Toolkit for Rural Community Coordinated Transportation Services (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Benefits of coordinating transportation in rural communities, challenges and opportunities, and recommendations for success are presented from interviews with the directors of local coordinated transportation services. Detailed information is provided on each case, including service types, areas and persons served, ridership and expenses, major funding sources used, and coordinating agencies.
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This chapter describes coordination activities on a national basis, based on the information gathered, followed by an in-depth examination of the coordination efforts of 10 states. THE NATIONAL COORDINATION PICTURE All of the state coordination contacts (100 percent)
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188 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV State Encourage Involved w/ Passed Coordinating Regular Meetings? Adopted n Plan?
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These ideas/actions/items have proven to be effective and essential components of the coordination process and could be applied to coordination efforts in other states. Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 189 Several common elements .
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190 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV Table 11: HOW COORDINATION ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED Source of Authority for Coordination States or Agencies Using this Technique Legislation Arkansas California Florida Idaho Iowa Kansas Maine Missouri Pennsylvania South Carolina Texas Virginia Executive Order Alabama Louisiana Maryland North Carolina Interagency agreement/committee/Working Group US DOT / US DHHS Georgia Kentucky Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico North Dakota Ohio Oregon Tennessee Utah
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In addition, Florida contracts with an accounting firm to monitor nonpayment issues and to conduct audits of the rates billed to the CTD and to conduct financial reviews of the CTD itself. Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 191
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Extensive Local Planning Process Several states, such as North Carolina, New Jersey, Iowa, and Maryland employ an extensive local planning process as part of their coordination efforts. These include the community transportation service planning process and the transportation advisory boards in North Carolina, the interagency steering committees in New Jersey, the technical advisory committees and policy boards in Iowa, and the local coordinating committees in Maryland.
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No other state can point to a transportation system that is so comprehensive and completely integrated from top to bottom. The key factor in the development of this statewide transportation network was the establishment of the Vermont Public Transit Association in 1986.
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DOT Transportation Planning Workgroup. The kinds of incentives that states have recommended include ✦ Funding for both coordination planning and operations; ✦ "Bonus points" that would favor coordinated systems over noncoordinated systems in funding applications; ✦ Additional funding for the most cost-effective operations; ✦ Coordination requirements inserted into grant applications; and 194 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV Ohio and Maryland have both experienced a great deal of success with handbooks.
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Maryland, in response to this problem, has included state-sanctioned standards for vehicles and drivers in its forthcoming 5-year plan. Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 195 Nonemergency Medicaid transportation funding has experienced serious reductions in several states.
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Kansas coordination officials are working with the state to try to solve these funding problems, but no solution is imminent. 196 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV Vermont is making more efficient use of funds the state already has.
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Some have mature statewide coordinated transportation systems with years of operation, while others Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 197 Confidentiality had become a very serious barrier to coordination. See Chapter 2 for information about Head Start transportation coordination.
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The common theme for all of these efforts is the overall commitment to the idea of coordination, and the comprehensive scope of their vision. 198 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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program. The TD program was established in 1979 to provide "efficient, cost-effective and quality transportation services for persons with disabilities, elderly persons, and at-risk children with no other transportation." TD services are provided through a "coordination of multiple funding sources at the local level" where "limited funds are maximized to provide citizen transportation." Since 1989, the Independent Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged (CTD)
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. The creation of PACT was intended to "increase efficiency, reduce waste and duplication, enable people to access social and health services, provide a basic level of mobility, and extend and improve transportation services to people with special transportation needs." According to the legislation, PACT employs a statewide approach to coordination that will encourage the development of community-based coordinated transportation systems according to the following guiding principles: ✦ Organizations serving persons with special transportation needs share responsibility for ensuring that their customers can access services.
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ACCT officials pointed out several difficult issues they are facing in their coordination efforts. The most pressing issue is coming up with the necessary funding to support the coordination efforts.
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Currently 55 human service transportation systems in North Carolina are operating under three types of service arrangements: ✦ Coordinated systems -- Two or more service agencies working together through a lead agency to maximize resources and efficiency; ✦ Consolidated systems that provide their own services -- Single transportation programs that use their own vehicles and drivers to provide service to various agencies (In most cases, the agencies handle eligibility and screening) ; and ✦ Consolidated systems contracting for transportation services -- Single transportation programs that purchase transportation services and contracts for operations with private transportation companies.
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The agency is also increasing administrative salaries in an effort to retain its best transit personnel. Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 203
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The planning process proved to be very successful, and it encouraged the various participants to move away from traditional transit and agency transportation models and toward coordinated community transportation services. Many innovative strategies were presented, including the use of feeder services to connect rural and suburban areas with fixed-route services, expanded dial-a-ride services, the use of brokerages, and improved marketing and outreach efforts.
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by July 1, 1995. CTDs were established for three major purposes: ✦ Providing transportation services either directly or through a subcontract with eligible agencies, ✦ Enhancing coordination among the transit providers in each district by controlling Federal and state funding through a contract with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)
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The Medicaid/Reach Up program provides nonemergency Medicaid transportation to residents of Vermont via a statewide brokerage operation. Agencies in Vermont deliver coordinated transportation services through nine Medicaid brokers statewide (the same nine community transportation agencies)
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Public transportation in Vermont grew out of local community action agencies, and these agencies had developed their own service areas. When the transit regions were established in 1986, changes were mandated for everyone involved, and this gave birth to the turf disputes that remain to this day.
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Given that Head Start trips account for 20 to 25 percent of the total coordinated trips provided in the state, this would be a tremendous blow to coordinated transportation in Iowa and could jeopardize the economic viability of the entire coordinated system. 208 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV Iowa
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There are several current examples of coordinated systems in Oregon. Two Medicaid transportation brokerages operate in the state -- Tri Met covers the Portland area and Sunset Empire Transit covers Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 209 Oregon
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210 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Ohio provides outstanding technical assistance to counties that either are looking to coordinate or looking to improve their current coordinated system. ODOT provides two very useful publications, "A Handbook for Coordinating Transportation Services" and "A Guide for Implementing Coordinated Transportation Systems." Both publications are well organized and easy to understand, and both provide exhaustive amounts of information on any coordination-related issue.
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There are also the usual turf problems, but these seem to be less prevalent than those found in other states. 212 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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The executive order outlined the membership of the coordinating committee as including representatives from the Departments of Transportation, Human Resources, Aging, and Health and Mental Hygiene; a representative from the Governor's Office on Individuals with Disabilities; and additional members as recommended by the Governor. The primary responsibilities of the coordinating committee include the following: ✦ Examining the transportation needs of those who are elderly or people in need of transportation because of disabilities or for employment, medical visits, training, senior activities, education, or other special programs; ✦ Coordinating Maryland's human service transportation by working with appropriate Federal, state, and local agencies and with transportation providers, clients, and customers; ✦ Devising a 5-year plan to provide cost-effective, affordable, high-capacity, high-quality, easily understood, safe, and accessible human service transportation; ✦ Serving as a clearinghouse for transportation coordination issues throughout the state, identifying important local and statewide issues, identifying cost saving measures, inventorying resources, and investigating the need for standards for vehicles and drivers.
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214 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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State agencies have successfully encouraged and supported coordinated transportation services by ✦ Offering specific support for coordination, including – Encouraging or requiring coordination in legislation or regulation or Executive orders, – Establishing interagency coordinating councils or boards, – Creating a statewide coordinated transportation plan, – Funding local coordinated transportation plans, – Providing instructions and encouragement from state agencies supporting the coordination of the transportation activities of their grantees, and – Conducting regional meetings to discuss coordination and specific coordination plans within the state; ✦ Providing quality control standards, oversight, and monitoring; ✦ Providing technical assistance; ✦ Establishing guiding principles for coordination; ✦ Supporting extensive local planning efforts; ✦ Supporting comprehensive services, including all modes of transit, all degrees of urbanization, and all potential trip purposes; ✦ Providing state DOT assistance with "selling" coordination; ✦ Obtaining input from nontransit agencies; ✦ Providing handbooks and guidebooks; and ✦ Funding, supporting, and evaluating demonstration projects. Chapter 7 Model Processes for Statewide Coordination 215
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More serious and systematic problems, such as the Head Start vehicles problem or the lack of administrative funding, may require serious consideration at the Federal or state level. 216 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Questions were asked about the benefits and problems of coordination and about support that the respondents received from the state and other sources, the kinds of Chapter 8 SUCCESSFUL, INSIGHTFUL, COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
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The benefits of coordinating transportation often included one or more of these outcomes: ✦ Access to a greater level of funding and to more funding sources; ✦ Access to the specialized expertise of a wide variety of transportation providers and human service agencies; ✦ Access to state agency expertise and support; ✦ Lower trip costs for riders; ✦ Lower trip costs for agencies; ✦ Transportation services provided in areas formerly without service; ✦ Transportation services provided to riders formerly without transportation service (this allows some people to remain independent in their own homes for a longer time than would otherwise have been possible, thus reducing both personal and social costs of unnecessary institutionalization) ; 218 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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transportation services, resulting from enhanced training programs and more rigorous risk management; ✦ Better access to jobs, health care, and shopping; ✦ Increased activity for local businesses; ✦ Enhanced image, name recognition, and visibility for transportation providers; ✦ Enhanced ability of human service agencies to focus on their primary missions, instead of on transportation; ✦ Stronger support and funding commitments from local elected officials and key leaders in the social service network; ✦ A better match between services and transportation needs; and ✦ Broader community support for maintaining and expanding transportation services. Which of these benefits are achieved in a given community depends strongly on local conditions, including the resources and activities of the transportation providers and other key stakeholders, as well as local political considerations.
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Competition from other sources -- such as road and bridge projects -- for scarce public funding is a common complaint. 220 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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One system noted the importance of generating the need to get early commitments from influential political figures and then to reward them with publicity and recognition. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 221
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Many of these factors are presented here in the original words of the system operators who were interviewed; some recommendations have been 222 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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If leaders can be tapped who recognize that consensus on the need for transportation exists, they can direct coordination's efforts to that end when disagreements arise. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 223
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. 224 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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These systems are critical to obtaining and keeping funding and to tracking performance. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 225
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226 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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you are dealing with and work with or around each of these factors. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 227
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228 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Case Studies ✦ Greene County, Ohio: Countywide Public Transit Coordination; ✦ Buffalo County, Nebraska: Coordination Through Brokerage; ✦ Huron County, Ohio: Coordination Among Agencies, Transit Systems, and Counties; ✦ Bay County, Michigan: Transit System Brokerage; ✦ Northwest Montana: Blackfeet Transit; ✦ Roseau County, Minnesota: Small-Scale Agency Coordination; ✦ Ottawa County, Ohio: Growing from Agency to Public Transportation; ✦ Alger County, Michigan: Coordinated Public Transit Services; ✦ Holmes County, Ohio: Coordinated Services and Dispatching; ✦ Union County, Ohio: Contracted Local Services; ✦ Hubbard County, Minnesota: Public, Agency, and Intercity Services; ✦ Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska: Nearing Consolidation; ✦ Mason County, Washington: Countywide Coordination; ✦ Butte County, California: Attempting to Consolidate Services; ✦ Northwestern California: Klamath Trinity Non-Emergency Transportation; ✦ Wasco County, Oregon: Multistrategy Countywide Coordination; ✦ Riverside County, California: Volunteer Transportation for Multiple Agencies; ✦ Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas Counties, Oregon: Multicounty Coordinated Volunteer Services; ✦ Fresno County, California: Multiprovider Coordination; ✦ Kern County, California: Countywide Public Transportation Coordination; Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 229
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✦ Western Indiana: Multicounty Public Transit Services; ✦ Malheur County, Oregon: Coordinated Agency Trips; ✦ Merced County, California: Consolidated Services; ✦ Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties, Oregon: Program Coordination Within One Agency; ✦ South Central Illinois Mass Transit District: Progress Toward Coordination; ✦ Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah: Navajo Transit System; ✦ Southern Illinois: Centralized Multicounty Services; ✦ North Central Minnesota: Regional Public Transit Services; and ✦ Eastern Washington and North Central Idaho: Multiple Coordination Strategies. 230 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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421 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 54,776 Annual Expenses $1,074,275 Cost/Trip $19.61 Major Funding Sources FTA Section 5311 Coordinating Agencies Greene County Commissioners, County Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities, Department of Job and Family Services, social service agencies (informal) Other Broker for 51 participating agencies Background: The Greene Coordinated Agency Transportation System (CATS)
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Greene CATS has a 13-member board, with an executive director, and all members are participating not-for-profit agencies. In January 2001, public transportation service started with funding from the Section 5311 rural transportation program.
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Recommendations to Others: The best advice is to offer to the public, the community, and agencies involved in coordination efforts a set of products and services of true value. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 233
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Sponsoring Organization Buffalo County Community Health Partners Transportation Social Work Group City, State Kearney, NE Service Type Door-to-door transportation services Service Area Buffalo County, NE Service Area Population 37,477 Service Area Size (sq mi) 968 Data for Year Ending 2002 One-way Trips per Year 81,789 one-way boardings Annual Expenses $475,000 Cost/Trip $475,000/81,789 = $5.81 Major Funding Sources JARC Coordinating Agencies Local university, City of Kearney, Buffalo County, local cab and livery companies, local school districts, Mid-Nebraska Community Action, Inc., hospital Other The total agency annual budget is $9.5 million; transportation gets 5 percent, according to 2002 annual report.
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Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 235
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Background: In Huron County, the Huron County Transit Board is the Section 5311 rural transportation grant recipient and the direct provider of transportation services. Huron County Transit serves Huron County and contiguous areas representing a service area of more than 497 square miles with a population of 56,240 in 1990.
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The Huron County Transit Board participates with neighboring counties to offer "World Link" service. Passengers transfer to Lorain County transportation service for $3 and are able to travel to Cleveland Hopkins Airport and thus "link to the world." Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 237 Huron County Transit Funding Sources Local Assistance 19% Contract Fares 24% Passenger Fares 7% State Assistance 50% Contract Fares State Assistance Local Assistance Passenger Fares Operating Expenses*
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. Figure 2 238 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV Huron County Transit's Ridership Increase 2403 10497 14754 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 1999 2000 2001Trips
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What works in one location may not work everywhere; ✦ Identify the unmet needs and determine what will work best for your community; ✦ Realize as coordination begins, everyone may agree there is a need for transportation, but may differ on how to meet that need; ✦ Be patient, it will take time to work together and make compromises; and ✦ Work with individuals and agencies committed to the project and realize it is not always possible to win everyone over. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 239
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, recently Arenac County Background: Bay METRO provides fixed-route and curb-to-curb service throughout Bay County. It has contracts with almost all human service agencies in the community, such as YMCA, Social Services, preschool programs, Area Agency on Aging, and Head Start.
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Agreements were developed with school districts, community action programs, all subcontractors, all participating agencies, and county commissioners of other counties. Schedules, bus stops, and transfer points were created in the 1970s.
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242 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Coordinating Agencies MDT for FTA funding coordination, organizations located in Browning and the Blackfeet Reservation, including Indian Health Services, the community college, community health representatives, nursing homes, and markets. Background: Blackfeet Transit in Northwest Montana has been providing transportation service since 1978.
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Challenges and Lessons Learned: Having been in operation for almost 26 years now, the core advice that Blackfeet Transit's supervisor would offer other tribal programs is to keep trying different tactics if one does 244 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 245
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; Minnesota Department of Transportation; Roseau County Coordinating Agencies Social Services; County Commissioners; Roseau County Committee on Aging; Occupational Development Center; Focus Corporation; Rehabilitation Service Office; Head Start; a nursing home Background: Roseau County is a very rural county located in northeastern Minnesota on the Canadian border. Roseau County has a population of 16,000 and a land area of 1,663 square miles.
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The evaluation and recommendation focused on the value of public transportation to the county. Benefits of Coordination: Roseau County Transit recognizes the following benefits of coordination: access to more funding; filling gaps where there was no service; better access to jobs, health care, and shopping; increased activity to local businesses; and enhanced visibility and image of transit.
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253 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 46,000 Annual Expenses $613,736 Cost/Trip $21.15 Major Funding Sources Ottawa County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) , ODOT, FTA, Ottawa County Commissioners, agency contracts, fares Coordinating Agencies County MRDD Board, Department of Job and Family Services, Salvation Army, United Way, Goodwill, retirement communities, nursing homes, school, area agencies on aging, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation Other Annual trips are those within the county.
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Recommendations for Others: OCTA's best advice would be to work with at least one agency that is well funded and tax supported. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 249
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913 Data for Year Ending 2000 One-way Trips per Year 90,000 Annual Expenses $714,000 Cost/Trip $7.93 Major Funding Sources Federal and state funds, contracts with Family Independence Agency, Michigan Works, school districts, Meals on Wheels, Headstart, etc. Coordinating Agencies Family Independence Agency; Michigan Works; three of the four school districts in the county; summer schools; youth programs; Meals on Wheels; parks and recreation programs; mental health services; nursing homes; Head Start; churches (for Sunday worship services)
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The Alger/Marquette Community Action Board was the third-party operator of transportation services for Alger County until March 1990. Altran was created in March 1990 under Michigan Act 196 as a transit authority to provide the countywide public transportation services.
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423 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 16,000 Annual Expenses $220,000 Cost/Trip $13.75 Major Funding Sources Coordinating agencies must participate financially. Coordinating Agencies 27 agencies, including a senior center, three school districts, the Department of Job and Family Services, Every Woman's House, Juvenile Court, County Home, Red Cross Other HCTC began operations in April 2000.
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To begin coordinated transportation service, agreements were executed between 23 participating agencies and the Holmes County Commissioners. Before this initiative, coordination of transportation services among the agencies did not exist.
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Trips out of county are primarily for medical appointments Background: UCATS provides demand response, door-to-door service to clients of its participating agencies to transport them to medical appointments, grocery stores, malls, work, and social and recreational activities. There are no fixed routes or transfers.
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All of their vehicles are 13-passenger minivans or high-top vans. UCATS' mission is "to promote coordination of transportation resources among county agencies and on a limited basis provide transportation to county residents." UCATS fulfills its mission by ✦ Linking individuals needing transportation with transportation resources in the community, ✦ Assisting agencies in locating transportation resources for their clients, ✦ Providing overflow transportation for participating agencies, ✦ Helping to prevent duplication of effort by coordinating trips for participating agencies, ✦ Helping to negotiate the purchase of service contracts among agencies, and ✦ Seeking out additional sources of funding to improve transportation services in the county.
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When facing roadblocks, discover which of these "P" factors you are dealing with and work with or around each of these factors. 256 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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1,000 Data for Year Ending 2000 One-way Trips per Year 17,344 Annual Expenses $179,373 Cost/Trip $10.34 Major Funding Sources County government Coordinating Agencies Park Rapids Schools, the Development Achievement Center, Greyhound, social service and transportation agencies in neighboring counties Background: Hubbard County, located in the northern central part of Minnesota, is a rural county with population of 18,000 and land area of 1,000 square miles. Hubbard County Heartland Express (HE)
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The cost of trips, level of ridership, types of riders, and age groups are monitored. According to the coordinator, "Our biggest success is the ability to work together with those who provide transportation services and understand each other." But the coordinator thinks that they are still in progress of accomplishing better working relationships and that they need and can do better.
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24,000 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 45,224 Annual Expenses $600,000 Cost/Trip $13.27 Major Funding Sources 15 funding sources, including 40 percent Federal funds and contributions from local nonprofits Coordinating Agencies 90 agencies, including nonprofit agencies (e.g., United Way, Boys and Girls Club) , government agencies (e.g., Medicaid, local schools)
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Before MASCOT, social service agencies and nonprofit organizations were providing their own transportation services to their clients and customers, and there was no formal public transportation. Because of these factors, a study called Project "Getting There" was the first effort to address these issues and discuss the possibility of transit consolidation in the Borough.
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Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 261
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Considering the initial and continued support for the consolidated service, however, the program director hopes to continue working with the local community to meet the ever-growing demand. 262 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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700 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 300,000 Annual Expenses $1,200,000 Cost/Trip $4 Major Funding Sources Local sales tax, contracts, Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) Coordinating Agencies Mason County's Coordinated Transportation Coalition Overview: The Mason County Transportation Authority (Mason Transit)
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no transportation for students to attend extracurricular activities. In spring 2000, Mason Transit contracted with the Shelton School and North Mason School Districts to use the bus after school (around 5 p.m.)
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The following list outlines a number of obstacles and challenges faced by Mason Transit in coordinating general public transportation services with the local school district and other regional providers. ✦ School buses do not have programmable headsigns and all carry school logos.
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✦ Labor or union issues raised by school bus drivers performing public transportation services. Mason Transit administration faced no significant objection from the regular drivers because (1)
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1,400 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 2,000,000 Annual Expenses $4,094,405 Cost/Trip $2.05 Major Funding Sources Diverse sources among the seven coordinated transportation providers Coordinating Agencies Chico Area Transit (CATS) , Oroville Area Transit, Butte County Transit (rural)
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For example, Butte County pays a significant portion of the operating costs for Chico's CATS system because much of the CATS service area is beyond the city boundaries, in unincorporated areas considered part of the urbanized area. Likewise, cost-sharing agreements are in place for the rural Butte 268 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 269
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Quantitative data are for first quarter of 2003, while qualitative data includes development period before launch One-way Trips per Year No data yet Annual Expenses No data yet Cost/Trip No data yet Major Funding Sources FTA 5310, Humboldt County Social Services, National Presbyterian Committee for Self-Development of People, Humboldt Area Foundation. Coordinating Agencies St.
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awarded a $30,000 grant for staffing to K/T NeT to show its support for the establishment of "a feeder transportation system linking California communities within a 50-mile radius of Willow Creek." Other funding sources and agreements include the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for provision of FTA 5310 funds; a $40,000 grant from Humboldt County Social Services for insurance, an office, and bus equipment; $8,500 from St.
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There is coordination with the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) , which enables K/T NeT riders to travel on to the coast from the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation and the Willow Creek Family Center.
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Already, service to the tribal communities of Orleans and Weitchpec has been cancelled because of funding issues. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 273
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, fare revenue, Wasco County, The Dalles, Mid-Columbia Senior Center, Greyhound, Oregon DOT Coordinating Agencies Senior centers, hospital Other Wamic Senior Bus (a door-to-door demand response subcontractor) open to everyone, but primarily for seniors and persons with disabilities, donation only Background: The lead transportation agency for Wasco County is the Mid-Columbia Council of Governments Transportation Network.
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Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 275 Funding Source Amount Allocation Special Transportation Formula $51,842 General operations FTA operating funds for small cities $50,000 Operations Oregon Department of Transportation $32,860 Elderly and disabled transportation operations Special Transportation Grant (discretionary funds from STF) $17,000 General operations Wasco County, The Dalles, Mid-Columbia Senior Center $20,000 General operations Greyhound $12,000 General operations Fare revenues $42,000 General operations Donations $100 General operations TOTAL $225,802
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The service carries approximately six riders per revenue hour, very high for a demand-response system. Elderly and Disabled Transportation Services -- The Transportation Network also works with the Mosier Senior Center to provide elderly and disabled transportation services to residents in the Mosier Valley west of The Dalles.
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✦ The Transportation Network is able to ensure that passengers throughout the county receive safer transportation services. Challenges and Opportunities in Coordinating Services: The following is a list of important lessons learned by MCCOG as its coordination program has developed: Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 277
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Make sure that elected officials are involved and "buy-in" to the process of developing coordinated transportation services. The executive director of the MCCOG Transportation Network cited one example of how they achieved this goal: After they purchased their first new vehicle, they shot a photo with the vehicle and all the elected officials for the newspaper.
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Service Area Persons using TRIP must begin and end their round trip in Riverside County; no restriction on crossing jurisdictional boundaries; trips are restricted to 50 miles one way Service Area Population 1,500,000 Service Area Size (sq mi) 7,200 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 48,350 Annual Expenses $350,157 Cost/Trip $7.24 Major Funding Sources Measure A (Riverside County's half-cent transportation tax)
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This is because persons accepted into the program are generally 280 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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Although 85 percent of TRIP clients are successful in recruiting a driver, TRIP staff has begun a volunteer driver corps to help the remaining 15 percent. The concept is to partner with existing organizations to recruit Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 281
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TRIP is working with the California Senior Legislature to persuade the State Legislature to earmark funds for a demonstration project. Through a 282 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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By understanding programs such as TRIP, policymakers and the public will support funding for reimbursement programs, allowing them to grow. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 283
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Ride Connection has developed partnerships with 32 separate partner agencies and holds 22 separate contracts with its participating providers. These groups include ✦ Adult and senior centers, ✦ Mental health clinics, ✦ Health care providers, ✦ Community centers, ✦ Health and rehabilitation centers, ✦ Independent living resource centers, 284 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV WASHINGTON, MULTNOMAH, AND CLACKAMAS COUNTIES, OREGON: MULTICOUNTY COORDINATED VOLUNTEER SERVICES
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Among these organizations are adult and senior centers, mental health clinics, community centers and other transportation services. History of Coordination: In 1986, Tri-Met, the tricounty regional public transportation provider in the Portland area, formed the Citizen's Advisory Committee on Elderly and Disabled Transportation to evaluate the needs of elderly and disabled residents.
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From page 279... ...
Ride Connection typically addresses bad referrals by contacting the caregiver directly. 286 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 280... ...
Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 287
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From page 281... ...
Major Funding Sources Social service agencies; adult day care centers; FCEOC; California's Transportation Development funds, a permanent source of transit funding. Coordinating Agencies FCRTA and FCEOC are co-designated as the CTSA for the rural portion of Fresno County.
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From page 282... ...
It has accomplished these results by meeting the following objectives: ✦ centralized administration, ✦ consolidated funding, ✦ centralized dispatching, ✦ centralized maintenance, Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 289
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From page 283... ...
With the exception of a few agencies that continue to insist on providing their own very limited transportation services, the rural CTSA reports that nearly all nonspecialized social service transportation services in Fresno County are now being coordinated, provided by, or assisted by, at least one of the three CTSAs. Some additional adult care centers are now participating in the CTSA programs, resulting in greater use of CTSA vehicles.
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From page 284... ...
Each route or dial-a-ride service operates on a unique schedule, but the major services operate weekdays from Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 291 KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION
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From page 285... ...
County Transit staff regularly have scheduled meetings with local transit operators to discuss how their operations might be turned over to the county. Coordination is expected to provide benefits through a combination of administrative cost efficiencies (Kern Regional 292 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 286... ...
For example, Pioneer Senior Citizens negotiated with Kern County to operate the service between Buttonwillow and Bakersfield. Nevertheless, all planning and scheduling for Kern Regional Transit services is done by the transit staff and does not necessarily involve the jurisdictions it serves.
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From page 287... ...
The study is being overseen by stakeholders representing jurisdictions throughout the county, as well as social services that work with seniors, job seekers, and persons with disabilities. Study outcomes are expected to address a simplified coordinated service plan, provide opportunities for fare and marketing coordination, and determine how rural transit services should be organized and administered in the county.
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From page 288... ...
1,756 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 14,400 Annual Expenses $529,000 Cost/Trip $8.65 Major Funding Sources Each agency is reimbursed per trip by Four Rivers Ride Solution; Section 5311, local matching, fares Coordinating Agencies Wabash Valley Human Services, Senior and Family Services, Martin County Council on Aging, Greene County Council on Aging, Area 7 AoA and Disabled Other NOTE: Agency is reporting unduplicated passengers per year, not annual trips. Southern Indiana Development Commission receives 5311 funding through Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
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From page 289... ...
296 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 290... ...
. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 297
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From page 291... ...
City, State Ontario, OR Service Type Demand special needs transportation Service Area Malheur County, OR and small portions of Baker County, OR; Washington, Payette, Gem, and Canyon Counties, ID Service Area Population Elderly and disabled residents Service Area Size (sq mi) 12,580 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 32,236 Annual Expenses $318,000 Cost/Trip $9.86 Major Funding Sources Agency contracts, Oregon STF (state cigarette tax revenue)
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From page 292... ...
Among the groups to whom MCOA provides transportation services are Oregon Medicaid Assistance Program, Idaho Medicaid, Ontario School District, mental health agencies, assisted-living projects, and several senior centers. Annual revenue from contracts with participant agencies totaled $193,487 in FY2000-2001.
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From page 293... ...
Among the other benefits of MCOA's coordination successes are ✦ Ability to provide an important public service not previously available, increasing the level of mobility for elderly and disabled citizens of Malheur County, Baker County, and the Treasure Valley in Idaho. ✦ Availability of transportation services to a larger percentage of the elderly and disabled population.
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From page 294... ...
✦ A long history of cooperative working relationships between public and social service agencies and organizations in Malheur County. The rural nature of the county and distance from any major metropolitan area has taught agencies and service providers to rely on one another for support.
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From page 295... ...
16,000 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 736,822 Annual Expenses $5,800,000 Cost/Trip $4.04 fixed route; $9.98 dial-a-ride Major Funding Sources Local AAA, fares Coordinating Agencies Merced County and cities of Merced, Los Banos, Atwater, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston Other Annual trips are 587,946 fixed route, 148,876 dial-a-ride. Annual expenses are said to be "current." Background: Merced County Transit (MCT)
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From page 296... ...
Interlining those services would have provided better frequencies along some key corridors and would have reduced the need for many riders coming from the most rural parts of the county to transfer. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 303
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From page 297... ...
304 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 298... ...
As the region's community action agency, Community Connection serves as the area's central repository for a wide variety of social services. The agency is based in La Grande, but has satellite offices in Baker and Wallowa counties.
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From page 299... ...
✦ Other social service providers know their clients have a reliable source of transportation. With Community Connection firmly in place, these providers feel less pressure to provide transportation services and can focus resources on their primary care objectives.
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From page 300... ...
However, this is not a comfortable situation. Recommendations: Community Connection provided a number of recommendations for rural providers interested in setting up coordinated transportation networks: ✦ Be flexible and maintain an ability to adapt to changing needs and conditions.
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From page 301... ...
Service Area Marion, Jefferson, Clinton, Washington, and Franklin Counties, IL Service Area Population 171,437 Service Area Size (sq mi) 2,600 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 250,000 Annual Expenses $2,167,116 Cost/Trip $9.49 Major Funding Sources Formed with IDOT grant, became Mass Transit District, now gets direct funding from IDOT and FTA Section 5311 Coordinating Agencies Businesses and schools, rehabilitation workshops, senior centers meal delivery, DHS and health centers.
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to 6:00 p.m. Coordinated transportation services include trips to rehabilitation workshops, senior centers, meal delivery, Department of Human Services (DHS)
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310 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV Table 15: SOUTH CENTRAL TRANSIT'S FARE STRUCTURE Call 532-8076, 242-0202 or 1-800-660-7433 Door-to-Door Service Curb-to-Curb Service Seniors (60 and over) $1.00 $ .50 Seniors - Mt.
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From page 304... ...
Recommendations for Others: Communicate with many agencies and people in the community to reach a diverse group of people and select a transportation committee. Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 311
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From page 305... ...
, which occupies nearly 27,000 square miles in the southwestern United States, including parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. NTS provides transportation throughout the Reservation, primarily through intercity bus service linking distant portions of the Navajo Nation and through limited local service.
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From page 306... ...
Navajo Transit is exploring ways to provide service to workforce clients via fixed route. ✦ Intratribal coordination with the Hopi Reservation -- NTS provides service to the Hopi Nation situated in the center of the Navajo Nation.
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From page 307... ...
Some of the reasons why enacting change and fostering coordinated transit activities has been a lengthy process are the enormous transit distances that need to be covered, the sovereignty of the Navajo Nation, and the resources required to carry out new services. 314 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 308... ...
3,361 Data for Year Ending 2001 One-way Trips per Year 224,760 Annual Expenses $2,286,472 Cost/Trip $10.17 Major Funding Sources JARC, JFS, workshops Coordinating Agencies 70+ agencies (alternative schools, churches, social services, insurance companies, sheltered workshops, etc.) Background: RIDES is a coordinated transportation system that serves the general public and special populations in Pope, Hardin, Gallatin, Saline, White, Hamilton, Wayne, Edwards, and Wabash counties in southern Illinois.
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From page 309... ...
It has been estimated that for every dollar spent on public transportation, a community realizes $4 to $5 in economic return. 316 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 310... ...
Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 317
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From page 311... ...
Counties, MN Service Area Population 322,073 Service Area Size (sq mi) 18,221 Data for Year Ending 2000 One-way Trips per Year 335,300 Annual Expenses $2,239,283 Cost/Trip $6.68 Major Funding Sources JFS, Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency Coordinating Agencies Duluth Transit Authority (DTA)
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From page 312... ...
It gives you more riders and better service." Chapter 8 Successful, Insightful, Coordinated Transportation Services in Rural Communities 319
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From page 313... ...
The COA&HS provides a broad range of programs, including social services, nutrition, transportation, and subnursing home care. The transportation program, COAST, delivers specialized public transportation services to the residents who live in four Washington and five Idaho counties -- a huge service area, covering 23,000 miles.
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From page 314... ...
COAST became the lead agency and this led to the formation of a coalition of regional transportation providers. The original coalition was quite diverse and included representatives from schools, child care centers, public transportation systems, Washington State University, a private airporter service, DSHS, a local community action agency, and other service providers.
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Maintenance can be shared or either 322 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV * These descriptions are directly adapted from Johanson, 2000.
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From page 316... ...
COAST found that most rural transit providers do not have the capacity to contract to provide school district transportation the way providers often do in urban areas. Public law 94142 required school districts to provide accessible, lift-equipped vehicles for special education students in the late 1970s almost 15 years before passage of the ADA; consequently, most districts have a small bus that is lift equipped.
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From page 317... ...
Ongoing documentation and dissemination of information during coordination can safeguard against the demise of a program due to the loss of one or two key staff members. 324 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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From page 318... ...
Some communities have engaged relatively few partners in their coordination efforts, while other communities have extensive arrangements that cross many of the traditional boundaries of passenger types, service modes, funding sources, and political jurisdictions. Respondents for the local case studies often mentioned a wide range of challenges and opportunities regarding coordinating transportation services in rural areas: ✦ Funding, ✦ Interpersonal relationships, ✦ Political support and power sharing, ✦ Lack of knowledge about transportation services, and ✦ Understanding coordination.
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From page 319... ...
Watch the bottom line! 326 Casebook of State and Local Coordination Models SECTION IV
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