Helping Northeast Florida’s Veterans

1. Helping Northeast Florida’s Veterans An Update on Northeast Florida’s Mobility Management System during the 20th Annual Transportation Disadvantaged Best Practices & Training Workshop

2. OriginalNortheast Florida Region Nassau Baker Duval St Johns Clay Putnam

3. Growth in Northeast Florida • The Northeast Florida Mobility Coalition was formed in the Spring of 2006 to improve the coordination of transportation information, services and resources. • Led by the JTA, the Coalition • Created regional partnerships; • Held several large and small planning meetings; • Developed a Public Transit and Human Services Transportation Plan; • Identified mobility solutions without regard to physical, territorial or financial boundaries; • Shared personnel resources; • Applied for regional grant opportunities; and • Invested in region-wide technologies.

4. Accomplishments Prior to VTCLI • Awarded FTA Section 5317 New Freedom grant funds of $60,000 to establish framework and processes for a regional mobility management program. • Capitalized on FDOT Service Development grant funds of $191,270 to develop a regional scheduling system for Transit and Paratransit operations. • Shared personnel resources for training, service planning and other administrative functions.

5. Outlook Changes Due to VTCLI • The Veteran’s Transportation and Community Living Initiative opened our eyes to: • Lack of available regional transportation information to veteran service organizations, base support staff, and military families. • One of the greatest transportation gaps in service for our veterans – Trips to the VA Hospital in Gainesville and Lake City. • Need to expand the regional vision to include Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton, Suwannee River Valley, and Union Counties

6. The Expanded Region National Cemetery FL Air National Guard VA Clinic Blount Island Command Naval Station Mayport Naval Air Station & Hospital VA Hospital Camp Blanding State Veterans’ Nursing Home VA Hospital

7. If you are not currently in the military, married to someone in the military or a veteran, it is difficult to gain access to the decision makers on base. We made progress by: • Identifying current partners and in-house staff that may have access to decision makers; • Holding public workshops near bases; • Inviting local veterans and military support organizations to meetings and enlist their assistance; and • Communicating with base clergy and the office of Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Communicating With Veterans and Military Support Organizations

8. To gain a better perspective of the needs of veterans and military families in our area, we begun surveying them with questions that include: • Where do you live?  Base Barracks  Base family housing  personal home or apartment  temporary shelter  currently homeless • Have you experienced any difficulties in obtaining transportation to  work  medical appointments  shopping or  recreational activities? • Have you used public transportation?  Transit  Paratransit service  Car/Van pool or  Disabled American Vets van • If yes, how did you find out about these service? Create Mode Use Surveys

9. To gauge the potential use of electronic devises by • our veterans and military families, we included the following questions: • Would you use any of the following modes of transportation if you had more information about them and the travel was convenient, safe and reliable?  Transit (local bus)  Paratransit service  Car/Van pool  Taxi  Bike  Walk  Disabled American Vets van  Other mode • Do you own an internet enabled devise such as a  computer  tablet or  Smart Phone? • Would you use an interactive telephone system to find transportation information or to book your transportation?  Yes  No Additional Survey Questions

10. Next Steps for Northeast Florida • Continue Planning Activities and update the Northeast Florida Coordinated Mobility Plan • Implement the shared scheduling system • Complete the procurement process for the components of the VTCLI grant which include: • Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system • Comprehensive Website • Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) • Design and publish VTCLI educational program materials.

11. Northeast Florida’s VTCLI Technologies Creating a regional One-Call/One-Click Transportation Resource Center

12. System Functional Diagram

13. Regional Web Site • Regional website provides access to : • Transportation information within and across county lines; • Identify bus stop level information including accessibility and mode arrival times; • Book, review and cancel paratransit and flex route trips; and • Track location of transit vehicles. • This feature enhances current services and reduces number of calls into the call center.

14. Regional Telephone System • Part of the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to: • Automate regional and local transportation information; • Book, review and cancel paratransit and flex route trips; and • Transfer calls directly to providers across the region. • This feature enhances services and reduces number of calls into the call center. May replace any existing toll free costs to agencies.

15. Automatic Trip Notification System • Part of the IVR system to: • Call passengers as the vehicle is within 10 minutes of arriving at their booked location and • Make reminder calls passengers a day prior to their booked trip • This feature will • Enhance services; • Improve on-time performance; • Reduce the number of no-shows; and • Reduce the number of calls into your call center. • It may not replace any current technologies.

16. Mobile Data Terminals • Upon the full implementation, CTCs in the region will receive MDTs installed on their vehicles to: • Send manifests directly to each vehicle; • Provide turn by turn instructions to each destination; and • Calculate passenger boardings, vehicle activity, and productivity.

17. Full Coordination without Full Integration Our veterans and military families need access to all transportation options including: • Walking • Biking • Car sharing • Taxi • Inter-City Bus service • Social Service Agencies • Private providers • This can get real expensive and complicated if the same system is shared…

18. How do Other Industries and Agencies do it? • Methods may include: • Cataloging Information; • Mapping fixed attributes; or • Providing interactive, real time trip booking protocols.

19. Maryland’s TRIP (Transportation Resource Information Point) at mdtrip.org

20. State of Delaware DARTat dartfirststate.com

21. Help is On Its Way • Through the Veteran Transportation and Community Living Initiative, many more One-Call/One-Click Transportation Resource Centers are being developed. • We are not doing it alone. • Technical coordinating groups have been created with the partnerships of experts at FTA, the Veterans Administration, United We Ride, CTAA, APTA and many more. • More information is available at www.fta.dot.gov/veterans

22. Northeast Florida Contacts Liz Peak Regional and Flexible Services Coordinator and Project Lead for the Northeast Florida Mobility Management System (904) 633-8535 lpeak@jtafla.com