Alliance for Community Transportation

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Alliance for Community Transportation

• Brokered Transportation System Project

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• Presented by UNH Social Work Outreach Center
• Christie Davis
• Caitlin Miftari
• Anne Salamone
• Wendy Weise
• Under the supervision of
• Dr. Jerry Marx
• UNH Social Work Department Chair

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Transportation in New Hampshire

• 34 of 259 towns have access to fixed-route
  transportation service
• An estimated 45,000 to 80,000 residents missed or
  chose not to schedule a medical appointment

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• An estimated 4,000 19,000 people missed four or
  more medical appointments
• Approximately 95,000 residents will no longer be
  able to drive themselves in the next few years
• Institute on Disability/UCED at the University of
  New Hampshire, and Community Action Program of
  Belknap-Merrimack Counties, Inc. (2005)

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The Seacoast Region

• Home to nearly 54 of the regions individuals
  with disabilities
• Nearly 22,000 of these individuals with
  disabilities are between the ages of 21 and 64
• Approximately 60 of the regions individuals
  aged 65 and older
• The Center for Health, Energy the Environment
  (2007)

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• 38 of the area respondents currently had a
  condition or disability that prevented them from
  driving
• 13 did not have consistent access to a reliable
  automobile.
• Schlachman (2007)

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Transportation in the New Hampshire Seacoast
Region

• Providers utilize a total of approximately 52
  vehicles ranging from automobiles to large buses
• 39 of these vehicles are equipped with wheelchair
  access
• About 1/3 of these available vehicles are
  fixed-route buses operated by COAST

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• Existing human services transportation providers
  may only be reaching about one-quarter of elderly
  persons and people with disabilities who are
  transportation-disadvantaged, or
  transit-dependent, in the Seacoast region.
• The Center for Health, Energy the Environment
  (2007)

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Brokered Transportation System

• One agency is used as a central call-in center to
  arrange a ride using vehicles available from
  several community organizations.

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• Transportation brokerages have proven able to
  provide quality, efficient, and cost effective
  transportation for populations that are
  identified as transportation disadvantaged.

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• Brokerages in such diverse states as Washington,
  Colorado and Oregon have proven successful
• 3 communities in New York joined to form a
  brokered transportation system and saved an
  estimated 92,000 in 2001
• United States General Accounting Office (2003)

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Alliance for Community Transportation Survey

• Spring 2009

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Response Rate

• 3000 surveys went out to participating ACT
  members who provide services to senior citizens
  and adults with disabilities.
• Approximately 600 were analyzed as of 4/7/09
• Response rate 20

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Age of the consumers?
n593
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Employment Status
n592
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Living Arrangement
n592
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Household Income
n551
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Research Question 1

• What is the extent to which current
  transportation services are being utilized by
  senior citizens and people with disabilities who
  live in Strafford and Eastern Rockingham Counties?

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Research Question 1 - Findings
N583
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Research Question 1 - Findings

• Relationship between
• Willingness to use a brokered transportation
  system and
• Modes of transportation
• Driving self
• Having friends/family members take me
• Using an agency bus/van

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Research Question 2

• What are the transportation needs of seniors and
  people with disabilities in Strafford and Eastern
  Rockingham Counties?

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Where Would You Travel Using the Brokered
Transportation Service?
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How many days per week would you use the brokered
transportation service?
Percentage (n603)
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Research Question 2 - Findings

• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to get to
  a job and
• Inability to go to work/school because of
  unreliable transportation
• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to get to
  school/vocational training and
• Inability to go to work/school because of
  unreliable transportation

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Research Question 2 - Findings

• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to get to
  a healthcare appointment and
• Inability to get to healthcare appointments
  because of unreliable transportation

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Research Question 2 - Findings

• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to get to
  social/recreational activities and
• Inability to get to social/recreational
  activities because of unreliable transportation
• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to get to
  volunteer activities and
• Inability to get to social/recreational
  activities because of unreliable transportation

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Research Question 2 - Findings

• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to go
  grocery shopping and
• Inability to run errands because of unreliable
  transportation
• Relationship between
• Using a brokered transportation system to run
  errands and
• Inability to run errands because of unreliable
  transportation

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Research Question 3

• What are the barriers to transportation for
  seniors and people with disabilities in Strafford
  and Eastern Rockingham Counties?

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Are you concerned about losing your ability to
drive within the next 5 years?
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Unable to attend work/school due to lack of
transportation
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Unable to attend healthcare appointments due to
lack of transportation
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Unable to participate in recreational activities
due to lack of transportation
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Unable to complete errands due to lack of
transportation
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Research Question 3 - Findings

• Relationships between
• Age and
• Circumstances under which respondents do not
  drive
• At night
• I have a disability
• Snowing

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Research Question 4

• What are the transportation preferences of a
  brokered transportation system for seniors and
  people with disabilities in Strafford and Eastern
  Rockingham Counties?

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Willingness to use a brokered transportation
system?
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Concerns in using a brokered transportation
service
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What would you be willing to pay for your use of
a brokered transportation service?
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Research Question 4 - Findings

• Relationships between
• Willingness to use a brokered transportation
  system and
• Concerns
• Unsure of being picked up
• Takes too long
• Concerned about getting back home
• Will it take me where I need to go
• Will it take me when I need to go
• Need advanced planning

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Research Question 5

• In what ways can a brokered transportation system
  be designed to overcome the current public
  transportation barriers in Strafford and Eastern
  Rockingham Counties?

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Consumer Needs

• Trained, knowledgeable, friendly drivers
• Driver safety training
• Criminal background checks
• License posted in vehicle
• Willing to help/Know how to help
• Familiarity with areas they are driving
• Cautious drivers
• Be sure that drivers are capable and reliable
  with a good reputation in the community.

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Consumer Needs

• Reliability
• Promptness
• Accurate scheduling
• Keep appointments
• Confirm 24-48 hours in advance
• Good communication/answer questions
• Make sure that they will be coming back to get
  me.

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Consumer Needs

• Expanded hours/routes
• Weekends/Holidays
• Bad weather
• School breaks
• Rural areas
• Massachusetts
• I am always searching for rides to Boston for
  surgery and chemo treatments. I am on a fixed
  income have to pay my own way on buses and
  taxis

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Consumer Needs

• Dropped off close to destination
• Reasonable price
• Group discounts if going to the same place?
• Flexibility
• Well maintained, inspected vehicle
• Short waits
• Basically, I just need a way to get around so I
  can get groceries and make my appointments.

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Other themes

• Currently able to drive, future unknown
• Medications/medical conditions prohibit driving
  at times
• Rely on friends/family
• Car is unreliable, cant afford gas/repairs, not
  working/inspected/registered
• Losing my independence has made me actually
  aware of the lack of help in this state of NH.

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Recommendations

• Introduce consumers and drivers
• Meet and greet/brochures/phone calls
• Collaborate with other community members/agencies
• Senior centers, churches, Community Action
• Provide fixed schedules when possible
• Include people with disabilities in driver
  training
• Include training about specific needs

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I have cancer and many illnesses. My son has
been doing all appointments and has a family.
Could you help us?

• If I could get dependable transportation it
  would make some very difficult circumstances much
  much easier.
• There is no way to get food, medicine, and other
  necessities without a ride. Wonderful to learn
  youre out there and investigating this basic
  need we do need help!
• I have missed many appointments including things
  that would help me to not be homeless anymore.
• These services are great for those who need
  help. It enables them to get outside, talk to
  someone, gives them a reason to want to go on
  living.
• I will retire in a few years and will want to
  reduce my use of my personal vehicle, as well as
  my carbon footprint.
• Sometimes in fact its so lonely being alone all
  the time, no visitors, everyday is the same.