Human Service Transportation Coordination: The Metropolitan Washington Experience Beth Newman...
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Transcript of Human Service Transportation Coordination: The Metropolitan Washington Experience Beth Newman...
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: [email protected]
Phone Number: 202-962-3253
For More Information