Mobility Management in Wisconsin

1. Mobility Management in Wisconsin MTAP Winter Meeting December, 3 2009 Phoenix, Arizona Ingrid Koch Wisconsin Department of Transportation New Freedom Program Manager

2. Mobility management in Wisconsin • Has a “person” centered focus • maximizes resources through the process of collaboration • Attends to a person’s transportation needs • Fundable under a number of federal programs. • New Freedom (Section 5317) for projects general in nature • WETAP (JARC and state funds) for projects focusing on employment or low-income • Some by STRAP (Supplemental Transportation Rural Assistance Program)

3. Evolution of mobility management in Wisconsin • Formation of Wisconsin’s Interagency Council on Transportation Coordination (ICTC) in October, 2005 • One of the eleven priorities in the 2006 Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plans • ICTC Conference held in April, 2007 • Two NTI sessions of “Coordinated Mobility” in June, 2007 • WI New Freedom program development • first grant cycle in fall, 2007 for project implementation in calendar year 2008 • Promotion by WisDOT staff • Put into practice by mobility managers in the field

4. Significant challenges • Per the 2000 census, Wisconsin’s population density is high when compared to the rest of the nation, but roughly on par with the U.S. if low-density Alaska is removed from the calculation. • Population density varies dramatically across the state. • Rural areas average 32 persons per square mile, some with less than 10 persons per square mile. • In contrast, the City of Milwaukee has 6,214 persons per square mile. • Public transportation service, as it is traditionally known, is virtually non-existent in many of the extremely rural areas of the state.

5. Population density

6. Mobility managers - 2008 • 29 mobility managers throughout the state • 16 hired - first New Freedom application cycle • 9 funded by JARC / WETAP (Wisconsin Employment Transportation Assistance Program) • 4 funded by STRAP (Supplemental Transportation Rural Assistance Program)

7. Mobility managers – 2009 • 47 mobility managers throughout the state • 20 - New Freedom • 18 - JARC / WETAP • 4 - STRAP • 5 - other federal, state and/or local funding sources

8. Who employs them? • Aging and Disability Resource Centers / Departments and Commissions on Aging / Senior Services Agencies • Cities, Counties / Transit Commissions • Transit Agencies • United Way / Women’s Employment Center • Independent Living Centers • Community Action Coalitions / Programs / Service Agencies / Community Development Agencies • Social / Human Service Agencies / Economic Opportunity Councils

9. Who decides what the projects are? • Activities and projects were identified and defined through the locally developed human services transportation coordination planning process • Local decisions drive project activities • WisDOT does not proscribe mobility management projects or activities • Projects funded by New Freedom must be an eligible activity as described in the NF Circular

10. Mobility Management Training Program initiative • Needed an organized, efficient manner in which to share information, best practices and other resources • Annual program with continuation based on need • Fully sponsored by WisDOT • RFQ for contracted services with a national consultant • Consultant subcontracts with a meeting planner to handle logistics

11. Objectives • Assist mobility managers in becoming effective and efficient very quickly • Provide training on topics relevant to mobility management • Build awareness of resources and best practices • Develop a strong peer network with other mobility managers in the state and across the nation

12. Components • Four 2-day workshops in 2008 • Five in 2009 and planned for 2010 • Monthly teleconferences facilitated by consultant • Two Google groups • 18 mobility managers were fully sponsored to attend the 18th National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation in Omaha in October, 2008 • Considering the possibility of sponsoring some to attend the 19th National Conference in Burlington, Vermont in October, 2010

13. What’s included in the curriculum? • Mobility Management 101 • History of Public Transportation 101 • Funding Sources • Negotiation Skills • Partnership Development • Performance Measurement • Basics of ADA • Inventory development / Coordinated plan • One-stop Call Centers • CTAA’s Transportation Solutions Coordinator • Car Repair / Vehicle Loan Programs • Wisconsin’s Rideshare Program • Travel Training • Volunteer Driver Programs • Voucher Programs • IT / Software Needs • Financial Management • Grant Management • Requirements, Expectations and Recommendations for Grant Proposal Submissions • Best Practices and Resources • Peer Networking • Reporting

14. Results • Increased effectiveness and efficiency of mobility management projects • Increased education and awareness of resources • Greater knowledge about funding sources • Increased transportation coordination resulting in more rides for more people

15. 2008 projects Only 6 of 72 counties were not yet involved in mobility management projects

16. 2008 projects in place • Numerous regional mobility management projects • 3 formally identified in 2008 New Freedom projects • 2 separate regional projects cover 18 and 20 counties respectively

17. 2008 programs • 10 car loan programs (WETAP) • 7 projects for new service • 5 voucher programs • 4 vehicle repair programs • 3 car pool programs • 3 rideshare programs • 3 shuttle programs • 3 travel training programs • 3 volunteer driver programs • 2 volunteer escort programs • 1 “bus buddy” program

18. 2009 mobility management projects 69 of 72 counties were involved in mobility management activities, either on a county basis, regionally, or both

19. 2009 projects and programs • Continuation of most of the projects from 2008 • 9 new mobility management projects • 2 are regional • 4 new one-stop call centers • 4 new ‘Work-n-Wheels’ car loan programs • 1 new voucher program • 1 additional travel training program • 3 new service projects

20. Preliminary service data for CY2008, projections for CY2009-2010

21. Preliminary mobility management data for CY2008, projections for CY2009-2010

22. 2009’s other notable accomplishments • Creation of the Wisconsin Mobility Managers’ logo • Mobility Managers were folded into the Wisconsin Rural and Paratransit Providers Association • Provides credence and reinforcement of the value of mobility management as a whole • Ultimate vision is for them to establish their own Association called WAMM – Wisconsin Association of Mobility Managers • Implementation of the Wisconsin Mobility Management certification program • Certification is by WisDOT and will pass to the Association after 2010 • Requirements include completion of five steps: • core curriculum • supplemental curriculum • one-year practicum • peer sharing • a final exam

23. What’s in store for 2010? • Proposals for continuation of all of the projects from 2008 – 2009 plus: • three new mobility management projects • the initial appearance of “car sharing” programs • several transportation orientation programs • two new service projects • Continuation of the training program

24. More information • Google group • Mobility Management Forum • open to the public • WisDOT New Freedom program information • http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/transit/newfreedom.htm • Transportation Coordination • http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/coordination/ index.htm • Wisconsin’s Mobility Management information • http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/transit/newfreedom-mobility.htm • http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/transit/newfreedom-mobility-wi.htm • My contact information • ingrid.koch@dot. wi.gov • 608.266.1379