Keeping Harris County

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Keeping Harris County
Moving
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Background

• Transit needs study in
• 1999-2000
• Commissioned by H-GAC and Harris County
  Transportation
• Coordinated Council
• Assessed needs and resources in Harris
  County
• Recommended a user-side subsidy voucher
  model using curb-to-curb
• demand response service
• Identified Service needs outside of
  METROLift area and fill in gaps within
• Metro where service was unavailable or
  inaccessible
• 2003 Model implemented as pilot project
• Based on Coordination

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Program Overview

• Administered by Harris County Community Services
  Department - Transit Division
• Target market seniors, low-income, and persons
  with disabilities
• Service area incorporated and unincorporated
  areas of Harris County and fill gaps within METRO
  Lift service area
• Subsidized trips for non-emergency transportation
• Demand response service
• Mobility Management Beyond ADA
• - Ambassador Service

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Program Coordination

• Harris County METROLift
• Local Agencies
• Local transportation providers
• Local Municipalities in unincorporated areas of
  Harris County
• Other Harris County City of Houston Agencies

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Transit Coordination

• Rides coordinates with MetroLift

• Through Public Information and Referral Process
  (websites linked)
• Harris County Transit Services has a joint
  venture with METRO to provide Commuter Park and
  Ride Services from locations outside of METROs
  service areas
• Harris County Transit Services coordinates with
  local municipalities to close gaps in service by
  implementing community fixed routes where METRO
  is unavailable

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Agency Coordination

• 16 Agencies
• HHS Agencies
• Municipal Senior Programs
• Adult Day Centers
• Women Shelters
• Community Non-Profits

• Assist with
• Customer enrollment/intake
• Customer education
• Ticket purchases
  (at discounted price)

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Agency Coordination

• Assist with customer in-take and education
• Purchase tickets to distribute to clients at no
  charge to the client

• or
• Purchase tickets and charge a discounted
• amount no more than 3.00 each
• Tickets are valued each at 6.00 in fares

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Customer Services

• Nine contracts with transportation providers
• Two points of customer intake
• Through RIDES
• Through participating agencies
• Two choices of transportation modes
• Shared-ride van services 5 Providers
• 
  Taxi service- 4 Providers

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Rider Characteristics

• Primary destinations - medical and shopping
• 65 of riders are persons age 60
• 58 have an income below 15,000
• 25 make all of their trips using RIDES
• If no RIDES
• 39 would get a ride from other people

28 would not travel without RIDES
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Program Statistics

• Over 4,000 clients registered in client database
• Delivered over 63,000 trips in 2008
• Total Program Trips to date 245,000
• Average cost per trip - 19.00
• Average trip length - 13 miles

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Blended Funding

• Federal Funding
• - Section 5310 Elderly and Disabled
• - FTA 5307 Formula Funding
• - FTA 5317 New Freedom
• Voucher Sales
• Potential Funding Private Sectors

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Highlights

• Implementation of a web-based application for
  data entry for provider and agency use
• Identified as Best Practice in 13 County H-GAC
  Regional Coordination in 2007
• 2005 Outstanding Innovation award in Community
  Improvement category from Texas Association of
  Counties Leadership Foundation

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Program Benefits

• Flexibility
• Utilizing decentralized scheduling to reduce
  overhead
• Customer chooses best transportation provider for
  them
• Taxi-cab option provides expanded service hour
  coverage

• Agreements with participating agencies are
  informal
• Not free but subsidized
• Affordable way for participating agencies to
  provide transportation
• Aid small transportation providers with marketing
  and customer base growth

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Next Steps

• Implement Electronic Card technology
  to replace paper ticket fare structure
• Continue coordination with Agencies
• Coordinate with other Transit Agencies to develop
  connectivity beyond Harris County
  line

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Contact Information

• RIDES
• 8410 Lantern Point Drive
• Houston, TX 77054
• 713 368-RIDE (368-7433)
• www.harriscountyrides.com
• Vernon Chambers Program Mgr 713 578-2204

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Keeping Harris County
Moving
.