2015 Age & Disabilities Odyssey Conference Duluth, MN June ... · 2015 Age & Disabilities Odyssey...
Transcript of 2015 Age & Disabilities Odyssey Conference Duluth, MN June ... · 2015 Age & Disabilities Odyssey...
2015 Age & Disabilities Odyssey Conference Duluth, MN June 15th
Greater Minnesota Transit:
What is Happening?
• MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes
• Transit for Our Future in 20 minutes
• FTA Section 5310: what is that? In 20 minutes
Regional Transportation Coordination Councils – WHAT is NEW
“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”
Your bus will be arriving in 15 minutes Transit Products and Services Support MnDOT and Other State, Federal, Local Partners
The Office has three sections:
• Management Services
• Bike and Pedestrian
• Program Management
“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”
Your bus will be arriving in 12 minutes
Current Key Office Initiatives:
Manage Investments
Implement Policy
Direct Planning and Research
Advance Programs
“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”
Your bus will be arriving in 10 minutes
Management Services Section Judy Ellison Director 651-366-4168
• Planning • Manage federal grants • Financial administration • Technical assistance
“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”
Your bus will be arriving in 8 minutes
Bicycle and Pedestrian Section Tim Mitchell Director 651-366-4162
Planning Facility design training Technical assistance ABC Parking Ramps Develop Bicycle Routes
“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”
Your bus will be arriving in 4 minutes
Transit Program Section Tom Gottfried Director 651-366-3855
Manage operating and capital programs
Contract management Data management Technical assistance
“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”
Your bus will be arriving in 2 minutes What does this mean?
• In 2015, Over $90 million in Public Transit Services or 1.2 million service hours or 12.5 million passenger trips
• Still short of Greater MN Transit Investment Plan for 2015 of 1.6 million hours or 15.5 million passenger trips
Your bus has arrived, your next Stop: “Transit for Our Future”
Transit for Our Future
The Questions Why are we proposing changes?
What do we hope to gain?
The Answers Improved regional travel
Streamlined administration
Efficient fleet utilization
Federal and State compliance
Born out of reaction to proposed budget cuts in the 2011 legislative session
Questions we asked ourselves: • How can we preserve service coverage in the
rural parts of the state? • How much cutting can the transit systems take
and still be viable?
We ended up with no cuts, and we persevered
Why are we proposing changes?
What do we hope to gain?
Improved regional and interregional travel
Streamlined administration of transit systems
More efficient fleet utilization
Better FTA compliance
Fewer contracts
Improved regional travel
Things have changed since 2000 census • Aging populations
• New Americans
• Regional Trade Center (RTC) amenities
Next larger RTC may be on the other side of a jurisdictional boundary
Streamlined administration
The transit system’s manager is expected to: • Manage all aspects of daily operations
Scheduling trips, drivers, vehicle maintenance Customer service Public outreach and marketing Coordinate with other transportation providers All finances and reporting Interface with governing board
• With 100% proficiency
Federal and State compliance
All transit systems are expected to be 100% compliant: • Drug and alcohol rules and regulations • Procurement rules and regulations • Title VI Civil Rights responsibilities • Environmental Justice responsibilities • ADA responsibilities • Service planning experts
State statutes and rules also require expertise
So, what do we really hope to gain?
Greater coverage in the most rural parts of the state
Enhanced access to desired regional trade center amenities
Better frequency of service
More efficient use of public funding
Public Transit
Has a Beginning, a Middle and an End
The Public Transit Bus can not cover all areas or hours or days or meet all
passenger (client) needs
Your Next Stop…. FTA Section 5310 Program
Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and
Persons with Disabilities(5310)
Vehicles and Transit Coordination Assistance Projects(TCAP)
MAP-21 Moving Transit Forward
3 FTA Appropriations in MN- • rural, small urban and large urban
Minimum of 55% for vehicles
Met Council and MnDOT have an agreement for MnDOT to manage program in Metro Area
Potential Recipients
Private, non-profit organizations and associations;
Tribes;
Public bodies approved by MNDOT to coordinate human service activities; and
Public bodies that certify to MNDOT
Match Requirements
Capital, Mobility Management & Marketing/Education = 20% Local Match
Non Federal Match
Funding Overview Funding source: Federal Transit
Administration http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3556.html
FFY appropriation for 5310 approximately
$3,500,000 for CY2016
35 vehicle contracts in 2014
36 vehicle contracts in 2015
6 TCAP projects(3 Rural, 3 Large Urban)
Regional Transportation Coordination Council(s) (RTCC)
First a bit of history…. Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA) was formed by the MN State Legislature in 2010.
Made up of 13 separate agencies and organizations…..
The Council
• Office of the Governor • Minnesota State Council on
Disability • Minnesota Public Transit
Association • Minnesota Department of
Education • Minnesota Department of
Human Services • Minnesota Department of
Veterans Affairs
• Metropolitan Council • Minnesota Department of
Commerce • Minnesota Board on Aging • Minnesota Department of
Transportation • Minnesota Management
and Budget • Minnesota Department of
Health • Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic Development
RTCC Goal
MnDOT, DHS and Met Council, in collaboration with other state agencies are working to create 8-10 regional transportation coordination councils as appropriate throughout Minnesota.
Network would consist of existing public, private and non-profit transportation providers in order to offer a
seamless system of transportation services.
What is an RTCC?
Stakeholders with an interest in improving mobility and providing transportation services.
RTCC implements and/or oversees provisions of coordinated transportation in their region.
RTCC will also provide feedback to MCOTA as to what is working and where State level assistance may be needed.
RTCC Concept Steps To Date
Project Management Team
Hosted four stakeholder workshops: o Duluth – April 23
o St. Cloud – April 30
o Mankato – May 13
o Metro – May 14
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Social Service org Providers County School
Twin Cities Metro
Stakeholder Questions
Q1: What issue or concern brought you to stakeholder meeting?
Q2: What is the most important issue for coordination in your area?
Q3: What idea or issue related to coordination should MnDOT and DHS pay most attention to?
Potential RTCC MEMBERS
• Transit users
• Funders
• Local Elected Officials
• Disability services
• Workforce centers
• Transportation Providers (public, private, STS, volunteer, medical, school
• Religious organizations
• Area Agencies on Aging
• Social service providers
• Health care
• Veterans services
• County divisions: health, human services, housing, transportation
• Regional Development Commissions
• MPOs
• Rural and urban
RTCC Authority/Responsibility
Authority and the expertise to create policies, make decisions
Clear mission and goals
Funding to support RTCCs
Funders control over councils a question/concern
RTCC Goals/Activities
Distribute funding
Coordinate transportation providers to improve service “one-stop shop”
Promote cross-agency collaboration
Develop tools for trip planning, reimbursement (for users traveling via
multiple providers)
RTCC Goals/Activities (cont.)
Advocate for, develop, and implement policy
Oversee transportation providers to ensure compliance with policies, best practices, and financial standards
Develop a regional transportation plan, and define level of service
RTCC Staff Structure/Roles
Crucial to have a paid coordinator.
Staff could provide operational support for the council and service providers and users.
Provide a “one call” or “one click” referral service
How should governance actors be chosen?
An application process.
Council should be limited in size (8-15 people) to make it effective.
Having a grievance and removal process is important.
No clear consensus of appointment or election
How should RTCCs be accountable for results?
Need clear mission, goals, and accountability structure.
Participants noted that each region is unique.
State oversight for the councils – freedom to adapt to meet local needs.
How should RTCCs be accountable for results?
• Success measures:
– Increased ridership
– Cost savings
– Reduction in service gaps
– Reduction in duplicative services
– Fewer service denials
– Consistent policies and practices among transit providers
• Improved outreach to potential users
• Continued success of programs that are already working well
• Stakeholder satisfaction
• Improved collaboration (such as ride-sharing) among members
Coordination Tools
Two communication systems the council will need: one for providers and one for riders.
Software platform to provide support for scheduling, billing, mapping and reporting.
System will need to protect privacy of users. HIPPA compliance may be necessary
8-10 Regions
In general, participants were in agreement with number of possible regions.
Greater Minnesota most popular options –
* Designated Workforce Center Regions
* MnDOT Districts
* Economic Development Regions
RTCC Stakeholder Meeting Participant Overall Impressions
Cautious optimism
Big project with significant potential
Keep communication open
Moving in right direction
Create less red tape, not more
Would like to hear strong objectives and a defined end goal.
Next Steps
Continue PMT meetings
Host an additional 3 RTCC stakeholder meetings:
*Bemidji
*Marshall
*Rochester
Next Steps (cont.)
Provide technical assistance in facilitating additional stakeholder meetings .
Create Guidelines for RTCC administrative structure
Determine funding criteria