Enhancing the Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Access and Use of Targeted Transportation Funds August 17, 2015

2 Meet Your Presenters Brian Baker, South Plains Community Action Association Maurice Pearl, Citibus Donna Smith, ESPA Consulting Carol Wright, ESPA Consulting

Intended to enhance mobility for seniors and persons with disabilities by providing funds for programs to serve the special needs of transit- dependent populations beyond traditional public transportation services and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) complementary paratransit services. 3 Section 5310 Program Goal

 60% - Designated Recipients in Large Urbanized Areas  20% - States for Small Urbanized Areas  20% - States for Rural Areas 4 Allocation of Funding

 State may transfer funds between the small urbanized areas and the rural areas and from these areas to large urbanized areas, but it must certify the needs are being met in the area where the funds were originally apportioned  No provisions for transfer of funds from large urbanized areas to small urbanized or rural areas 5 Transfer of Funds

Administration Funds – no match required Capital Funds – 20% local match required Operating Funds – 50% local match required 6 Match Requirements

Coordination among transportation and human service providers In the development of the Coordination Plan, there must be active participation by older adults and individuals with disabilities There must be representation from public, private and non-profit transportation providers and human services transportation providers 7 Program Requirements

Plan must be coordinated to the maximum extent possible with transportation services funded by other federal departments and agencies All funded projects must be included in the Coordinated Plan. 8 Program Requirements

Section 5310 projects are designed to fill gaps in public transit services for older adults and individuals with disabilities when public transportation is insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable. Projects that go “above and beyond” what is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act 9 Eligible Projects

Projects should improve access to fixed-route services and decrease reliance on ADA complementary paratransit. “Traditional” Section 5310 projects (generally capital purchases) Projects that were eligible previously under New Freedom funding (Section 5317) 10 Eligible Projects

55% MUST BE used on capital purchases Up to 45% CAN BE spent for operating expenses AT MOST, 10% is allowed for administration and to provide technical assistance 11 Eligible Expenses

The Survey Conducted in August & September 2014 Received 188 responses People with disabilities 63 respondents (33.5%) Individuals representing organizations 125 respondents (66.5%)

Key Findings Interests of people with disabilities most often represented by human service providers instead of people with disabilities 68% of respondents are not satisfied with the level of involvement of people with disabilities

Barriers to Involvement Transportation to meetings Lack of effective outreach Apathy Timing of meetings Need for education about planning Lack of access at the meetings

Solutions Involve people with disabilities early in the process Apply for positions on transportation boards, commissions and planning committees Hold meetings at disability organization locations Teach about holding accessible meetings Learn about the planning process

Under MAP-21, Mobility Management is an eligible capital expense under Section 5310 Must be carried out by eligible subrecipients Must be planned, designed and implemented to meet the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities 16 Mobility Management

17 Mobility Management Making a commitment to solve as many transportation needs as empathetically, creatively, and efficiently as possible. Includes: Tracking unmet transportation needs Fostering existing and building new partnerships Being a resource to the community Improving and expanding transportation services

18 Voucher Programs Funding agency provides vouchers to eligible recipients: To be used to purchase rides from a specific transportation provider, or Recipients choose transportation provider who then submits vouchers for reimbursement

19 Travel Training Travel training programs include: Orientation to the transit system Group trips on transit as training One-to-one training for teaching travel skills Examples of Texas programs: DART (Dallas) DCTA (Denton) El Metro (Laredo) Panhandle ILC (Amarillo) VIA Metro (San Antonio) East Texas CIL (Tyler)

20 Wheelchair Accessible Taxis Capital expense to purchase accessible taxicabs Increases mobility for people with disabilities and older adults Increases business for both public and private transit providers Can be very effective when combined with a voucher program

21 Gap-Filling Projects Focuses effort and funding on satisfying unmet need Reduces opportunity for duplication of service Increases mobility for older adults and people with disabilities Mobility Options Project Coastal Bend CIL Corpus Christi, TX

22 Innovative Uses of Technology Fast-growing area of interest and research Direct applications include: Automated stop announcements Smartphone apps for travel supports Applications to improve scheduling and customer contact One-call/one-click centers

23 Coordination Regional coordination across communities, cities, counties, and state lines Top down model initiated at the state level such as in Texas

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