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 • Virginia’s 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. Background:Coordinated 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. Background:Coordinated 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. Background:Coordinated 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. Virginia’s 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 Outcomes“Mobility 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 (804) 786-1154 Neil.Sherman@drpt.virginia.gov