NYMTC Coordinated Plan Workshop Suffolk County NYMTC Coordinated Plan Workshop Sponsored by: New York Metropolitan Transportation Council With assistance of: WSP – Parsons Brinckerhoff Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates InGroup October 31, 2016

Introductions New York Metropolitan Transportation Council staff Gerry Bogacz, Project Manager Project consultants Patti Monahan, Nelson\Nygaard David Perlmutter, Nelson\Nygaard Coordinated Plan Advisory Group Maria Garcia

New York metropolitan transportation council

What is nymtc? Metropolitan Planning Organization for New York City, suburban Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley Regional council comprised of nine voting and seven advisory members Required for federal funding of transportation improvement projects Three geographically-based Transportation Coordinating Committees

NYMTC’s Planning Area

Membership Advisory members: New Jersey Transit, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 6

Workshop Agenda “Top-of-mind” issues Background presentation Discussion Kevin Maddox

“Top-of-mind” issues

Background presentation

Fast Act – Enhanced Section 5310 49 C.F.R. Section 5310 Meeting the transportation needs of older adults and people with disabilities when the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting these needs. Recipients can include states or local government authorities, private non- profit organizations, and/or operators of public transportation. For 2016, New York State DOT has announced the availability of approximately $10 million in funding for the NYMTC planning area Programmatic changes from previous federal legislation The program was modified to include projects eligible under the former Section 5317 New Freedom program, described as capital and operating expenses for new public transportation services and alternatives beyond those required by the ADA, designed to assist individuals with disabilities and seniors. Stand Alone Plan Federal Share: Federal share is 80 percent for capital projects. 20 percent local match. Federal share is 50 percent for operating assistance. 50 percent local match.

Eligible projects TRADITIONAL NON-TRADITIONAL Buses and vans Vehicle access improvements (Wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices) Transit-related IT systems (Scheduling/routing/one-call) Mobility management programs Acquisition of transportation services NON-TRADITIONAL Accessible paths of travel to transit (curb ramps, sidewalk improvements, APS, etc.) Improved signage / way-finding technologies Travel training / volunteer driver programs Stand Alone Plan Federal Share: Federal share is 80 percent for capital projects. 20 percent local match. Federal share is 50 percent for operating assistance. 50 percent local match.

Examples of Funded projects ADELANTE of Suffolk County, Inc. 1 vehicle Federation of Organizations NYS Mentally Disabled 5 vehicles Head Injury Association, Inc. 4 vehicles Independent Group Home Living Program, Inc. Suffolk County DPW – Transportation Division Operating assistance UCP Association of Greater Suffolk, Inc.

the Coordinated Public transit-human services transportation Plan (coordinated plan) All projects selected for Section 5310 funding must be “drawn from a Coordinated Plan” To do this, the Coordinated Plan will: Create an inventory of community transportation services Identify where “the transportation service provided is unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate to meeting needs” Develop and prioritize strategies and actions Stand Alone Plan Federal Share: Federal share is 80 percent for capital projects. 20 percent local match. Federal share is 50 percent for operating assistance. 50 percent local match.

Key inputs into THE plan Previous NYMTC Coordinated Plans (2004, 2009 and 2013) NYMTC Regional Transportation Plans (current and next) Other relevant resources: OneNYC NYCDOT Initiatives for People with Disabilities NYCDOT Mobility Management Resource Guide (2015)

Example of services to be considered Public transportation LIRR, Suffolk County Transit (SCT), Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART), NICE Bus, ferries Paratransit services from Suffolk County Accessible Transit (SCAT) Other public transportation providers Colleges & universities (e.g. Stony Brook University, Dowling College) Suffolk County DPW, Transportation Division Privately-owned transportation Regional bus operators, e.g. Shortline/Coach USA, Adirondack Trailways, Greyhound Taxi cabs, livery services, Uber/Lyft, etc. Commuter vans Medicaid medical transportation (non-emergency) via Suffolk County Department of Social Services Other human services transportation Developmental Disabilities Institute, Homeworks of Suffolk, etc. Update

Other Human Services Transportation Agencies that provide specialized transportation typically targeted to meet specific client needs, such as: Transporting program participants to and from agency programming or services Estimates suggest there are at least 33 agencies countywide Hospitals & clinics Community centers Residences Update

UNMET Needs Service Delivery Gaps Longer distance and inter-jurisdictional trips, service frequency, and span issues LIRR service can be infrequent, oriented to Manhattan-bound trips with few options for N/S travel. Frequency of some public bus routes is 1-2 hours ADA paratransit services cover wide service areas with longer span of service, but only available for ADA-eligible individuals Municipal paratransit services provide travel options for older adults, but with limited span of service and only for trips within town/village boundaries Community transportation services provide mobility for low-income people, older adults, and people with disabilities – but service is available only to agency clients or program participants

UNMET Needs (CONTINUED) Spatial Gaps SCT has service area gaps in eastern portion of Suffolk County Mismatch between route origins, destinations and many employment centers, especially for low-income workers; many popular trips require transfers as a result Insufficient north-south travel options; most routes oriented east-west Temporal Gaps Evening and weekend spans of service of public transit providers are inadequate – no Sunday service or service after 8 PM is available. Service, retail, hospital workers may not be accommodated.

UNMET Needs (continued) Institutional Gaps Scheduling coordination between agencies to reduce need for transfers Knowledge and Information Gaps Long hold times with customer service for paratransit reservations Improved signage needed at bus stops Technology Gaps Fare integration across County transit providers and new fare media needed Schedule and website information inaccessible to riders with visual impairments (e.g. PDF documents cannot be accessed with screen-reading applications) Accessibility Gaps Several LIRR stations on Babylon Branch are not ADA-accessible. Bus stops often lack sidewalks, shelters, nearby crosswalks

Targeted populations Survey Purpose

Strategies and actions Examples of strategies identified in 2013 Coordinated Plan Accessible taxi program Bicycle amenities at transit facilities, on-board transit vehicles Consistent user policies for demand-response services – e.g. standardized policies for wait times, dwell times, no-shows/late arrivals Coordination between paratransit providers to ensure more seamless transfers between jurisdictions Mobility managers – information, outreach and trip planning Paratransit feeder services to fixed-route stops and stations Publicize existing online trip planners Real-time transit information (SCT buses) Reverse commute strategies – “last mile” fixed-route, demand-response shuttle services to/from rail stations or bus stops Taxi/community car subsidy programs Travel voucher program

You can help us with the following . . . Service inventory Unmet needs Coordination Strategies & actions

discussion

Contact information Gerry Bogacz Planning Director New York Metropolitan Transportation Council 25 Beaver Street, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10004 w 212.383.7260 Gerry.Bogacz@dot.ny.gov www.nymtc.org wwww.facebook.com/NYMTC Twitter: @NYMTC