Strategies to Increase Coordination of Transportation Services for the Transportation Disadvantaged (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 31-40
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From page 31... ...
Especially at night, on weekends, or in low-density suburban or rural areas, public transportation is often either unavailable or very inconvenient. PROVIDERS Transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged may be provided -- that is, funded, purchased, managed, or operated -- by a wide variety of entities, including traditional public transit operators and other transportation organizations, human services agencies, and many types of community organizations.
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From page 32... ...
The transportation services a human services agency provides may be open only to its own clients or may also be available to the clients of other agencies. Transportation services for the transportation disadvantaged may be provided by a wide variety of entities, such as the following: • York County Transit Authority, or rabbittransit, is a municipal authority serving York County, Pennsylvania.
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From page 33... ...
Contractors can include a local public transit system, a public human services agency, a nonprofit organization that 33 operates transportation service, or a private transportation company. MODELS FOR COORDINATED SERVICES As discussed in Chapter 3, coordination can cover a wide range of cooperative efforts among transportation providers.
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From page 34... ...
The existing lead agency model often works well in rural areas and can be the first step in the creation of a coordinated system that evolves into other models over time. Brokerage Model A fairly common approach used in the area of transportation service for the transportation disadvantaged is the use of a transportation broker, an intermediary organization that contracts with a sponsor agency to provide transportation, and in turn subcontracts with a variety of public, nonprofit, or private carriers to actually operate the service.
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From page 35... ...
It may provide the highest level of stability of all the possible coordination models and establish transportation as a local public service. HOW TO LOCATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR THE TRANSPORTATION DISADVANTAGED IN YOUR AREA The first step in the process of initiating or expanding coordination efforts is usually to develop or update an inventory of local transportation service providers and organizations that purchase transportation services.
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From page 36... ...
. Whichever method is determined to be most suitable, the information sought should include the following: • Service area • Types of individuals served – Seniors – People with disabilities – Human services agency clients – Individuals with low income – Transitioning welfare recipients – Residents of rural areas – General public • Trip purposes – Employment-related – Medical-related – Social services-related – General purpose • Operational data – Name of direct or contract operator – Number and type of vehicles – Types of service offered – Days and hours of service – Reservations and scheduling practices – Ridership • Funding data – Transportation expenses and revenues of the organization – Fare or fee charged – Funding sources and amounts – Funding restrictions • Unmet transportation needs – Clients or people who need transportation assistance but do not receive it – Days, hours, or geographic areas in which service is needed – Additional trip purposes to be served • Interest in exploring opportunities for coordination Providers may also be able to identify other organizations that operate or contract for transportation services.
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From page 37... ...
• Backup vehicles and drivers for agencies that are too small to have their own backup capability • Third-party billing services for its subcontractors, thus saving the small agencies administrative costs and burden Additionally, ARC is designated by the Minnesota DOT as the operating authority for all agencies in the state that receive state or federal funds for special transportation services. In this capacity, ARC provides training and certification related to driving vehicles, vehicle inspections, vehicle maintenance, and so forth.
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From page 38... ...
The brokerage, which was established in 1979, is managed by ACCESS Transportation Systems, Inc. ACCESS has sponsorship agreements with 120 local agencies, including PennDOT, which provides state lottery revenues for senior transportation, and the County Office of the Bureau of Federal Programs, which is responsible for Medicaid transportation.
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From page 39... ...
In order to help find affordable means of transportation for people with disabilities, the TOMs research the availability of transportation services in their regions, including accessible vanpool and carpool programs, low-cost subscription van programs, Councils on Aging (COAs) , car donation and vehicle modification programs, ADA paratransit services, and other public transportation services.
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From page 40... ...
• Coordinating Transportation: Models of Cooperative Arrangements, prepared by EG&G Dynatrend and Community Transportation Association of America for the Community Transportation Assistance Project, January 1992. • Coordinating Transportation Resources: States and American Indian Tribes on the Cutting Edge, prepared by the National Transportation Association of States under contract to Community Transportation Association of America for the Community Transportation Assistance Project, November 1994.
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