1. Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program Handi-van Services and Viable Rural Communities Linda Rigaux and Gina Sylvestre

2. Mission  The Transportation Options Network for Seniors (TONS) informs and educates Manitobans on transportation options that enhance quality of life and promote age friendly communities.  TONS is a community based resource organization that works with transportation stakeholders throughout Manitoba to promote and improve transportation options available to seniors. Our job is to help keep people on the road safely for as long as possible and when that is no longer possible provide options.

3. Current work of TONS  BUS TUTORIALS  In partnership with Winnipeg Transit, TONS conducts bus tutorials for older adults. The bus tutorial explains the physical changes made to transit buses to accommodate older adults and specifically mobility devices. The tutorial also offers older adults an opportunity to ride the bus to become familiar with seating areas and entering and exiting the bus. The presentation also covers bus fares, bus schedules and how to plan your route.

4. Current work of TONS  WINNIPEG TAXI BOARD  TONS is working toward a senior friendly taxi driver designation with three of the large taxi companies in the city and the Winnipeg Taxi Board.  We are also working with them to educate older adults about their rights as a passenger in a taxicab in areas such as expectations and tipping.

5. Current work of TONS  HANDI VAN  The complexity of providing adequate transportation in rural areas of Manitoba is becoming increasingly recognized as a priority issue to ensure a sustained quality of life for rural seniors. In communities with few transportation resources, Handi-van programs also lend support to families and care givers that currently help meet the essential needs of Manitoba’s aging populations.  TONS has a Rural Committee that deals with some of the challenges and questions pertaining to Handi van.

6.  Rural Transportation continued  Transportation issues for older adults are not limited to Handi-Van concerns.  We would like to work with communities, Municipalities, Chambers of Commerce and Seniors Resource Coordinators to discover other options and discuss volunteer driver programs.

7. Current work of TONS  DRIVER SAFETY  TONS currently has funding to deliver some rural presentations, but are waiting for more funding so we can adequately cover the province and help train community members to deliver this presentation.  Changing Seats, Changing Attitudes – a presentation that provides older adults with resources to keep driving safely, make the successful transition from driver to passenger and know the options available when they are no longer able to drive.

8. Overview: Handi-van Service and Viable Rural Communities  Aging and rural Manitoba  Barriers of rurality for provision of transportation  Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program  Viability of handi-van services  Best practices: Toolkit  Next steps

9. Aging and Rural Manitoba  Aging population: 2006, RHA regions, % 65+  Manitoba 14.1%  Assiniboine 19.4%  Parkland 18.8%  Interlake 14.7%  Brandon 13.9%  North Eastman 13.5%  Central 13.2%  South Eastman 10.5%  Burntwood 3.7%

11. Aging and Rural Manitoba  Aging: physical and social decline  Aging as an asset to rural Manitoba  Significance of transportation for the active participation of older adults in their communities

12. Barriers of Rurality  Geographic distance and isolation  Increasing costs of insurance and fuel  Centralization of services has increased need for long-distance travel  Municipalities across the province are very diverse in terms of situational factors:  Population and tax base  Proximity to major centres and amenities  Distance to neighbouring communities  Limited mobility options in rural Manitoba

13. Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program  MDTP Guidelines  Municipality must be sponsor of Handi-van service  Definition of Mobility Disadvantaged  Over age 55 and those with disabilities  Available funding from provincial government:  $10,000 start-up grant  37.5% of operating costs  18% of services access allowable grant  Financial contribution of municipality is voluntary

14. Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program  Scenarios of MDTP operations:  Well run service that provides a community resource addressing an important gap  Underutilized service: van is sitting  No service available

15. Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program  Unique and diverse needs of each community means that there are different sets of challenges and assets for handi-van operations across the province  Diversity of tax bases, population demographics, and regional socio-economic circumstances  Challenges for handi-van services include:  Costs of operation, and ridership on fixed income  Reliance on volunteers as drivers  User policy limitations  Board representation

16. Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program  The success of a handi-van service is reliant on municipal participation  Role of the municipality linked to:  Quality of service  Responsibility to provide equitable transportation for the mobility disadvantaged  Economic and community-oriented benefits of municipally-funded handi-van operations

17. Mobility Disadvantaged Transportation Program  2009, Institute of Urban Studies conducted a handi-van survey  57 out of 66 handi-van services participated

19.  Financial contributions by municipalities are diverse across the province Municipal Contributions to Handi -van Services (%) Municipal Contributions (%)

20. Municipal Engagement  Widely varying degrees of involvement: 1) Financial support 2) In-kind contributions 3) Provision of MDTP grant only  Handi-van board involvement  Municipal financial support is often equated with a higher functioning handi-van service Handi-vans Receiving Municipal Funding

21. Municipal Funding  Accessibility and Municipal Funding  Handi-van operations with municipal funding generally offer:  Business hours of operation  Higher numbers of vans  May lead to lower rates

22. Of the operations with more than one handi-van: 80% receive municipal funding 20% receive no municipal financial support Municipally funded operations may be better able to provide expanded and comprehensive services

23. Per Kilometer Rates Data collected from the survey may suggest that municipally funded services are located on the lower end of service rates

24. Municipal Funding and Driver Type  Handi-vans with municipal funding are more likely to have paid drivers  Paid drivers are more likely to:  Travel more kilometres, have longer weekday hours, have shorter weekend hours

26. Volunteer Drivers  Handi-vans with volunteer drivers are more likely to identify challenges relating to:  Driver Recruitment  Retention

28. Financial Viability of Handi-van Services  How can a handi-van become more financially viable? Coordination Marketing Contracts Extended ridership  But breaking rules: policy development required

29. MDTP: Best Practices  Community dialogue process  Two sets of roundtables (2009)  Toolkit created from roundtables Community Transportation Toolkit: Interpreting and Implementing the MDTP Guidelines www.tonsmb.org

30. MDTP: Best Practices  Module 1: Interpreting the MDTP Guidelines: A User- friendly Reader for Communities  Useful for communities considering a handi-van service  Or for those wanting to become more involved with the service in their community  Module 2: Planning for and Improving Handi-van Service: A Discussion Guide and Checklist  Useful for communities to become more informed about starting a new service  Or for communities seeking solutions to current challenges

31. MDTP: Best Practices  Module 3: A Guide to Community and Regional Engagement; For Stakeholders of Handi-van Services  Useful for communities to consider whether their service is responsive to regional needs  To address issues of affordability and accessibility  To examine financially viable alternatives

32. Next Steps  Handi-van operations are stretched, new funding required. To effect policy change:  Must illustrate that handi-van operations are a priority for municipalities  Greater cooperation amongst services to work towards guiding improved legislation  Definition of mobility disadvantaged  Review of MDTP guidelines is essential  Model of shared-use handi-van – is broadening of eligibility criteria possible?

33. Next Steps  Handi-van services in rural Manitoba provide a valuable resource for communities  Ultimately, handi-van operations could play an expanded role in contributing to healthy and sustainable communities.

34. Thank You! If you would like further information or wish to discuss these issues in more detail please contact us:  Gina Sylvestre, Institute of Urban Studies, University of Winnipeg 204.982.1146, or g.sylvestre@uwinnipeg.ca  Transportation Options Network for Seniors 204.668.6299, or ghowe@tonsmb.org

35. For more information: MDTP Manitoba Local Government Municipal Finance and Advisory Services 508 - 800 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 0N4 Phone: (204) 945-2572 Fax: (204) 948-2780 E-mail: muniadvice@gov.mb.ca