Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT)

1
Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation (DRPT)

• Update on FTA New Initiatives on Transportation
  Services for

June 20, 2007
2
Overview

• Background
• Legislative context for local coordination plans
• Coordinated plan summary and required elements
• Virginias Approach and Recent Local Efforts
• Role of the Coordination Process and Plan
  Development
• Opportunities and Potential Outcomes/Future Steps

3
Background Legislative Context

• Federal SAFETEA-LU legislation provides funding
  for transit projects and services.
• Includes new coordinated planning requirements
  for three transit programs
• Section 5310 Elderly individuals Individuals
  with Disabilities
• Provides capital funds for transportation
  services for elderly persons and persons with
  disabilities
• Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute
  (JARC)
• Provides funds for transportation services for
  low income workers
• Section 5317 New Freedom
• Provides new program funding for transportation
  services that go beyond the Americans with
  Disabilities Act
• (ADA)

4
BackgroundCoordinated Plan Summary

• For all three programs (5310, 5316, and 5317)
• Projects selected for funding must be derived
  from a locally developed coordinated public
  transit-human services transportation plan.
• The planning process must include
  representatives of public, private and
  non-profit transportation and human service
  providers, and participation by members of the
  public.

5
BackgroundCoordinated Plan Summary

• For JARC (5316) and New Freedom (5317) Programs
  specifically
• SAFETEA-LU instituted a competitive selection
  process for projects.
• Characteristics of this competitive process
  include
• Designated recipient is responsible for
  conducting competitive selection process in
  cooperation with MPO and awarding grants to sub
  recipients
• In urbanized areas, it is appropriate for the
  designated recipient to be the same as designated
  recipient for Section 5307 funds
• Process is separate from, but coordinated with,
  the planning process

6
BackgroundCoordinated Plan Required Elements

• A locally coordinated plan should contain
• An assessment of available services that
  identifies current transportation providers
• An assessment of transportation needs for people
  with disabilities, older adults and people with
  low incomes
• Strategies and/or activities to address
  identified gaps and achieve efficiencies in
  service delivery
• Relative priorities for implementation which are
  based on resources, time and feasibility
• While only required for the three FTA programs,
  the coordinated plan should incorporate
  activities offered under other Federal, State and
  local programs to strengthen impact.

7
Virginias Approach

• To build upon current coordination efforts and
  previous studies
• To develop a State framework and a State-level
  model to lead future coordination efforts
• Focus on improving mobility for older adults,
  people with disabilities and people with lower
  incomes
• To provide support for local planning efforts
• DRPT assistance to conduct regional workshops to
  discuss available services, gain input on unmet
  needs, and develop strategies and projects for
  meeting these needs

8
Recent Local Efforts

• Between March and May, a first round of
  coordination workshops have been held throughout
  Virginia in order to
• Review new Federal coordinated planning
  requirements with local stakeholders
• Gain insights on current transportation resources
  and unmet transportation needs
• Discuss current and future coordination efforts

9
Role of Public Transit

• Any assessment of available transportation
  resources for older adults, people with
  disabilities and people with lower incomes should
  begin with public transit
• Any discussion of strategies, activities and
  projects to improve mobility in a community
  should include public transit operators

10
Opportunities for the Community

• The coordinated planning process provides public
  transit operators with opportunities
• To provide input on strategies that would be
  appropriate for the public transit provider to
  apply for funding and to operate
• Some potential projects include
• Expanded fixed-route service to connect
  low-income workers with job opportunities
• Expanded demand-response services, such as those
  beyond the ¾ mile ADA requirement, services
  beyond fixed-route service times, and same day
  service
• Increased marketing of available services
• Travel training on use of public transit routes
• Integration of public transit and human service
  transportation
• Establishment of a mobility management structure

11
Opportunities and Potential Outcomes

• The coordinated planning process also provides
  public transit operators with opportunities
• To give input on strategies that can be provided
  by other organizations that support and
  complement public transit
• Some potential projects include
• Funding for accessible vehicles (i.e. accessible
  taxi that can be used by customers instead of
  paratransit services)
• Operation of services that connect with current
  transit services (i.e. van service from employer
  outside of service area to the transit stop)
• Support for outreach activities (i.e. travel
  training program for riders on skills for using
  public transit)

12
Opportunities and Potential Outcomes

• The coordinated planning process additionally
  provides public transit operators with
  opportunities
• To take a stronger leadership role in improving
  mobility
• By providing input on potential projects that
  will increase fixed route ridership
• By providing input on potential projects that
  will relieve pressure on demand-response and ADA
  paratransit services

13
Potential OutcomesMobility Manager

• Various entities have embraced the mobility
  manager concept and/or a more regional approach
  to maximize available resources and to play a
  stronger leadership role in providing mobility.
• Two representative examples include
• Transit Authority of River City (TARC-
  Louisville, KY)
• Funded and hired a Mobility Manager
• Expanded transportation steering committee to
  Regional Mobility Council
• Community Connection of Northeast Oregon
• Brought together key regional partners and
  stakeholders
• Identified transportation resources, needs and
  gaps in service
• Expanded fixed route service areas and times,
  pooled funding resources, and coordinated
  training and marketing

14
Future Steps

• It is anticipated that local coordination efforts
  will continue to evolve and strengthen over time.
• The first round of local workshops were intended
  to initiate coordination activities and set a
  framework for future activities.
• As a follow-up to this effort, the second round
  will focus on
• Development of specific strategies, activities
  and projects to meet gaps and unmet needs
  identified in initial workshop
• Prioritizing these strategies, activities and
  projects
• Your involvement and input is critical to this
  process

15
For more information,
contact

• Neil Sherman
• Specialized Program Manager
• Virginia Dept. of Rail and Public Transportation
• [phone]
• Neil.Sherman_at_drpt.virginia.gov