PUBLIC TRANSIT COORDINATION AND PLANNING: MEETING THE NEEDS OF TEXAS

1. PUBLIC TRANSIT COORDINATION AND PLANNING:MEETING THE NEEDS OF TEXAS June 14, 2005 Presented by Ken Hosen, KFH Group, Inc. For TxDOT – Regional Planning and Public Transportation Workshop

2. THE GOAL Travel options and access to opportunity are expanded and improved for all Texans, are provided cost-effectively, are used more extensively, and support broader state and local goals for economic growth and enhanced quality of life.

3. WHAT ABOUT COORDINATION? • Coordination is not the goal, it is a tool to meeting the goal. • It is usually beneficial to all parties, but not always. • What are you bringing to the table? • Coordination is local/regional. • Coordination is building relationships and trust.

4. TEXAS IS NO STRANGER TO COORDINATION • Texas has been one of the most coordinated states in the nation – thanks to the rural transit operators. • Two levels of coordination: • Coordination of services • Coordination of service area • Coordination of service areas is unparalleled • There is a unique commitment among state policy makers to coordinate at the state level. • We can look at other states but Texas is now unique among unique states.

5. PLANNING AND COORDINATION:OTHER STATES This approach is used in many states, including: Maryland, North Carolina, Vermont, Oregon, Pennsylvania and others. • Five year plan – usually conducted by transit systems and funded through state. • Provides direction for the system and provides planning information for the state. • Coordination is encouraged/insisted upon by the state. • Collaborative effort: • Consumers and advocates • Human service agencies • Community leaders • In some states such as Oregon and Florida, transit systems serve as the Medicaid broker, eliminating the “middle man.”

6. BASIC COORDINATION RECOMMENDATIONS • Coordination of services takes time – It’s about building trust. • The State should mandate a process, not dictate local planning activities. • Transit systems and/or COGs should have lead. • Collaborative – involves all stakeholders. • Place as many persons as possible on fixed route. • TxDOT should tie coordination directly to a regional planning process.

7. BUSINESS PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS • Regional Planning • Recommend uniform regional planning process • Regional planning committee composed of wide variety of stakeholders • Guide coordination process (including Medicaid) • Funded in large part by TxDOT • Can be used by TxDOT to determine areas of greatest need

8. THE REGIONAL PLANNING PROCESS The Steps: • Demographic/needs review • Review existing services • Determine gaps and additional needs • Develop alternatives for consideration (organizational and service) • Reach consensus on five year plan

9. BUSINESS PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS • Coordination • TxDOT should find a way to contract Medicaid transportation directly with willing and able transit districts. This approach is used in other states. • Bring the decision back to the regional/local level. Flexibility in coordination. • State level collaboration between TxDOT and human service agencies to determine additional state level coordination. • State level encouragement and incentives.

10. THE OPPORTUNITY • Texas has an unprecedented opportunity to further coordinate services. • Medicaid is far and away the largest of these programs, without coordinating Medicaid there is little left to coordinate. • Regional planning is the key. • Cooperation and collaboration yields coordination.