Alabama United We Ride

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Alabama United We Ride!!

• Transportation Stakeholders Meeting
• Montgomery, Alabama
• July 30, 2008
• Presented by Jo Ann Hutchinson
• United We Ride Ambassador
• National Resource Center for Human Service
  Transportation
• Washington, D.C.

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Moving Forward The Foundation Has Been Laid

• "Through United We Ride, state agencies are
  working together to improve coordination of
  transportation services to our citizens who are
  transportation disadvantaged. This can only be
  accomplished through partnerships at the state,
  regional and local levels.
• Source Quote from Commissioner of Senior
  Services Irene Collins-United We Ride Alabama
  Website-Governors Executive Order Number 28

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Some Thoughts To Leave With You Today

• Coordination, like success, is a journey and not
  a destination
• Why transportation is important
• State and local leadership has been demonstrated
  for further success
• There is no one perfect model innovation and
  creativity is key
• More coordination incentives now available
• Alabama has many good models to build upon
• Resources are available to help!

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Recognize this!

• The General Accounting Office indicates that over
  60 federal programs exist that can impact
  transportation but often no coordination among
  the agencies occurs

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Coordination, like any success, is a journey and
not a destination

• Coordination brings people together resulting in
  increased mobility, improved accountability,
  improved efficiencies and improved lives
• Coordination maximizes limited resources and
  creates partnerships to identify expanded
  resources
• Coordination is an ongoing process that requires
  commitment, collaboration, teamwork and trust at
  all levels

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Why Transportation is Important!

• Eighteen years ago this month the Americans with
  Disabilities Act (ADA), a major civil rights law,
  passed and was signed by the President
• The ADA has helped tear down barriers for
  millions of people living with disabilities
  (estimated at 50 million). On the anniversary of
  this important legislation, our Nation has
  underscored their commitment to ensuring that all
  individuals have an equal opportunity to realize
  their full potential
• Transportation continues to be a barrier although
  improvements have been made since passage of ADA
• Many new transportation opportunities have been
  afforded to many Americans as a result of ADA but
  more needs to be done (New Freedom one of new
  programs to assist)

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Why Transportation is Important!

• One of the major trends to consider is the growth
  projections for our senior population, for
  example
• The percent of the US population 65 or older in
  1900 was 4 in 2030 it will be 21
• Today if you are 65 years old, this translates to
  16 more years of life for men and 19 more years
  of life for women
• There are now more seniors than teenagers in the
  US
• By 2020, 10,000 persons will turn 65 every day
• By 2040, there will be more persons 85 than
  there were persons 65 in 1960
• By 2050, 40 of 65 year olds will live to be 90

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Why Transportation is Important!

• Many of our seniors and people with disabilities
  are also economically challenged with low incomes
• Transportation access to education and employment
  opportunities is critical for independent living
• The JARC program has started to bridge some of
  the gaps and more is expected with new improved
  JARC program

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Why Transportation is Important!

• More seniors means more needed trips by seniors
• Widening income disparities will rise creating
  employment and training transportation needs
• More persons with disabilities with special needs
  will need increased demand response services
• More returning and past veterans will need access
  for health care and other services
• Overall, there will be more persons will need
  more mobility options
• And there will be more demand for high-quality
  services due to the rise of our most vulnerable
  populations

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State and Local Leadership Has Been
Demonstrated for Further Success

• Creation of United We Ride Commission
• Envision 2020
• Creation of Local Stakeholder Groups (i.e.
  Transportation Means Business, etc.)
• Pilot Project in Lee and Russell Counties
• Development of Local Coordinated Plans by
  Association of Regional Councils
• Institute for Transportation Coordination State
  Team Began Dialogue

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Institute for Transportation Coordination - 2007

• State team members worked hard to identify ways
  to expand transportation opportunities for Alabama

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Institute for Transportation Coordination - 2008

• The next ITC is set for November 17-20 in the
  Washington, D.C. area
• Consider applying as a State, regional or
  city/county based team
• Expenses for the ITC are covered for four team
  members additional members can also attend at
  their expense
• Learn more about transportation coordination,
  promising practices, effective community
  outreach, partnership building and develop an
  action plan to meet your challenges
• Deadline to apply is Friday, August 15
• For more information www.ctaa.org

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There is no one perfect model innovation and
creativity is key

• Many useful practices exist across the southeast
• Floridas independent Commission model created by
  statute with dedicated State funds local
  Coordinating Boards Medicaid funds now being
  administered by the Commission
• Kentuckys Transportation Cabinet oversees
  regional systems including administration of
  Medicaid transportation
• For more useful practices nationwide, visit
  www.unitedweride.gov or contact your Ambassador
  at hutchinson_at_ctaa.org

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More Coordination Incentives Now Available

• SAFETEA-LU has
• Created requirement for local coordinated plan
  involving all stakeholders
• Created incentives by allowing use of human
  service program funds as local match
• Created incentives by defining mobility
  management/activities and allows capital funds to
  be used for those purposes at 80 federal and 20
  local for all FTA programs (see next slide for
  examples)
• Created the National Resource Center for
  technical assistance and other resources to
  assist States/communities

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Eligible Mobility Management Activities Can
Include

• Operating transportation brokerages to coordinate
  service providers, funding resources, and
  customer needs
• Coordinating transportation services for older
  adults, individuals with disabilities, and
  individuals with low incomes
• Supporting local partnerships that coordinate
  transportation services
• Staffing for the development and implementation
  of coordination plans

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Eligible Mobility Management Activities Can
Include

• Providing travel training and trip planning
  activities for customers
• Developing and operating traveler call centers to
  coordinate travel information, manage eligibility
  requirements, and arrange customer travel and
• Planning and implementing the acquisition and
  purchase of intelligent transportation
  technologies to operate a coordinated system.

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Alabama Has Many Good Models to Build Upon

• The Lee and Russell County coordination pilot
  project is a good model for mobility management
• Envision 2020 Initiative
• Local coordinated human service transportation
  plans have been developed statewide and current
  opportunities exists since these plans are being
  updated
• Local communities are forming stakeholder groups
  and becoming part of the transportation planning
  process they need your input so get involved

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Resources are available to help!

• National Resource Center for Human Service
  Transportation Coordination (NRC)
• Our Goal To Support State and Community Efforts
  for Coordinating Human Service Agencies and
  Public Transportation
• Partnership Cooperative Agreement between
  Federal Transit Administration and Community
  Transportation Association of America

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Resources are available to help!

• In addition to available assistance from the
  Region 4 office of FTA, your Ambassador can offer
  these type of services
• Assistance to policy makers, state and local
  officials, human service agencies, consumers,
  advocacy organizations and transportation
  providers so they may be able to better
  understand the opportunities available through
  SAFETEA-LU and other Federal laws and to
  translate those opportunities into coordinated
  planning and action activities
• Provide or arrange for facilitation of local
  coordinated planning, training opportunities,
  research, problem solving and other needs
  identified by States and communities as they
  implement coordinated transportation and
• To be someone who carries the message and
  benefits of coordination

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Community Transportation Association of America
(CTAA)

• In addition to administering the National
  Resource Center, the Community Transportation
  Association of America is also working on the
  following national issues to assist States and
  communities
• The creation of a national veterans
  transportation program (proposals can be found at
  www.ctaa.org)
• The creation of a non-emergency transportation
  component for Medicare customers
• The implementation of a new national insurance
  program to reduce the cost of insurance and to
  offer other insurance options
• The implementation of a national fuel rebate
  program to allow for rebates for all types of
  provider systems to help with rising fuel costs
• The continuation of work with the Centers for
  Medicaid and Medicare on proposed rules and other
  areas relating to the Medicaid non-emergency
  transportation program

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Community Transportation Association of America
(CTAA)

• The continuation of other programs at CTAA that
  include
• Employment Transportation
• Medical Transportation
• Senior Transportation
• Review/Analysis of Federal Regulations and
  Legislation
• Short and Long-Term Coordination Programs
• Annual Institute for Transportation Coordination
  (November 17-20, 2008 in Washington, D.C. area)
• Transit Financing and Investment
• Professional Development Training
• Peer-to-Peer network for site visits and
  assistance
• Annual EXPO Training (June 1-5, 2009
  Providence, RI)
• Visit www.ctaa.org and www.unitedweride.gov for
  more opportunities and resources
• Contact Alabamas CTAA State Delegate John
  Sorrell for input and updates and your Ambassador
  Jo Ann Hutchinson

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Remember, Its All About Facilitating Local
Communities Across Alabama to Bring People
Together Resulting in Increased Mobility and
Improved Efficiencies
Independence......Empowerment
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Courage

• Winston Churchill said courage is what it takes
  to stand up and speak courage is also what it
  takes to sit down and listen.
• We all thank you for having the courage to do
  what you do and we hope the information and
  resources made available today will allow you to
  be successful.
• Remember, its all about the people of Alabama
  obtaining access to improve their lives! If each
  of you focus on this each and every day, when we
  all meet this time next year, we will all have
  the courage to report the many successes.

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For Ambassador Assistance, please contactJo
Ann HutchinsonUnited We Ride AmbassadorCommunity
Transportation Association of AmericaNational
Resource Center for Human Service Transportation
Coordination (NRC) Toll Free 800.891.0590,
Ext. 730Email hutchinson_at_ctaa.org Visit our
websites www.unitedweride.gov and www.ctaa.org
for updates, useful practices, state and
community information and requests for assistance