criteria, other considerations, and several descriptive fields was constructed. Each team member then entered what he/she thought were the best coordination examples from the origi- nal long list into the matrix and indicated whether the system or practice was recommended for a full or mini–case study. The team then discussed the completed matrix. As a result, several coordination efforts were moved from the category of full case study to that of mini–case study, or vice versa. Also, it seemed that several groups of mini–case study can- didates would be more interesting if clustered than if studied individually. The research team then recommended case study sites to the project panel members, who suggested several modifica- tions. The final list of selected sites is presented in Table 2 and shown on the map in Figure 1. ROAD MAP TO THE RESOURCE GUIDE This Resource Guide presents practical guidance for increas- ing coordination among transportation services that target 10 transportation-disadvantaged individuals, using the informa- tion compiled through the various research efforts and from the case study subjects. The Guide is intended to be of use to public and private transportation and human services organi- zations that fund, operate, purchase, or use transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged. Topics covered in the Resource Guide include the following: • Current trends and innovative strategies • Transportation service delivery options • Planning and decision-making processes associated with transportation and human services funding programs • Opportunities for political involvement and tools for transportation advocacy • Funding sources and their requirements • Use of technology to coordinate the operation of trans- portation services Readers will also learn how to identify potential sources of funding and to inventory local transportation providers. The document is organized as follows: • Chapter 1 has introduced the reader to TCRP Project H-30 and the Resource Guide. • Chapter 2 reviews the history of coordination efforts at the federal, state, and regional levels. • Chapter 3 defines coordination, presents a continuum to describe the range of coordination actions, and sum- marizes the lessons learned from the experience of the 22 case study sites. • Chapter 4 reviews different service delivery models for coordinated transportation systems. • Chapter 5 describes typical planning and decision- making processes. • Chapter 6 discusses potential funding sources. • Chapter 7 explores the role of technology in coordinat- ing transportation operations. Each chapter also includes advice from coordination prac- titioners and references to additional resources. Throughout the Resource Guide, effective coordination strategies and approaches are illustrated by case studies, mini– case studies, and examples drawn from the experience of organizations that have planned and implemented coordina- tion initiatives. Additional material is given in the appendices on the accompanying CD-ROM. Complete case studies can be found in Appendix A. Appendix B consists of a question- naire that can be used to inventory providers of transporta- tion services for the transportation disadvantaged. Informa- tion about state funding sources is provided in Appendix C. Appendix D and Appendix E contain information about pri- vate foundations and foundation grant resources. An index of previously published coordination case studies and guide- books, organized by topic, is presented in Appendix F.

11 • Aaron E. Henry Community Health Center/Delta Area Rural Transit System, Mississippi • Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minnesota • King County Metro Community Partnerships Program (CPP), Washington State • Massachusetts Human Service Transportation Office • Michigan Welfare-to-Work Program and Midland County • RIDES Mass Transit District (MTD), Illinois • Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT), Florida • Baldwin County Public Transit Coalition, Alabama • Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services • Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG), Ohio • Client Referral, Ridership, and Financial Tracking System (CRRAFT), State of New Mexico • Ottumwa Transit Authority, Iowa • St. Louis Transportation Management Association, Missouri • ACCESS Transportation Systems, Pennsylvania • Cross County Transit, North Carolina • DuPage County Taxi Subsidy Program, Illinois • Flint MTA, Michigan • Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), Regional Action Plan on Aging and Mobility, Arizona • Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, Transportation Options Project (TOP) • MichiVan—Nontraditional Vanpool Program, Michigan • Washington State Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation and Thurston County (ACCT) • York County Transit Authority/rabbittransit, Pennsylvania TABLE 2 Case study sites

12 Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Action Plan on Aging and Mobility Alliance for Transportation Research Greater Twin Cities United Way Baldwin County Public Transit Coalition Space Coast Area Transit Cross County Transit Ottumwa Transit Authority DuPage County Taxi Subsidy Program St. Louis Transportation Management Association RIDES Mass Transit District Aaron E Henry Community Health Center Delta Area Rural Transportation Center Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments ACCESS Transportation Systems York County Transit Authority Massachusetts Human Service Transportation Office MichiVan Program Flint MTA Michigan Welfare-to-Work Program and Midland County King County Metro Community Partnerships Program Washington Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation Thurston County Case Studies Coalition-Building Clustered Mini-Case Studies Use of Technology Clustered Mini-Case Studies Full Case Studies Mini Case Studies Figure 1. Case study locations.

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TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 105: Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged examines strategies for initiating or improving coordination of local and regional publicly funded transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged.

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