NJTIP @ Rutgers Environmental Barrier Analysis & Route Assessment

1. NJTIP @ RutgersEnvironmental Barrier Analysis & Route Assessment Louis Hoffman Training Coordinator Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

2. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) • One of 17 research centers at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers University, New Brunswick • Leader in the research and development of innovative transportation policy in a variety of fields including transportation equity & options for transportation disadvantaged • NJTIP joined VTC as NJTIP @ Rutgers in January 2013, offering travel training opportunities for a diverse audience seeking independence and an improved quality of life

3. VTC Transportation Equity Work VTC five-year transportation action plan: “Meeting the Employment Transportation Needs of People with Disabilities in New Jersey” http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc/documents/TransEq.DDS_Final_Report.pdf Plan recommendations pursued by VTC: • NJ Find A Ride/ NJ 211 transportation information website • Travel Concierge Pilot • NJ County Transportation: Expanding Resources to Improve Services • Connect to Transit Training Pilot

4. Getting to Work VTC 2010/2011 Survey Findings • 76% of respondents felt strongly that transportation was important for their job search • 40% reported refusing a job offer due to travel difficulties • 25% reported leaving a job due to travel difficulties

5. NJ Bike Ped Resource Center • Research Topics Include • Complete Streets • Pedestrain Safety Analysis • Biking Walking Ambassadors

6. DOT, NJ Bike Ped Resource Center & NJTIP • Collaboration to use NJTIP’s strangths • In the field knowledge • Knowledge of special and individualized needs

7. Process • Literature Review • Interviews • Tabulation of variables • Testing the application

8. Definition • The study of the environmental conditions along a path of travel that is done prior to initiating the teaching of any route to a person with a disability or a senior citizen. Considered in the environmental analysis are the essential features and conditions along the path of travel (e.g., presence/absence of curb ramps; timing of any pedestrian control signals and vehicular traffic signals; salient landmarks; availability and location of shelter and safe havens; types of intersections and traffic flow patterns for street crossing) that may hinder or facilitate a person’s ability to travel. Using the results of this study of the environment the travel training instructor/travel trainer can design an instructional plan and route that considers the individual’s needs, the environmental conditions, and safety (ESPA, 2003).

9. Litertature Reviewed • Geographically diverse • Many fields reviewed • Engineering • Travel Training • Transportation Advocacy • TRIS/TRB • Conference Presentations

10. Structured Interviews • 11 individuals from 9 travel instruction providers • Geographically diverse • Organizationally diverse • Best Practices • In person • Telephone

11. Terminology • Environmental Analysis • Barrier Analysis • Route Check • Route Assessment • Route & Scout

12. Need & Timing • Before Training • During Training • After Training

13. Types of Barriers • Potential Barriers e.g. • Physical and environmental barriers e.g. • Social Barriers e.g.

14. Components • On foot • Entire path of travel • Recording of observations • Sharing with other entities • Most popular origins and destinations for paratransit • Agencies that have many potential riders

15. Intersection Analysis • Street width • Number of lanes • Time of day • Travel control • Bends, curves, hills • Variations of intersection • Avg vehicle speed

16. Intersection Analysis Cont’d • Curb ramps • Visual screens • Signal timing • Turning vehicles

17. Street Crossing • Stopping safely at corners • Scanning in all directions • Responding to stimuli • Using signals • Timing • Crosswalks • Continuing to scan • Speed • Completing the crossing

18. Data Recording • Notes • Checklists • Narrative • Beneficial for the agency • Turnover • Go back and refer to the data

19. Staff Training • One element • Training done in real time • With clients • Used online tools • Lots of variability in the type and length of training

20. Planning & Implementation • As close as possible to first trip • Day and time • Use of online tools

21. Accident and Traffic Statistics • Use of NHTSB database • Other databases

22. Decision points • A point in the path of travel where one makes a choice

23. Other uses for data collected • Government • DOT • Transit • Human Services • Advocacy • Funding

24. Using EBA/RA outside of travel instruction • Other agencies • Just the Planning & Barrier Analysis elements • As needed • Extra revenue generator • Build on natural expertise

25. Variable formulation • Collected info from customer database • Detailed notes were taken for new route checks • Variables were used from existing lists • Variables were suggested by outside agencies

26. Variables List for eChecklist

27. Future Plans • Incorporate feedback from ATI conference • New database • Incorporate this data collection tool in customer database • Complete streets