Human Service Transportation Coordination:

The Metropolitan WashingtonExperience

Beth Newman Transportation Planner

AMPO Annual Conference

October 3, 2007

National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board

• MPO for National Capital Region

• Members – Local Elected Officials

– State transportation agencies

– State legislatures

– WMATA

The Transportation Planning Board (TPB)

TPB Planning Area

Approximately 3,000 square miles

Includes 4.5 million people and 2.8 million jobs

Funding Realities

JARC Funding Significantly Reduced

MD: $5.3 mil

WMATA/DC: $4.5 mil

VA: $1.2 mil

$1.2 mil

TEA-21 SAFETEA-LU

Source: http://www.apta.com/government_affairs/appropriations/fy2004omnibus.cfm#jarc

Funding in Perspective

$40

$60

$2.4 $2.0$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

MetroAccess OtherSpecialized

JARC NewFreedom

Ap

pro

xim

ate

Fu

nd

ing

(M

illion

s)

Based on FY2003 figures. JARC and New Freedom totals shown include funding with the required 50/50 match for an operating program.

The Process: Getting Stakeholders to the Table

TPB Role

• Evolved from stakeholder meetings• Ad-hoc group:

– Departments of Transportation– WMATA– Public and private transportation providers– Human service agencies– Advisory Committee members (consumers)

• Recommended TPB as designated recipient

TPB Human Services Transportation Coordination Task Force

• Purpose:– Develop the

Coordinated Plan– Facilitate greater

coordination of services

– Evaluate effectiveness of Plan and selection criteria

• 42 Members Represent:– Public transit

agencies– Departments of

Transportation– Private and nonprofit

transportation providers

– Human service agencies

– Users/Consumers

Consumer Involvement

• Access for All Advisory Committee

• Citizen’s Advisory Committee

• Consumer Focus Groups

The First Coordinated Plan: New Thinking

Plan Approach

• Encourage innovative pilots that:– Creatively address unmet

needs– Offer lessons learned about

addressing obstacles • Sets framework for

greater coordination and collaboration

Four Strategies in Plan

•Tailor transportation services to better respond to needs

•Provide improved, user-friendly information to customers

•Develop services that improve reliability and augment existing paratransit and fixed-route service

•Develop and implement new programs to provide additional transportation choices

Recommended Priority Actions in the Plan for Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Funding

Brochure for Low-Income Commuters on Transportation Options

Low-Interest Loans to low-income individuals to purchase cars

Expanded Guaranteed Ride Home Program

Expanded Shuttle Service to Employment Sites

Recommended Priority Actions in the Plan for New Freedom Funding

Accessible Taxis in Jurisdictions Without Them

Sensitivity Training for Front-Line Employees (for bus drivers, taxi cab drivers, etc)

Same-Day Service for MetroAccess Users

Escorted Transportation or “Door-through-Door” Service

Selection Criteria

• 100 Maximum Points• Applications Ranked Based on Eight Criteria

– Responsiveness to Strategies in Plan

– Demonstrates Coordination

– Innovative Idea that is Replicable

– Meets a Regional Need

– Feasibility

– Potential Number of People Impacted

– Involvement of the Private Sector

– Strategies for On-going Funding

FY06 Solicitation

• Five projects fundedJARC

• Expansion of car loan program• Taxi voucher program• Expansion of shuttle service

New Freedom• Door-through-door service pilot• Travel training for seniors

• Not all money spent!

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned – Plan

• Multiple Jurisdictions- Early involvement established trust- Use “mega representatives”

• Reduced Funding- Encourage pilot projects- Incentivize coordination

• Institutional Barriers- Start with what’s comfortable- Maintain customer focus

Lessons Learned - Solicitation

• Local Match– Small agencies cannot provide

• Reimbursement process– Agencies cannot front money

• Application Period– Earlier in year, more time to submit

• Project timeframe– Increase to two years

2008 Solicitation

• Process– Combine leftover FY06,

FY07 and FY08 funds– Require pre-application

conferences– Three month period– Coaches/mentors

• Focus on Regional Projects– Web-based

clearinghouse– Accessible taxis– Travel Training

• Jurisdictions can share match

Website: www.TPBcoordination.org

E-mail: bnewman@mwcog.org

Phone Number: 202-962-3253

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