May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 1 DRPT Initiatives on Transportation Services For Older Adults, People With Disabilities and People With Lower Incomes In Virginia Neil Sherman Specialized Program Manager

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 2 Today’s Agenda  DRPT overview  ADA responsibilities  Federal programs administered by DRPT  2008 grant awards  Funding program changes  Universal Access Program

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 3 Who is DRPT?  40 employees, three offices  Work with over 100 public and private partners to provide project management services, planning support, technical expertise, financial support and program advocacy

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 4 DRPT Three Main Areas of Activity  Rail –Freight rail –Passenger rail  Transit –Public transit systems and services –Special needs transportation  Congestion Management –Ridesharing: carpools, vanpools –Incentive programs for employers –Telework Funding Support Advocacy Planning an technical support

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 5 DRPT’s ADA Responsibilities  Technical assistance/planning  Site reviews  Training  State vehicle procurement

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 6 Transportation Related Concerns should be reported to: 1. Local operator 2. Logisticare (if Medicaid funded) 3. DMAS (if Medicaid funded) 4. VA Office of Protection and Advocacy 5. DRPT 6. Federal Transportation Administration

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 7 Federal SAFETEA-LU Programs Administered by DRPT for Special Needs:  5310 program: Provides capital funding for transportation services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities.  New Freedom Program: Provides new program funding for transportation services that go beyond the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC): Provides funds for transportation services for low income workers.

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 8 Section 5310 program  An impetus for improvements in transportation options for elderly and people with disabilities since 1983  Funds are distributed, in part, based on size of population  Federal share 80 percent; Applicant 20 percent  Eligible applicants include: –Non-profit corporations/associations –Approved public bodies –Public bodies where no non-profit is available –Application period: November 1 to February 1

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 9 New Freedom Program  Program designed to support and enhance transportation for people with disabilities beyond the ADA  Operating match percent  Capital/Planning match percent  May be used to expand demand-response services and travel training  2008 Application period: November 1 to February 1

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 10 Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC)  Targeted for individuals with lower incomes  Access to and from employment/related activities  Operating match percent  Capital/Planning match percent  Application Period: November 1- to February 1

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission Section 5310 Awards  47 applications were submitted to DRPT this year for a total of $5,336,000 in requests.  In FY09, DRTP is awarding 43 recipients 77 vehicles in the amount of $3,134,000.

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission New Freedom Awards  Seven Projects funded ($690,000 awarded): –Bay Transit ($65,600)-Mobility Manager to coordinate transportation for people with disabilities across counties. –District Three Public Transit ($151,020)-to provide transit services in Mount Rogers PDC to regional health care facilities (I-81 and I-77). –JAUNT ($66,488)-work with human service agencies in the Thomas Jefferson PDC to use resources more effectively.

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission New Freedom Awards Cont’d –Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission($66,625)-for a one-stop transportation center for Culpeper Connector and all human service agencies. –Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging (95,200)-to schedule and direct trips for people with disabilities in Caroline County to multiple providers.

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission New Freedom Awards Cont’d –Shenandoah Agency on Aging ($95,200)-New door-to-door services for people with disabilities for multiple counties. –Unified Human Services Transportation System ($150,000) to expand the hours of service for Roanoke County’s CORTRAN demand response service and give more door to door assistance.

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 15 Funding Program Changes  New federal requirements  Additional New Freedom Grant opportunity

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 16 New Federal SAFETEA-LU Requirements  Any region interested in accessing the federal transportation programs administered by DRPT must have a “locally developed coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan.”  Also requires a State Plan

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 17 Coordinated Human Service Plans  DRPT provided technical assistance to 20 rural and small urban areas to develop Coordinated Human Service Mobility Plans.  Utilized a bottom up approach (i.e., All plans developed by local “representatives of public, private and non-profit transportation and human service providers and participation by members of the public).”

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 18 Human Service Transportation Workshops  Spring 2007, 11 workshops to educate on new federal requirements and to assist in regional needs and gaps assessment.  Fall 2007, 13 workshops to develop region- specific strategies to address gaps (20 plans drafted).  May/June 2008, 14 regional sessions to obtain final approval on the plans before promulgation to public/state/local entities –20 local plans finalized - see chsmplans.htm chsmplans.htm

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 19 Coordinated State Plan  DRPT’s efforts to meet Coordinated State Plan Requirements include: –State Agency Coordination Council –Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Secretaries of Transportation and Health and Human Resources –Agency by Agency analyses of transportation polices, rules and regulations and committed resources –State Agency Council recommendations for Final Coordinated State Plan (August 2008)

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 20 New Freedom Grant Opportunity  Summer 2008 –Five percent local match required –$2 million in federal and state funds available –Application period from June 16 to August 15

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 21 Universal Access Program  The 2007 Virginia General Assembly directed DRPT to develop a universal access program for public paratransit riders by June 30,  Achieves a desired outcome for the Olmstead/Community Integration Commission.

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 22 Universal Access Program  Currently, eligible persons have to qualify for each local system.  Effective June 30, 2008, DRPT will transfer eligibility to all Virginia transit systems.  Senior Navigator

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 23 Summary of Upcoming Milestones  Regional Coordinated Human Service Plans Drafted: June 08  New Freedom Applications Accepted: Summer 08  Universal Access Program Implemented: June 08  Coordinated State Plan Completed: August 08

May 30, 2008 Community Integration Commission 24 For more information, contact:  Neil I. Sherman Specialized Program Manager Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (804)