E XPANDING M OBILITY O PTIONS IN M ARIN Marin Transit’s Paratransit and Mobility Management Programs 1

ADA Paratransit Purpose: Provides a mobility lifeline for persons with disabilities. Required by the Americans with Disabilities Act: Operators of a fixed route transit system, “shall provide paratransit or other special service to individuals with disabilities that is comparable to the level of service provided to individuals without disabilities who use the fixed route system.” Mandated service provided within ¾ mile radius of fixed routes when they are in service, at no more than twice the adult fixed route fare. 2

ADA Paratransit Eligibility – 3 Categories: –Inability to independently use fixed-route service due to a physical or mental impairment. –Inability to navigate natural or architectural barriers when travelling to/from a bus stop or station. –Where an accessible bus is not available. Must schedule the day before. Service windows: Service must be provided no more than 1 hour before or after a requested departure time. Shared ride service – often not direct to destination – depends on other riders & schedule. 3

ADA Paratransit Under the ADA, transit operators cannot deny mandated ADA paratransit rides. This often results in riders’ pick-up windows being adjusted. Non-mandated service: available on a stand-by basis & higher fare for areas outside of the mandated service area & operating times. 4

5 ADA Paratransit Cost of a 1-Way Local ADA Paratransit Trip: To Marin Transit: $38 To Passenger: Mandated Service: $2 Non-Mandated Service: $2.50 Net Subsidy Per Trip: $35.50 to $36

The Impact of Our Paratransit Service Typical Quotes From Our Riders: “You are wonderful. I don’t know what I would have done without you.” “I could not survive without your service.” “I had a great driver. I hand them my cane and they hold it as I walk down the steps backwards. Then they give me my cane & walk me to the door. They are always wonderful.” 6

Marin County’s Aging Population 7

8 Marin Paratransit Ridership Trends 8

9 Paratransit Trip Origins Population % of Total County PopulationParatransit Trips % of Total Paratransit TripsTrips per capita Canal11,6795%3,6824%0.32 Corte Madera-Larkspur34,01614%15,76715%0.46 Marin City2,5001%1,6952%0.68 Marinwood-Terra Linda28,61512%26,71526%0.93 Mill Valley-Tam Junction24,99110%5,5045%0.22 Novato49,62020%22,55422%0.45 San Anselmo-Fairfax25,29710%8,0678%0.32 San Rafael28,39912%12,60812%0.44 Sausalito7,7583%8761%0.11 Tiburon-Bevedere-Strawberry16,8457%3,4703%0.21 West Marin North11,8885%1110%0.01 West Marin South9670%8611%0.89 TOTALS242, ,910

Responding to Increasing Paratransit Demand Developing lower cost alternatives (mobility management) Reviewing eligibility practices & trip patterns to see if some riders can use other services. Reviewing fares and service areas, particularly for non-mandated trips. 10

11 Paratransit Growth & Cost Pressures Aging population – age-based disabilities. Growth in trips from human service agencies. Increased demand for dialysis treatment transportation. Increasing operating costs: fuel, etc.

Mobility Management Purpose: To coordinate mobility resources & information to provide more ride alternatives, particularly for Marin’s seniors, persons with disabilities and low-income residents. Marin Transit’s mobility management efforts began in Spring 2009 with the hiring of the Mobility Manager & expanded outreach to community partners. 12

Mobility Management Efforts Senior Mobility Action & Implementation Plan: 5/09 – 4/10 Fall 09: Paratransit/Mobility Management RFP: leverage paratransit investments to add mobility management center functions. Fall 09: First “How Seniors Get Around” group travel training presentation. 13

Mobility Management Efforts 4/10: Marin Transportation Coordination Summit: 60 stakeholders & advocates learn about mobility management & discuss mobility needs & solutions. 6/10: First meeting of Marin Mobility Consortium. Purpose: “Plan & take action together as consortium of agencies & advocates to improve & expand transportation options for Marin’s senior, disabled & low-income residents.” 14

Mobility Management Efforts 7/10: Whistlestop begins new paratransit/ mobility management contract. 10/10: First service of Marin Access Mobility Management Center: telephone information & referral: /10: Marin voters pass Measure B, $10 Vehicle Registration Fee Initiative with 35% going to senior/disabled mobility through Marin Transit. 15

Mobility Management Efforts Fall 10: Marin Transit releases Volunteer Driver Programs RFP with New Freedom Grant funding. Winter 11: 2 new volunteer driver programs for seniors begin service. Spring 11: Marin Access website launched: Spring 11: Rebranding of the paratransit service and fleet to become Marin Access Paratransit. 16

Mobility Management Efforts Winter & Spring 11: Marin Transit develops Measure B Senior/Disabled Transportation program ideas from the Senior Mobility Action Plan with fine-tuning from the Marin Mobility Consortium. Spring & Summer 11: Marin Transit & Whistlestop note major increases in ADA paratransit ridership & begin in-depth review to determine how to meet the growing demand. 17

Mobility Management Efforts 9/11: Marin Transit in partnership with Novato Independent Elders holds first “ABCs of Senior Transportation” event in Novato – 100 seniors attend. 18

19 Measure B Programs Fall 11: Marin Transit and TAM agreement to implement Measure B Senior/Disabled Transportation Component. Fall 11: Marin Transit continues planning for launch of Measure B programs: –Evaluation of both volunteer driver programs. –Recruiting for the Mobility Management Specialist position.

Measure B Programs Measure B Program Planning for 2012 Launch: –Marin “Catch-A-Ride” (formerly Paratransit Plus) subsidized ride program for seniors age 80 and older. –Low-Income Rider Scholarships – for ADA paratransit riders. –“Gap Grant Program”- small competitive grant program to fund creation/expansion of transportation options. 20

Mobility Management: What’s Next Measure B funded programs launch. Create & distribute county-wide transportation guide funded by a New Freedom Grant – Spring/Summer 2012 Create new individualized travel training programs – volunteer transit ambassadors – Spring/Summer 2012 Create a Marin Access walk-in information desk – Spring

Mobility Management: What’s Next Coordinated eligibility & mobility counseling through Marin Access. Planning for ADA Premium Transportation Pilot: to expand the Marin Catch-A-Ride subsidized ride program for seniors to include the younger ADA eligible riders. Funded by a New Freedom Grant. Increased outreach to potential mobility coordination partners. 22

Mobility Management: What’s Next More “ABCs of Senior Transportation” events – next: March 21 in San Rafael. Continued work with the Marin Mobility Consortium and its 5 subcommittees: to collaborate in developing new mobility solutions. Next Consortium Meeting: 2/27 Planning for additional high-tech solutions. 23

24 Conclusion Marin residents have a range of mobility needs, which require a variety of solutions. Marin Transit, through it’s management of local transit, ADA paratransit, and leadership in developing a “family of services” approach to developing non- traditional mobility options, will continue to work with its partners and the community to seek effective, creative approaches to meet residents’ mobility needs.