Developing Partnerships between Transportation Agencies and the Disability and Underrepresented Communities (2013) / Chapter Skim
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April 2013 TrAnsiT CooperATive reseArCh progrAm sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration Program Officer: Gwen Chisholm-Smith Research Results Digest 107 Summary Many U.S. transit agencies, particularly those serving urban areas, find that they serve a diverse population and that a significant portion of their patronage is from minority and disability communities.
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2approaches and information in narrative and graphic form on developing partnerships with the disability and underrepresented communities. To achieve the study's objectives, two phases of data collection were used.
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3that transit agencies communicate regularly with the underrepresented and disability communities via a database network of organizations, organization websites, social media, news releases, flyers, and media outlets tailored to the language and cultural interests of the targeted group. Partners with transit agencies recommend that transit connect with the target market by developing relationships with other organizations that serve them.
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4The research answered the following questions: 1. How do transit systems get advice from the disability and underrepresented groups in the communities that they serve?
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5initiatives. All interviewees were asked to respond to the same open-ended questions.
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6The literature revealed that there is no single definition of successful public involvement, although a measure of effectiveness is essential. Successful public involvement can be judged purely based on outcomes; the results determine the effectiveness of the participatory means.
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7access for LEP persons to the agencies' programs and (2) to work to ensure their recipients provide meaningful access to LEP applicants and beneficiaries.
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8specific program or issue (Koontz 2005)
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9Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Get Involved.
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10 advisory committees are a commonly used mechanism for public outreach, involvement, and participation. Transit agencies often have advisory committees for planning and operations, major capital projects, service changes, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
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11 •• Evaluation techniques: A collaborative evaluation of both task/goal and process objectives is necessary to measure effectiveness (Schulz, Israel & Lantz 2002)
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12 •• Share the stage with community leaders, •• Establish trust -- be patient and move slowly if cultural differences are great, •• Provide the following for meetings, public forums, focus groups, or neighborhood hearings: – The opportunity for verbal and written feedback, – Visual/hands-on presentations, – Multilingual translators, – Sign-language interpreters, – Accessible locations without physical barriers, – Child care, – Refreshments, – Accessibility via public transportation, and – Communication of final results. project action Project ACTION (Accessible Community Trans portation in Our Nation)
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13 standards, policies, practices, and attitudes used in appropriate cultural settings to increase the quality of services; thereby producing better outcomes" (Davis 1997)
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14 large urban areas; 37 are located in medium-sized cities, and 13 are located in rural areas or small urban communities (the respondents also include the UM Shuttle, the transit system serving the University of Maryland, College Park)
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15 and (6) limited knowledge about transportation and other programs and services (National Association of Conservation 2003, p.
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16 Figure 3 Significance of barriers. Figure 2 Strategies for identifying disability and underrepresented groups.
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17 agencies indicated that accessibility of the meeting place was not a significant barrier. outreach StrategieS For public involvement Transit agencies reported using a variety of the following techniques to engage the disability and underrepresented communities: •• Community organizations, •• Advocacy organizations, •• Community partnerships, •• Transit agency advisory committees, •• Disability organizations, •• Church or religious organizations, •• Community leaders elders, •• Family members, •• Tribal leaders, •• Bilingual minority staff, •• Neighborhood staff and associations, •• Minority outreach coordinators, •• Targeted radio/TV ads, and •• Community newsletters.
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18 to other underrepresented groups -- Asian Americans (38 percent) , Native Americans (33 percent)
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19 analyzing respondents' comments. Examples of those comments are listed within the following discussion of each question.
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20 Strategic Outreach •• "We use a strategic community engagement approach for every outreach effort, where our relationships built within one effort extend and become stronger from one effort to the next. This approach includes using data and community knowledge to design appropriate and targeted outreach to affected populations." •• "Our department (Transportation Services)
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21 table 5 Key factors in establishing community partnerships Key Factors No. of Agencies Communication 14 Community organizations 12 Mutual trust 9 Meeting needs of the community 7 Stakeholder input 5 Attention to diversity 3 Include stakeholders in decision making 1 Other 1 Identifying Key Stakeholders •• "Formation of a Paratransit Coordinating Council (PCC)
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22 a common vision and implementation strategy that collectively solves problems. It involves "pooling resources (information, money, and labor)
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23 On the bottom of the ladder are two forms of nonparticipation: manipulation and therapy. Therapy pretends to involve people in planning in order to help those people feel better about themselves; manipulation is also a facade of participation and is concerned with educating people or getting them on board.
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24 and eventually share resources to achieve success. This ladder is easily transferable to generic transportation projects (i.e., the relationship between consumer advisory committees and transportation officials)
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25 There is wide variation in the make-up and organizational structure of citizen advisory committees. Most are described as a representative group of citizens or stakeholders that meets regularly to discuss issues of common concern (Hull 2010)
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26 and decision-making boards are established by statute, regulation, or political decision. On the other hand, a citizen advisory committee is a group of stakeholders that meets regularly to discuss issues of common concern.
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27 •• Evaluation techniques: A collaborative evaluation of both task/goal and process objectives is necessary to measure effectiveness (Schulz, Israel & Lantz 2002, p.
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28 unSucceSSFul partnerShipS Transit systems can often operate in silos, even when "reaching out" to the community. The lack of transparency and openness can derail the trustbuilding process with underrepresented communities and possible stakeholders.
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29 is appropriate or rewarding or meet with community advisors to get a sense of the best methods of getting feedback and comments and resolving conflicts. According to Szyliowicz (2002)
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30 underrepresented communities. The agencies were selected based on the literature review, evaluation of their own outreach strategies and relationships with underrepresented groups, and their willingness to participate in qualitative interviews.
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31 With its early roots in coordination, LTD maintains a very interactive relationship with the disability community, which has been strengthened over the last 30 years. Lane's outreach approach to people with disabilities extends beyond physical disabilities and includes people with various cognitive disabilities.
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32 ride-sharing programs, the MPO, and workforce development organizations, enhanced services to reduce the barrier of transportation to employment. The effort became an early model in workforce development and community outreach, specifically focusing on transportation for a transit-dependent population.
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33 partnerships Accessibility has always been a priority at PACE, which provided dial-a-ride and vanpool services for people with disabilities prior to the passage of the ADA. The initial vanpool program transported people with disabilities to work at sheltered workshops.
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34 for people with disabilities, which also allows PACE to distribute materials through its mailing list. Social Media and Text Messaging.
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35 vehicles: bus, subway and elevated rail, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolley bus. Created by the Pennsylvania legislature in 1963, SEPTA is governed by a 15-member board of directors.
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36 address it, they look for ways to personalize the issue. For example, if a passenger with a disability has difficulty boarding, he or she may have the option of practicing boarding skills at the Accessible Transit Center.
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37 free ride program. The change will substantially affect the ridership, especially low-income riders and those with disabilities.
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38 However they highlighted "best practices" regarding outreach strategies. The case studies presented offer examples of what agencies have defined as best practices and lessons learned when reaching out to underrepresented groups.
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39 that they represent. Effective partnerships have a strong leader who champions the partnership and its vision and goals.
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40 Stakeholders include community groups, environmental groups, school systems, universities, residents, and local businesses. They are identified through steering and advisory committees, working groups, surveys, newsletters, and personal meetings with key players.
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41 into the community's needs and ultimately shape a neighborhood plan reflective of each community. The City of Seattle recruited and hired 13 cultural liaisons from within diverse communities to conduct engagement and outreach activities.
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42 Latinos and promote PACE services. SEPTA reaches out to the disability and minority communities through regular community events such as health fairs and community days with local elected officials.
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43 •• Translation of materials; having translators available at meetings as requested; and •• Including information on meeting notices regarding how to request translation assistance.
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44 BUILDING ExTERIOR Off-Street Parking/Passenger Loading Zone _____ Number of accessible parking spaces, # Required Spaces _____ _____ * At least one van space, 96″ space with 96″ access aisle/132″ space with 60″, 114″•vertical clearance)
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45 Entrances _____ * At least one primary entrance accessible, door 32″ clear opening _____ Threshold height ¼″ maximum, ½″ if beveled; if not, actual height is_____ _____ An 18″ clear maneuvering space at the pull side of the door _____ Level and unobstructed area 5′ × 5′ both sides of door _____ Lever or loop-type door handles _____ Door opening pressure 8.5 lbs.
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46 Public Telephones (Where Provided)
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47 MEETING ROOMS AND COMMON USE AREAS Meeting Rooms – Room # / Name of Room: __________________________________________________________________________________ (Please complete for each meeting room to be used.)
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48 Changing Times 1967. "Who Speaks for the Consumer Now?
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49 Frey, W.H., Berube, A., Singer, A Wilson, J.H.
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50 Brabham, D.C., Sanchez, T.W., and Bartholomew, K
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51 com/department/106/Work-Force-Diversity/Work forcediversity (as of March 15, 2010)
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52 Wu, E and Martinez, M
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53 •• Including the Spanish media in the distribution of news releases; •• Advertising public hearings, meetings, projects, and programs in Spanish print, radio, and television media; •• Providing simultaneous translation services at meetings; •• Producing Spanish language website content; and •• Timely response to public input. monterey bay's public involvement Strategies Public Information •Visualization techniques •Large employers/schools •Email distribution lists •Agency websites Targeted Outreach •Faith-based communities •Partner with health services programs •Flyers/inserts in paychecks •TV/radio interviews Public Input •Advisory committees •Targeted focus groups •Targeted community meetings •Bilingual committees This plan provides guidance in the structuring of regional transportation planning processes to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, interagency consultation and public participation are an integral and continuing part of the regional transportation decision-making process.
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54 analysis of Bay Area communities based on income and race. The results were used to identify community-based organizations (CBOs)
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55 workshop. Home visits were also made to community members challenged in other ways such as accessibility, language, or cultural barriers, or even those not comfortable in a public setting" (Childress 2007, p.
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56 SJCOG's public participation plan is not a static document, but an ongoing strategy, periodically reviewed and updated based on SJCOG experiences and the changing circumstances of SJCOG, the Commission, and the transportation community it serves. Performance measures for the effectiveness of the participation program are under development and the results will be shared with the public.
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57 virginia Department oF tranSportation (vDot) public involvement toolkit VDOT conducted an assessment of its public involvement practices and used the results to develop a public involvement "toolkit" for use by VDOT staff.
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58 their own cultural context. The health care industry is a leader in minority outreach.
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59 sen for cultural and language proficiency. The San Francisco Medical Center has been an award-winning model in the health care industry.
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60 Nonetheless, challenges still exist in outreach and identifying and engaging members from disability and underrepresented communities. Cultural, attitudinal, and language barriers may limit or prevent the involvement of individuals from underrepresented communities.
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Transportation Research Board 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 These digests are issued in order to increase awareness of research results emanating from projects in the Cooperative Research Programs (CRP)
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