2014 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan A.K.A. “The Coordinated Plan”...

2014 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan

A.K.A. “The Coordinated Plan”

Poughkeepsie-Dutchess County Transportation Council

What is the PDCTC?• The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

for Dutchess County

• Federal requirement for Urbanized Areas with populations over 50,000

• Ensure that Federal transportation dollars for highway and transit projects are committed through a locally driven planning process

• Carry-out the federally-mandated metropolitan transportation planning process for Dutchess County


What does the PDCTC do?

Core Products– Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP)– Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) – Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)

Area Plans and Special Projects– Safety Assessments– Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan– Sidewalk and Corridor Studies– Traffic Counts– Coordinated Plan


Coordinated PlanPurpose: To identify ways to improve

transportation services for people with disabilities and older adults.

Updated: Every 4-5 Years

Goals:– Identify gaps in transportation services– Identify opportunities for cooperation and

coordination among agencies– Prioritize projects for future implementation


What information goes into a Coordinated Plan?

• Input from agencies, transportation providers, and individuals

• Information from related plans and studies

• Data and statistics

• Survey


Plans and Studies


Coordinated Transportation Services Study (2003)Preferred Alternative

– Increase point-deviated service on LOOP bus routes– Allow general public riders to use agency-based

transportation when possible– Maintain Dial-A-Ride service and increase it if

feasible– Consolidate vehicle maintenance and coordinate

vehicle purchases among agencies– Purchase wheelchair-only vehicles


Priority Actions:– Replacement vehicles– New vehicles– Travel training– Investigate allowing LOOP to operate outside of

Dutchess County. – Special consideration for funding given to

agencies that travel outside of Dutchess County and those that serve high density residential areas and employment centers


Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan (2008)

Senior Transportation Services in Dutchess County (2007)

– Short Term Actions:• Increase understanding of needs• Enhance fixed-route and demand response

systems (feeder systems, etc.)• Recruit volunteers• Identify organizations that would be interested in

becoming a local affiliate of a national program to improve delivery of transportation for seniors.


Senior Transportation Services in Dutchess (2007)– Long Term Actions:• Promote utilization of services through

education• Explore innovative partnerships to enhance

funding and other resources• Explore partnerships with neighboring counties,

in order to better serve residents• Expand volunteer recruitment

Dutchess County Division of Aging Services Needs Assessment (2011)

• 82% of respondents ranked transportation as #1 concern


Dutchess County Transit Development Plan (2009)

– Long-Term recommendations: new LOOP service route G (Harlem Valley) and Route J (Millerton to Tivoli)

City of Poughkeepsie Bus Study


– Provide a new fixed route and point-deviated service beyond ¾ of a mile

– Distribute information in easy-to-read format– Advertise– Collaborate with current providers and Sharon

Hospital– Explore mobility options (mobility manager,

taxi voucher & MetroPool and NuRide


Northeast Dutchess County Transit Feasibility Study (2010)

Data and Maps


Silent Generation

Baby Boomers

Generation X

10,000 10,000County of Dutchess

Department of Planning and development

Number of persons

Generation Y

FemalesMales

Dutchess County Age Distribution1990


County of DutchessDepartment of Planning and development

Silent Generation

Baby Boomers

Generation X

Generation Y

10,000 10,000Number of persons

Males Females


Greatest Generation

Silent Generation

Baby Boomers

Generation X

Generation Y

Generation Z

County of DutchessDepartment of Planning and development

Number of persons10,000 10,000

Males Females

2025 ProjectionsWhere could we be?

Greatest Generation

Silent Generation

Baby Boomers

Generation X

Generation Y

Generation Z

County of DutchessDepartment of Planning and developmentSource: Cornell PAD

10,000 10,000Number of persons

Males Females

Maps


Surveys


Agencies Individuals

Number of Participants 35 110

Survey Results(Agencies)


Participating Agencies


Agency Response by Type


Populations Served


How is Transportation Service Provided?


Fares for Transportation


How do Agencies Provide Transportation?


Trip Types Provided or Purchased


Weekly Number of Trips Provided, Purchased, or Coordinated


Number of Vehicles in Service


Vehicle Maintenance


% Agency Trip Types


Ways We Coordinate(as noted by agencies)

• With associated hospitals• Other agencies• Local cab companies• State medical transportation via Medicaid• NYS Transportation Broker• Dutchess County Public Transit


Agency-Defined Needs• Limited amount of paid and volunteer drivers• Need more vans and buses• Public transportation not frequent enough;

not offered• Transportation on weekends and evenings• Special trips for single individuals to meet

their personal needs


Agency-Defined Needs• Rides to specialized medical care outside of

Dutchess County (e.g. chemotherapy, dialysis)• Transporting to food banks, grocery stores

and other local areas• Public Transportation for “off shifts”• Need for Spanish operators and mobility staff

at transportation offices.


Agency-Defined Client Needs• Not enough public transportation for the Northeast

area of Dutchess County • LOOP Bus needed for rural areas• Lack of drivers• Difficulty in obtaining employment – no consistent

means of transportation to get there• Regular transport for non-typical work hours• Regular commuting • Getting to dialysis appointments


Agency-Defined Client Needs

• Difficulty in accessing ESL classes due to lack of transportation

• Access time and frequency• Specialized transport to Day Habilitation Programs

or Vocational Opportunities• Evening transportation for workshops/classes• Insufficient wheel chair positions • Clients are off bus routes – need assistance• Cannot provide transportation for those using a

wheelchairPoughkeepsie-Dutchess County Transportation Council

If Funding Were Not an Issue . . . • More drivers and paid drivers (noted several

times)• More vehicles (noted several times)• Run service to recreational activities• Additional staff• Additional routes• Specialized routes (medical transportation)• A vehicle with wheelchair capabilities• Be self-reliant and not rely on vendor service• Expansion of hours to include weekends


Survey Results(Individuals)


Respondents


Where Respondents Live


Top Destinations In Dutchess County


Destinations Outside Dutchess County (by number)


Method of Transportation (by %)


Other Findings

• 90% of respondents were felt their vehicle met their needs

• 60% said that they can get everywhere they need to go

• The service suits me 100%; it’s fine• Trips too long• Need help with packages• Vehicles will not back up driveways


Individual Comments

• Need ramps to go up steps• Buses can be 2 hours late• There is no transportation at all• Need leg room, more vehicles, drivers, and

small buses• I cannot get into a compact car


Individual Comments

• Establish a minivan service to transport residents to the bus stop locations

• Offer seniors and non-drivers more flexible days for shopping

• Need shelters for inclement weather• I require an ambulette• Need a bus route from Millerton to

Poughkeepsie


Individual Comments• Need more volunteers• Need service from Red Hook to Hyde Park and

Rhinebeck• Travel to the Wassaic train station is difficult

to meet departure times• Need more service to out-of-state destinations • Need a stop in Wingdale• A Catholic Church van in Millbrook


Preliminary Recommendations• New vehicle purchases• Replacement vehicle purchases• Provision of weekend transportation services• Volunteer driver support: consolidated driver

insurance, driver training, recruiting• Service with point-deviated service for Eastern

Dutchess County• Bi-Yearly Coordinated Planning Group to keep

discussion going• Spanish speaker support




27 High Street, 2nd FloorPoughkeepsie, NY 12601

(845) [email protected]

2014 Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan A.K.A. “The Coordinated Plan”...

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