Pittsburgh, PA Where coordination makes mobility possible

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Pittsburgh, PAWhere coordination makes mobility
possible!
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We need transportation in every stage of our
lives
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Life is more than going to the doctor.

• Every trip is important
• Personal independence
• Life beyond driving

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Importance of the Service

• Recent AARP national survey
• Transportation most requested service
• Nearly every respondent cited need
• Life doesnt end when no longer able to drive
• Supports existing services and local economy

• Personal freedom mobility independence
• I can go where I want
• I dont have to ask for help
• Enables people to remain at home

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ACCESS Transportation SystemsPittsburgh, PA

• Sponsored by Port Authority of Allegheny County
• ACCESS serves as broker
• 1.7 million rides provided annually in
  coordinated system
• Over 125 sponsoring agencies
• Service provided by 9 companies for profit and
  non profit with 445 vehicles

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ACCESS Service A seat for everyone

• ADA Paratransit
• 65 Plus Program PA Lottery
• Area Agency on Aging
• Medical Assistance Transportation
• Churches
• Nursing/personal care homes
• Veterans Administration
• Community based human service agencies
• JARC access to work
• Food Bank pantries
• Vanpool emergency ride home
• General public service
• 30 years and still evolving

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2005 United We RideNational Leadership Award

• Awarded to ACCESS for
• Coordination of Human Service Transportation

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Why coordination?

• Value of transportation to the community
• Eliminates duplication
• Creates more capacity
• Coordination of trips throughout sponsor base,
  everyone pays their share
• Improved efficiency reduces cost per trip
• Why have empty seats?

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Many ProgramsOne Transportation System

• Multiple sponsors of transportation
• Ex., PA Lottery, Allegheny County DHS
• Buy into transportation system
• Sponsor determines
• Eligibility
• Fare
• Service limitations (trip purpose, hours, etc.)
• All customers ride together
• Coordination creates
• More capacity
• Economies of scale
• Flexibility, person centered, individual solutions

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How does everyone get rides?Cost Sharing
Agencies and Consumers

• Agencies that buy in are sponsors
• Instead of operating service, purchase from the
  coordinated system
• Sponsors pay a share
• Sponsors subsidize part or all of customer fare
• Customers may have multiple sponsors
• Mobility management model
• Right choice for the trip

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Distribution of ACCESS ridership
Other
AC/AAA
PortAuthority
PA SRP
MATP
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Major SponsorsACCESS Service Offerings
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Mobility Management in Operations

• Customer
• Over 60
• ADA eligible Conditionally
• Lives in Squirrel Hill (Pittsburgh neighborhood)

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ACCESS serviceThe basics

• Shared ride
• On time window
• Manage capacity
• Improve efficiency
• Primarily advance reservation
• 4-15 passenger vehicles - accessible
• Driver qualifications
• Act 33 and 34 clearances
• Driving record
• Drug and alcohol testing

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Port Authoritys ADA Program

• Going beyond the minimum
• Service area
• Days and hours of service
• Fares
• Door to door
• Hand to hand
• No capacity constraints
• No trip purpose restrictions
• Making fixed route and paratransit work together

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A family of transportation

• ACCESS ADA service
• A mode of public transportation
• Part of Port Authoritys family of services
• Requirement to use the bus when you can
• More and more people with disabilities using both
  in combination

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Implementing the kind of service seniors want

• No trip purpose restrictions
• Door to door
• Driver assistance
• Boarding
• Packages
• No affiliation
• Affordable
• Days and hours include weekends and holidays
• Every trip important

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Person Centered Solutions
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Implementinghand to hand

• Safety net no one home
• Driver training
• Identify which riders
• Announce arrival
• Responsibilities clearly communicated
• Driver and system
• Family
• Program

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Serving the most frail

• Pilot project with AC/AAA
• Care managers
• Client profiles
• Driver assist
• Modest additional assistance enough to make the
  trip possible
• Help with coat
• A little extra time
• Outdoor steps
• Packages on the table
• Additional driver training
• OT, how to provide assist
• Preserving independence
• Avoiding institutionalization
• Human and social costs

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On the horizon.ACCESS In Touch

• Provide information
• Reduce anxiety with information
• Accurate, real time
• How long
• Tell me actual 10 minutes before
• Tell me if Ill be late arriving
• Requires technology
• Practical solution must be affordable
• Passenger call outs
• National Center on Senior Transportation
• ACCESS and AC/AAA partnership
• Currently in implementation stage in North Hills

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ACCESS In Touch

• Using inexpensive Nextel technology
• 250 per unit vs. traditional transit MDC 3000
• Includes some navigational aids for driver
• System generates a phone call
• To those who want it
• 10 minutes prior to actual, or if will be late
• IVR option of CSR
• At origin and destination
• Senior and adult day health centers
• Families and caregivers

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Collaboration, cooperation

• Partnerships are the foundation
• Committee for Accessible Transportation
• Consumers and advocates
• Port Authority
• PennDOT
• SPC
• Allegheny County DHS
• Community based human service agencies
• Faith based community
• Health care providers
• Private and non-profit providers
• Elected officials

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Public Private PartnershipACCESS Service Delivery
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Brokerage Model
Funding Programs
Broker

• Service providers

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Decentralized Brokerage Model

• Broker
• Service Monitoring
• Coordinating demand
• Accounting/reporting
• Contracting
• Public Participation
• Eligibility
• Scrip Sales
• Customer Service
• Service Development / planning
• Substance Abuse Program

• Provider
• Vehicle Procurement
• Maintenance
• Risk management
• Insurance coverage
• Labor force
• Training
• Reporting to broker
• Reservations
• Scheduling
• Dispatching

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Coordinating Existing Service Options
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Cant get to the bus?

• Using ACCESS to substitute for walking on one end
• Distance
• Pedestrian environment
• Comparable to what many bus riders do
• Park and Ride
• Kiss and Ride

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ACCESS ConnectionsBridging the gap

• Individual solutions
• People with disabilities not ADA eligible
• Simple application by mail
• No bus service (3/4 mile) on one end of trip
• Ride to the bus stop
• Bus trip would take more than 2 hours for 5 miles
• Direct ACCESS trip
• Affordable
• Half fare on bus
• 2.00 to bus

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Creative Service Models Elder Express

• Community circulator
• Links to transit stops senior center, shopping
  and activity centers
• 1 fare all day
• Needs assessment, planning, marketing for high
  productivity
• Many funding partners
• United Jewish Federation Foundation
• Ladies Hospital Aid Society
• Jewish Community Center

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Remote Work LocationsJob Access

• Local service link
• Bus stops
• Day Care drop off
• Employment / training centers
• ACTA On Demand
• ACTA Penn Center West
• Ship of Zion
• Hill District
• Work Link
• Clairton
• E. Pittsburgh
• Braddock

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Seniors, People with disabilities, MA
recipientsRides available for everyone

• Aged 60 and over
• Area Agency on Aging
• Limited service
• Aged 65 and over
• All trips PA lottery
• Third party sponsorship option
• People with disabilities
• ADA service if cant use bus
• Connections if no bus available
• Medical Assistance Transportation
• Valid MA recipient any MA eligible destination
• Bus tickets and passes, direct reimbursement
  auto, or ACCESS if cant use bus

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Sharing the ride and our resources
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Making sure you are safe
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ACCESSA community working together
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Connecting people to life