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Making the Transportation-Land Use Connection in Human Services Transportation

Making the Transportation-Land Use Connection in Human Services Transportation. Heather Strassberger, AICP Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Human Services Transportation Planner Baltimore Metropolitan Council. We’ve all heard about transportation & land use.

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Making the Transportation-Land Use Connection in Human Services Transportation

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  1. Making the Transportation-Land Use Connection in Human Services Transportation Heather Strassberger, AICP Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Human Services Transportation Planner Baltimore Metropolitan Council

  2. We’ve all heard about transportation & land use

  3. We now consider transportation options and land use impacts in most planning… Unfortunately, some of our most vulnerable travelers have been left behind by advances that have led to renewed emphasis on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, higher quality transit, and land use connections. Small details can mean big barriers.

  4. Aging population Haywood & Henderson Counties: > 20% 65+ Rapid increases in use of ADA paratransit Dwindling funding Jobs dispersing Low income population suburbanizing Changes in family dynamics, lifestyle preferences Siloed funding sources create inefficiencies Why is this important?

  5. What’s at stake? • Livability/Quality of life: • independence for seniors & people with disablities • Access to employment & services for low income • Economic costs: • $40/trip for paratransit vs $3-4 for bus or rail (WMATA) • 750’ of accessible sidewalk pays for itself if one customer switches from paratransit to fixed route for 1 year

  6. Some Case Studies

  7. MAHEC Biltmore Campus • Healthy Aging center; health care for low income pregnant women • Located in affluent area just outside Asheville City Limits • Steep, nearly one mile driveway, no sidewalk • Outside transit service area • Built facility, then approached Transit Commission to request a bus route extension to serve it • Represents trend of non-profits building “campuses” instead of facilities built into urban fabric

  8. UCP of Central Maryland • Consolidated two adult day programs in SW & E corners of Baltimore County into new facility in business park off I-95 • No public transit access • No commercial services nearby • Requested 5310 Capital funds for replacement vehicles due to added wear & tear • LEED-Certified building

  9. The League for People with Disabilities • Urban neighborhood location • On transit line • Provides travel training • Worked with city to get crosswalk re-striped, curb ramp added so clients could safely access bus line

  10. Parkville Senior Center • On bus line • Recently received road diet, traffic calming • Senior center representatives involved in streetscape project • Adaptive reuse of school as senior center/rec center in established neighborhood • But – senior center entrance on back of building presents some problems

  11. State/County DSS, Essex, MD • Located on hybrid suburban main street/state highway • On 4 bus lines • Improved bus stop, crossing, some traffic calming • In close proximity to a large portion of county’s social services clients

  12. Arlington Estates Co-op • Infill moderate income senior housing • Across from shopping center • ~1/4 mile from Metro • Bus stop directly outside • BUT • On high speed arterial • No sidewalk • No real crossing improvements

  13. What does this have to do with MPOs?

  14. Coordinated Human Services Planning • MPO develops Locally Coordinated Public Transportation – Human Services Transportation Plan • Guides how FTA Elderly & Disabled, Job Access – Reverse Commute, New Freedom funds are spent • Defines local needs, sets tone for “coordination” • Opportunity to guide policy, spread innovative ideas

  15. Project Selection • TMAs have direct control over JARC & New Freedom funds • Part of 5310 Selection process • Should incorporate aging, disability, income issues into selection process for all transportation funding • Specialized plans incorporated into LRTP, TIP • Make land use efficiency, pedestrian access part of scoring for all HST grants!

  16. Other things MPOs can do • Use knowledge of providers gained through HST planning to connect transport agencies with human service agencies • Educate about innovative techniques, emerging issues • Direct outreach/TDM efforts with human services clients • Serve as convener for coordination discussions between human service agencies & other transportation providers • Identify data needs; develop research and reports on regional demographics • Innovative, collaborative programs: ARC’s Lifelong Communities initiative

  17. Philosophical Questions • Are human services funds used to enhance the public transportation system for all with emphasis on special needs or to create separate transport? • Do we assume motorized travel or maximize choice? • How do we account for the health impacts of transportation on vulnerable populations in the planning process? • How do we reconcile the complicated relationships between transportation and other funding streams?

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