1. Human Service Transportation Coordination: The Metropolitan Washington Experience Beth Newman Transportation Planner AMPO Annual Conference October 3, 2007 National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board

2. MPO for National Capital Region Members –Local Elected Officials –State transportation agencies –State legislatures –WMATA The Transportation Planning Board (TPB)

3. TPB Planning Area l Approximately 3,000 square miles l Includes 4.5 million people and 2.8 million jobs

4. Funding Realities

5. JARC Funding Significantly Reduced MD: $5.3 mil WMATA/DC: $4.5 mil VA: $1.2 mil $1.2 mil TEA-21SAFETEA-LU Source: http://www.apta.com/government_affairs/appropriations/fy2004omnibus.cfm#jarc

6. Funding in Perspective Approximate Funding (Millions) Based on FY2003 figures. JARC and New Freedom totals shown include funding with the required 50/50 match for an operating program.

7. The Process: Getting Stakeholders to the Table

8. TPB Role Evolved from stakeholder meetings Ad-hoc group: –Departments of Transportation –WMATA –Public and private transportation providers –Human service agencies –Advisory Committee members (consumers) Recommended TPB as designated recipient

9. TPB Human Services Transportation Coordination Task Force Purpose: –Develop the Coordinated Plan –Facilitate greater coordination of services –Evaluate effectiveness of Plan and selection criteria 42 Members Represent: –Public transit agencies –Departments of Transportation –Private and nonprofit transportation providers –Human service agencies –Users/Consumers

10. Consumer Involvement Access for All Advisory Committee Citizen’s Advisory Committee Consumer Focus Groups

11. The First Coordinated Plan: New Thinking

12. Plan Approach Encourage innovative pilots that: –Creatively address unmet needs –Offer lessons learned about addressing obstacles Sets framework for greater coordination and collaboration

13. Four Strategies in Plan Tailor transportation services to better respond to needs Provide improved, user-friendly information to customers Develop services that improve reliability and augment existing paratransit and fixed-route service Develop and implement new programs to provide additional transportation choices

14. Recommended Priority Actions in the Plan for Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Funding Brochure for Low-Income Commuters on Transportation Options Low-Interest Loans to low- income individuals to purchase cars Expanded Guaranteed Ride Home Program Expanded Shuttle Service to Employment Sites

15. Recommended Priority Actions in the Plan for New Freedom Funding Accessible Taxis in Jurisdictions Without Them Sensitivity Training for Front-Line Employees (for bus drivers, taxi cab drivers, etc) Same-Day Service for MetroAccess Users Escorted Transportation or “Door-through-Door” Service

16. Selection Criteria 100 Maximum Points Applications Ranked Based on Eight Criteria –Responsiveness to Strategies in Plan –Demonstrates Coordination –Innovative Idea that is Replicable –Meets a Regional Need –Feasibility –Potential Number of People Impacted –Involvement of the Private Sector –Strategies for On-going Funding

17. FY06 Solicitation Five projects funded JARC Expansion of car loan program Taxi voucher program Expansion of shuttle service New Freedom Door-through-door service pilot Travel training for seniors Not all money spent!

18. Lessons Learned

19. Lessons Learned – Plan Multiple Jurisdictions - Early involvement established trust - Use “mega representatives” Reduced Funding - Encourage pilot projects - Incentivize coordination Institutional Barriers - Start with what’s comfortable - Maintain customer focus

20. Lessons Learned - Solicitation Local Match –Small agencies cannot provide Reimbursement process –Agencies cannot front money Application Period –Earlier in year, more time to submit Project timeframe –Increase to two years

21. 2008 Solicitation Process –Combine leftover FY06, FY07 and FY08 funds –Require pre-application conferences –Three month period –Coaches/mentors Focus on Regional Projects –Web-based clearinghouse –Accessible taxis –Travel Training Jurisdictions can share match

22. Website: www.TPBcoordination.org www.TPBcoordination.org E-mail: bnewman@mwcog.org@mwcog.org Phone Number: 202-962-3253 For More Information