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Creative Funding on a Rural California Frontier

Creative Funding on a Rural California Frontier. Pam Couch, Executive Director Modoc Transportation CalACT Autumn Conference – Monterey, CA CTSAs Today – October 5, 2005. “Tri County Region” A Rural Frontier in Northeastern California. Regional Population. Population Area Density

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Creative Funding on a Rural California Frontier

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  1. Creative Funding on a Rural California Frontier Pam Couch, Executive Director Modoc Transportation CalACT Autumn Conference – Monterey, CA CTSAs Today – October 5, 2005

  2. “Tri County Region”A Rural Frontier in Northeastern California (10/5/05)

  3. Regional Population PopulationAreaDensity Modoc County 9,449 3,944 2.4 Lassen County(a)25,477 4,557 5.6 Plumas County 20,824 2,5548.1 Frontier 55,750 11,055 5.0 persons Region persons sq. mi. per sq. mi. (a) Net of Prison Population (8,351 inmates)Source: 2000 Census (10/5/05)

  4. Regional Context • High desert – basin & range topography • Sparse, dispersed population • Remote – extensive travel distances • 20% elderly population and g-r-o-w-i-n-g • 15 to 21.5% poverty rate • No taxis, rental cars or passenger carriers • Limited (struggling) health care facilities • Lifeline access and mobility needs (10/5/05)

  5. Some of Our Problems • Coordination is recommended, but there are • very few rural tools, plans or models, and • little or no resources for frontier rural CTSAs. • Scattered population clusters, isolated ranches, extensive travel distances, 2-lane mountain roads and harsh winter weather hinder transit system design, productivity & efficiency. • Different trip planning needs – not “which” way (is best or preferred) but “if” any way at all (10/5/05)

  6. Our Approach • Support - communities & governing boards • Benefit from staff continuity, good relationships and on-going communication • Solve common problem(s) • Use building block strategy, or • Series of integrated, purposeful projects • Identify or progressively develop useful tools, and suggest future enhancements • Seek (more) funding for next project (10/5/05)

  7. Evolution of Regional Coordination Initial Study Project (2000) • Project = ~$40,000 FTA 5313(b) + $8,000 match • Identified unseen problems and barriers • Collaboration/cooperation as means to coordinate • “Coordination” is politically acceptable. • Formal agreements for specific purposes • Fostered other projects, communication & sharing (10/5/05)

  8. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) Study • Project = $200,000 State Environmental Justice + $22,600 partner match funding • Define needs, gaps & resources – inclusive participation • Develop service strategy built on local resources that avoids duplication and improves productivity • Identify options and alternatives • Final report with needs analysis, coordination plan, recommendations, references, annotated bibliography and toolkit for other rural CA counties (pending) (10/5/05)

  9. NEMT Study Recommendations • “Transit first” priority • Individual (county) coordination models • Develop tools and improve options – according to local resources & priorities • Centralize coordination in Modoc County through Rural MMC and web-based tools (10/5/05)

  10. Strategies for Creative Solutions • Serve your community – create partnerships • Carefully define problems • Reach out – attend meetings, conferences, seminars, and training, occasionally “stepping outside” your zone • Participate professionally; network extensively • Pay attention; listen; ask questions; offer assistance • Take notes; keep organized files • Identify peers, partners and programs, such as • ITS Peer to Peer program (P2P @ fhwa.dot.gov) • Northern CA Breast & Cervical Cancer Partnership • Understand fundingcriteria : your needs & problems (10/5/05)

  11. Rural CA Trip Planner • Project = $250,000 State Research + $15,000 Rural Planning Assistance (total) • 5 region demonstration – Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Inyo and Mono counties • Select, deploy and evaluate web-based tool • CALnections.com (10/5/05)

  12. System Features • Web-based system with local “personal assistance” • Customer focus – user friendly • Trip planner integrating traveler information, operations management, data collection and coordination tools • Connect L.A. MTA Trip Master, OR/WA TripCheck, others • Participating vehicle “branding” • Integrate “flex” routes with fixed & demand-response • Interrelated modules to manage provider operations • Cost-allocation mechanism for subsidized travel • Affordable, scalable and transferable on county basis (10/5/05)

  13. Integrated Projects-in-Process Rural Technical Assistance Project • Project = $80,000 (est. value) thru USDA/CTAA • Cursory needs analysis and site visit • Prepare marketing and promotion plan for CALnections.com • Create logo / brand for “coordinated system” • Prepare business plan for Modoc MMC • Final report(anticipated 2006) (10/5/05)

  14. Modoc Mobility Management Center • Project = $120,000 FTA Office of Mobility Innovation + $30,000 LTF funding • Establish virtual and physical “one-stop” • ITS tool enhancements to “Unite Rides” • On-line Regional Transportation Inventory • public and private transportation • social/human service transportation providers • Tribal and NEMT transportation providers • expandable for other travel options (10/5/05)

  15. Intercity Transportation Projects(scalable, affordable and transferable technologies) Current Project = $48,000 FTA 5311f cap + $12,000 LTF • Technical tool enhancements for inter-operator coordination of intercity transportation • Customize modules for social/human service providers of intercity transportation Proposed Project = ~$48,500 FTA 5311f cap + ~$12,100 LTF • “Swipe Card” demonstration (1o vehicles) in Modoc and Lassen counties for electronic fare, data collection and real-time communications • Real-time access to intercity transit operations, SST inventory and trip coordination • Cost allocation enhancements – pro rata cost sharing • Possibly add eligibility screening tool to system (10/5/05)

  16. Contact Information Pam Couch, Executive Director Modoc County Transportation Commission Modoc Transportation Agency / Sage Stage P.O. Box 999, Alturas CA 96101 (530) 233-6422 phone – (530) 233-3744 fax Email: pamcouch @ frontiernet.net (10/5/05)

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