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DRAFT 2014 COORDINATED PUBLIC TRANSIT – HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLAN FOR IMPERIAL COUNTY

IN ASSOCIATION WITH: TRANSIT MARKETING | MOBILITY PLANNERS | PROFESSIONAL TRANSLATION SOLUTIONS

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2014 Public Transit—Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan for

Imperial County

Table of Contentsi

Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... viii This Coordinated Plan’s Purposes .............................................................................................................. viii Context for the Coordinated Plan .............................................................................................................. viii Transportation Resources ............................................................................................................................. x Mobility Needs and Gaps ............................................................................................................................ xii Strategies of Response and Prioritizing These to Move Forward ............................................................... xv

1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Federal Statute and Requirement........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 This Document’s Purposes ...................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Key Themes of Imperial County’s 2008 Coordinated Plan ...................................................................... 2 1.4 Public Transit Improvements Since 2008 Coordinated Plan ................................................................... 5

2.0 Context for the Coordinated Plan ............................................................................................. 7 2.1 Imperial County Target Populations ....................................................................................................... 7

Population Changes among Target Populations....................................................................................... 7 Vehicle Access by Imperial County Residents .......................................................................................... 11

2.2 Distribution of Target Populations within Imperial County .................................................................. 12 2.3 SCAG Projections of Growth and Employment ..................................................................................... 15 2.4 Summary Discussion of the Context for Coordinated Transportation Projects ................................... 15

6.0 3.0 Transportation Resources .............................................................................................. 17 3.1 Public Transit in Imperial County .......................................................................................................... 17

Imperial Valley Transit ............................................................................................................................ 17 Local and Regional Zoned Routes ........................................................................................................... 17 Express Routes (Express, Direct, and FAST) ............................................................................................. 18 Remote Zone Routes ............................................................................................................................... 19 City Circulators ........................................................................................................................................ 21 IVT Fixed-Route Fares .............................................................................................................................. 21 Yuma County Area Transit ...................................................................................................................... 22 Public Demand Response Services .......................................................................................................... 22 Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom Projects ................................................... 24 CalVans Transportation Authority .......................................................................................................... 25

3.2 Human Service Transportation Programs ............................................................................................. 25 Directly Operated Transportation ........................................................................................................... 26

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Subsidized Transportation....................................................................................................................... 28 3.3 Private Transportation Providers .......................................................................................................... 28 3.4 Transportation Resource Inventory ...................................................................................................... 29 3.5 Summary Discussion of Transportation Resources .............................................................................. 30

4.0 Market Research - Mobility Need and Gap Findings ..................................................... 33 4.1 Key Stakeholder Interview Outreach .................................................................................................... 33

Transportation Disadvantaged Populations ........................................................................................... 33 Older Adult Mobility Topics ..................................................................................................................... 35 Persons with Disabilities Mobility Topics ................................................................................................ 37 Mobility Device, Securement, and Safety Concerns ................................................................................ 37 College Students ...................................................................................................................................... 39 Veterans in Imperial County .................................................................................................................... 40 Border Pedestrian Crossings and Prospective Transit Users ................................................................... 41 Medical Trip Needs ................................................................................................................................. 43 Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and Quechan Tribe Transportation Topics ............................................. 45 Transit Information Topics ...................................................................................................................... 48 Transportation Facilities Topics .............................................................................................................. 48 Existing Coordination Projects and Interests in Imperial County ............................................................ 49

4.2 Consumer Intercept Survey .................................................................................................................. 50 About the Respondents ........................................................................................................................... 50 Transportation Used and Needed ........................................................................................................... 53

4.3 Agency E-Survey Findings ..................................................................................................................... 58 About the Responding Organizations ..................................................................................................... 58 About the Constituents They Serve ......................................................................................................... 59 Transportation Topics and Needs Reported ............................................................................................ 61 Reported to Barriers to Accessing Transportation .................................................................................. 63

4.4 Workshop with SSTAC Members .......................................................................................................... 64 4.5 Summary Discussion of Mobility Needs and Gaps ................................................................................ 67

About Existing Imperial Valley Transportation Services ......................................................................... 67 About the Transportation Infrastructure and Capital Improvements ..................................................... 69 Overlap with Private Sector Transportation ........................................................................................... 70 Additional Services for Long-Distance Trip Needs ................................................................................... 70 Range of Information Portals Needed to Inform About Available Transportation Services ................... 72 Culture of Collaboration and Cooperation Can Support Coordinated Transportation ........................... 73

5.1 Framing the Coordinated Plan .............................................................................................................. 75 About Existing Imperial Valley Transit Services ...................................................................................... 75

5.2 Imperial County Coordinated Plan Goals .............................................................................................. 78 5.3 Strategies for Implementing Imperial County’s Coordinated Plan Goals ............................................. 79

Goal 1 – Sustain Enhanced Public Transportation, Human Service and Private Transportation Network in Imperial County ................................................................................................................................... 79 Goal 2 – Strategically Expand IVT service to increase mobility options when financially sustainable. .. 84

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Goal 3 – Continue to build collaborative partnerships to leverage available mobility options for Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations. .......................................................................................... 91 Goal 4 – Provide affordable transportation to transportation-disadvantaged populations .................. 96 Goal 5 – Promote and Expand Transportation Information Portals ..................................................... 103

5.4 Summary of Imperial County Coordinated Plan Goals and Strategies ............................................... 111

6.0 Priorities for Moving Forward ............................................................................................. 120 Determining Coordinated Plan Priorities .................................................................................................. 120 Prioritized Imperial County Coordinated Plan Strategies ......................................................................... 121

Short Range Transit Plan Priorities ....................................................................................................... 121 Critical Priorities .................................................................................................................................... 122 High Priorities ........................................................................................................................................ 122

Appendices ......................................................................................................................................... 126 Appendix A – Federal Transit Administration 5310 Fact Sheet ................................................................ 127 Appendix B – Transportation Inventory .................................................................................................... 129 Appendix C – Agency E-Survey Questionnaire, English and Spanish Versions ......................................... 142 Appendix D – Common Destinations Facility Listing ................................................................................. 147 Appendix E –Outreach and 5310 Program Announcement Flyers .......................................................... 150

Executive Summary Exhibits

Exhibit ES 1 - Imperial County Households Without a Vehicle………………………………………………………………..ix

Exhibit ES-2 – Imperial County Transportation Resources………………………………………………………………………..x

Exhibit ES-3 – Imperial County Transit System Map…………………………………………………………………………………xi

Exhibit ES-4 – Imperial County Coordinated Plan Goals…………………………………………………………………………xvi

Exhibit ES-5 - Imperial County Coordinated Plan Prioritized Strategies………………………………………………….xix

List of Tables

Table 1- Summary List of Needs, 2008 Coordinated Plan [Excerpt] ............................................................. 4

Table 2 - Strategies to Address Gaps and Needs, 2008 Coordinated Plan [Excerpt] .................................... 5

Table 3 - Imperial Valley Transit Service Enhancements as of Spring 2014.................................................. 6

Table 4 - Imperial County Target Populations .............................................................................................. 9

Table 5 - Imperial County LEP Populations ................................................................................................. 10

Table 6 - Household Vehicle Availability ..................................................................................................... 11

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Table 7 - Means of Transportation To Work by Age ................................................................................... 11

Table 8 - SCAG Imperial County Projections ............................................................................................... 15

Table 9 - IVT Passenger Fares ...................................................................................................................... 21

Table 10 - FY 2013 Port of Entry Border Crossings: Mexicali Into Calexico ................................................ 41

Table 11 - Agency E-Survey: Respondents .................................................................................................. 58

Table 12 - Agency E-Survey: Titles of Respondents .................................................................................... 59

Table 13 - Agency E-Survey: Number and Characteristics of Caseload ...................................................... 60

Table 14 - Coordinated Plan Goals for Imperial County ............................................................................. 78

Table 15 - Imperial County Coordinated Plan Goals and Strategies ......................................................... 112

List of Figures

Figure 1 - Imperial County: Population Density Map .................................................................................. 12

Figure 2 - Imperial County Senior Population Density Map ....................................................................... 13

Figure 3 - Imperial County Density of Low Income Population Map .......................................................... 13

Figure 4 - Imperial County: Households Without a Vehicle ........................................................................ 14

Figure 5 - Imperial Valley Transit Fixed Routes ........................................................................................... 20

Figure 6 - IVT Access Service Area Map ...................................................................................................... 23

Figure 7 - Imperial County Transportation Types ....................................................................................... 30

Figure 8 - Key Stakeholder Agencies Interviewed ....................................................................................... 33

Figure 9 - Brawley Transit Transfer Center ................................................................................................. 35

Figure 10 - AAA Office Transportation Information Display ..................................................................... 36

Figure 11 - Calexico West Border Crossing ................................................................................................. 41

Figure 12 - Calexico Bus Transfer Center at 3rd Street and Paulin Avenue ................................................. 42

Figure 13 - Taxi at New Border Port of Entry .............................................................................................. 42

Figure 14 - Med-Express Trips by San Diego Destination in 2013, n=2,131 Trips....................................... 44

Figure 15 - Intercept Survey: City of Residence .......................................................................................... 51

Figure 16 - Intercept Survey: Education and Employment Status .............................................................. 51

Figure 17 - Intercept Survey: Gender of Respondents ............................................................................... 52

Figure 18 - Intercept Survey: Age of Respondents ..................................................................................... 52

Figure 19 - Intercept Survey: How Do You Get Around For Certain Trip Types, ......................................... 53

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Figure 20 - Intercept Survey: Rating of Transportation Difficulty by Trip Type, ......................................... 54

Figure 21 - Intercept Survey: Transit Famliiarity ......................................................................................... 55

Figure 22 - Intercept Survey: Public Transit Used ....................................................................................... 55

Figure 23 - Intercept Survey: Transit Information Sources ......................................................................... 56

Figure 24 - Intercept Survey: Suggested Improvement Comments ............................................................ 57

Figure 25 - Agency E-Survey: Agency Types ................................................................................................ 59

Figure 26 - Agency E-Survey: Reported Familiarity with Public Transportation ......................................... 61

Figure 27 - Agency E-Survey: With what frequency are these trip needs communicated? ...................... 62

Figure 28 - Agency E-Survey: What level of interest do you have in these transportation projects? ........ 63

Figure 29 - Common Destinations Map ...................................................................................................... 66

Figure 30 - Volunteer Driver Reimbursement Program ............................................................................ 102

Figure 31 - Online Web Portal Preliminary Concept ................................................................................. 109

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2014 Coordinated Public Transit—Human Services Transportation Plan for Imperial County

5.0 Executive Summary This Coordinated Plan’s Purposes The 2014 Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Coordination Plan Update will address the following four objectives on behalf of Imperial County:

1. To ensure compliance with law by Imperial County, including Federal Transit Administration Circular 9070.1G that requires the regular conduct of a Coordinated Plan.

2. To validate past or identify new unmet transportation needs and mobility gaps of the target groups: older persons, persons with disabilities and persons of low-income. Veterans are also included as their mobility needs may differ from the general public.

3. To engender dialogue between two service sectors—public transportation and human services – for purposes of identifying coordinated projects to address unmet needs and mobility gaps. The populations of interest here overlap with those of many Imperial County human service agencies. And trip needs described are often those most difficult to make or cannot be made on public transportation. Seeking solutions to these trip needs for Imperial County’s older adults, persons with disabilities and those of low income will require solutions that go beyond what public transportation can do alone, hence the need for this Coordinated Plan.

4. To establish a list of responsive and prioritized mobility projects and strategies, positioning Imperial County stakeholders to pursue grant and specialized transportation funding opportunities that support such strategies over the next four to five years.

Context for the Coordinated Plan Chapter 2 reports on the changes to and distribution of this Plan’s target populations throughout Imperial County. The County’s 2012 population of almost 173,500 persons has grown considerably over the previous decade, a 22% increase from 2000, adding an additional 142,000 persons. There are changes among groups within the overall population that will impact the mobility of individuals. Older adults in Imperial County are 10.6% of the population, at 18,360 persons. The proportion of older adults is increasing at rates faster than for the general population, and three times that of the national growth rate for persons age 65 and older.

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Persons of low income, specifically adults who are at 100% of the federal poverty levels, are 11% of the total population, or 19,000 adults and an additional 3,100 adults age 65 and older. Persons living at 150% of the federal poverty level are sometimes a better measure of low income. These low-income persons total nearly 64,000, or 39% of the County’s 2012 population. Persons with disabilities are difficult to compare with year 2000 demographics because the U.S. Census changed its reporting on disabilities. Individuals are now asked to identify functional areas with which they have difficulty. Among adults ages 18 to 64, almost 2,300 or 5% of the County’s population report ambulation difficulties, while almost 2,000 adults aged 65 and older report ambulation difficulties. Combined, these 4,300 persons are just under 10% of the County’s overall population and reporting varying mobility problems. U.S. military veterans number 6,631 persons. Vietnam-era veterans are the largest group, now beginning to age and some having increasing health-related difficulties. Working-age veterans in Imperial County have an unemployment rate of almost 15%, more than double the national veteran unemployment rate of 7%. LEP populations, or limited English proficiency are 49,398 individuals, or 31% of the County’s total population, predominately Spanish speakers who speak English less than very well, according to the 2012 American Community Survey. This third of the population are residents only and do not include those who travel daily into Imperial County from Mexico and may also be of limited English proficiency.

Exhibit ES-1 Persons in households without vehicles are almost 3,400 households or 11% of Imperial Counties 49,000 households. Exhibit ES-1 identifies these geographic pockets and areas of high need around the county. Population and employment projections prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) anticipate continued growth up to 2040. Growth rates over the next ten years could bring an additional 88,000 to 103,000 residents to the county. SCAG’s employment projections also show growth, with an improving job picture and job-growth rates between 2.2% to 4.9% annually.

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The distribution of Imperial County residents supports provision of transit services with the greatest density of the population living in and around cities of Brawley, El Centro, and Calexico. Nonetheless, there are pockets of persons living throughout the county where it is inefficient and not feasible for Imperial Valley Transit to provide service, given overall low-densities and low ridership potential. Some of these areas include significant identifiable clusters low-income individuals surrounding the Salton Sea and in the Eastern portion of the County.

Transportation Resources Chapter 3 reports on the available resources that assist in transporting older adults, persons with disabilities, persons of low income, and military veterans throughout Imperial County and to destinations outside of the county. Exhibit ES-2 identifies the four categories of service, including public and private transportation, as well as human service agency transportation that is either directly operated or are subsidy and mileage reimbursement programs.

Exhibit ES-2, Imperial County Transportation Resources

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This array of human service transportation extends and compliments IVT’s growing network of services, its current fixed-route structure represented in Exhibit ES-3 and inclusive of services to remote zones of the county and YCAT‘s Turquoise Line.

Exhibit ES-3, IVT System Map

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As presented in Exhibit E-3, Imperial Valley Transit has an extensive fixed-route public transit system of zone-based routes, express routes that provide fast and direct travel for commuters and students, local circulators for travel within cities, and remote-zone routes that provide lifeline service to the more distant communities of the county. There are many human service transportation programs that include directly operated transportation, contracted transportation and the subsidization of transportation through bus passes, tokens, and direct fare reimbursement to other transportation providers. Private sector fixed-route, agricultural buses and taxis also provide services within and beyond Imperial County for its residents and visitors. A growing vanpool program is helping to support work trips to distant locations. Appendix B is a Transportation Inventory presenting detail about passenger fares, service area, and other service-related data, including available information on fleet size and annual passenger trips.

Mobility Needs and Gaps Chapter 4 describes the mobility needs and gaps developed from the Coordinated Plan’s extensive outreach efforts. Overall, responses from about 240 persons inform this discussion. These included interviews with 29 key stakeholder agencies involving about 50 individuals; a 117-person intercept-survey of the public in eight community settings; an agency E-survey with 44 respondents; and two community workshops with 15 to 20 participants each. Five key areas of findings are summarized here.

About Existing Imperial Valley Transit Services

Of the existing Imperial Valley public transit, there is both considerable awareness and appreciation for its value. Stakeholders from human service agencies and the general public presented evidence of large numbers of transportation-disadvantaged persons for whom the growing network of Imperial County’s public transportation services is very important. Evidence of success of Imperial Valley Transportation (IVT) services lies in its steady and continuing ridership growth. Stakeholders are complimenting drivers and finding the service responsive. There were very few concerns about service reliability or service quality. Riders appreciate what they have and want more, partly because some vehicle trips are beyond capacity on some runs, even with recent increases to service frequency on key routes. While the central corridor of Imperial Valley is well served, transit riders want more frequent service, and service that goes into neighborhoods and travels within the local community, in addition to along the corridor and between communities. There is confusion about fares, in part a consequence of many public and private individual services, possibly because the IVT zone-based fare policy confuses some. There were some accessibility concerns—desiring more wheelchair capacity on both fixed-route and demand-responsive services—in part related to large numbers of transportation-disadvantaged customers in wheelchairs, and in part because loading wheelchairs onto transit vehicles filled to capacity is difficult if not impossible.

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There was some interest in expanded IVT services for both longer weekend hours and on Sundays, but these were less frequently expressed than the desire for more frequent buses that travel closer to home. Some pockets of need in outlying areas were identified, including more frequent service to existing IVT remote zones, as well as north to the Salton Sea communities and west to Ocotillo. Ensuring that the Coordinated Plan supports and extends existing near-term and long-term planning for growth by the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) is indicated. Substantial populations of transportation-disadvantaged residents underscore the critical importance of sustaining the existing transportation network and expanding it with available funding sources.

About Transportation Infrastructure and Capital Improvements

Given a population that spends considerable time using public transportation in a climate where temperatures soar, there was high interest in securing additional bus stop amenities, mainly shade and shelter from the sun. Also requested were more benches, stop signs at bus stops that have none, and additional amenities of misters as at the new transfer centers in Brawley and El Centro, drinking fountains and bathrooms. Pedestrian improvements were identified as needed for the same reasons. Since transit users are also pedestrians, improved sidewalks, signalized street crossings and accessible paths of access surfaced as important needs. Bicycle infrastructure needs were also noted, desiring maximum bike-loading capacity on buses, bicycle-locking stations, and extended bike-path networks. Finally, regular vehicle replacement and well-maintained vehicles, including functional air conditioning, were among topics identified as critical to safe transport in the rigors of Imperial County’s climate. It was noted that poorly maintained vehicle conditions related largely to private sector transportation, and not to public transit with its more frequent and statutorily required vehicle maintenance and replacement schedules. Ensuring sufficient wheelchair capacity for both public and private transportation was another recurring theme around Imperial County’s transit capital needs. It is critical then that Coordinated Plan projects support infrastructure improvements, and vehicle replacement and maintenance efforts, to ensure safe and reliable transportation. This will support an effective transportation network of public, private and human service providers that can serve the Coordinated Plan’s target populations.

About Overlap with Private Sector Transportation

Imperial County experiences a high level of private transportation, due to a large market and high demand from the volume of transportation-disadvantaged persons, including the thousands who walk daily across the border between Mexicali and Calexico. These include taxi companies, local fixed-route services, specialized shopping mall shuttles, and agricultural buses that transport day workers to the

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fields. Collaboration and cooperation with these services is an ongoing goal but not always easy to realize. Private transportation also includes shared ride and vanpool opportunities, mobility choices that have seen significant growth, both in Imperial County and elsewhere, and have been compellingly aided by advancements in technology.

About More Services for Long Distance Trip Needs

Outlying areas reported as underserved or not served by IVT were identified. Sometimes, stakeholders were unfamiliar with IVT’s existing lifeline levels of service to West Shores, Bombay Beach and Slab City, or they did not know of IVT and YCAT connections to Holtville or Winterhaven to the east, or IVT services to west to Westmoreland and Seeley. Medical trip needs were most commonly long-distance trips presented to human service personnel, some well aware of Med-Express and its regular four-day-a-week service into San Diego medical facilities. Others, including medical personnel at UCSD Health Sciences facilities and at El Centro Regional Hospital, Clinicas de Salud, and the VA’s Community Based Outpatient Clinic, were unaware of Med-Express and immediately saw its value. Various stakeholders, including at outreach workshops, reported concern that Med-Express was at capacity with same week or next day trips that could not be scheduled. Administrators at UCSD Health Sciences are interested in continuing dialogue about expanding Imperial County’s non-emergency medical transportation services. Med-Express supervisors identified strategies for addressing capacity concerns, but prospective riders appear unaware of the system’s ability to add vehicle capacity for those who show up in the early morning hours when a trip is needed. In-home Supportive Services personnel who work with frail, often homebound clients are a potential transportation resource able to assist with needed door-through-door transport, but because there is no mechanism to reimburse mileage and fuel costs, they usually choose not to provide transportation. Long-distance trips for work purposes are also a challenge for some. One-third of the Intercept survey respondents report they rideshare to work locations, often distant, and half indicate it is sometimes or often difficult to get to work due to lack of transportation. Many agricultural and seasonal workers rely on others for transportation assistance. Expanding options to individuals for long-distance trip planning and developing more shared-ride opportunities – whether for health care or for work – will aid the Coordinated Plan’s target markets.

About Information Portal Needs

There is high visibility of IVT services and solid awareness of its network among many, reported by human service personnel and demonstrated by high and growing utilization by riders. IVT printed information is available bilingually, clearly of critical importance in a county where 31% of residents are

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Spanish-speaking and of limited English proficiency, while much higher proportions are regular visitors from Mexico. Continued emphasis on this must be a priority, not only because of Federal Title VI regulatory requirements, but simply because it is the language preference of IVT’s ridership base. Stakeholders requested more bus stop information, including at stops that do not have posted schedules, and more information on the buses. There is student interest at Imperial Valley College for Google’s Internet-based Transit Trip Planner capabilities, as well as by human service personnel who would like to plan trips for their consumers. Even while there is limited use of the Internet among many IVT riders, other market segments have online access and would use its capabilities to plan transit trips. IVT’s specialized services, including to the remote zones and the Med-Express program, are not well known by key constituents. Health care personnel, and staff members of human service agencies with clientele in outlying communities, were not aware of these important services. The information-services directory of the Area Agency on Aging, including its dial-a-ride transit access, is one tool indicated to assist, but tighter coordination with ICTC is specified, given the pace of change and expansion of IVT services. Continued attention to the multiple information portals includes a balanced focus on printed materials, bus stop and bus signage, website and trip planner tools, as well as printed directory information. It is important to present current and updated information about the range of transit services available to Imperial County residents and visitors.

Strategies of Response and Prioritizing These to Move Forward In response to this breadth of needs surfacing from the Coordinated Plan update process, five goals were constructed and a series of strategies by which to undertake these. These five goals support improved mobility of Imperial County’s older adults, persons with disabilities, persons of limited-means and military veterans. Exhibit ES-4 immediately following presents these five goals and their core elements from which strategies and projects are proposed.

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Exhibit ES-4 – Imperial County Coordinated Plan Goals

Goal 1 – Sustain Enhanced Public Transportation, Human Services and Private Transportation Network in Imperial County

This goal supports continued attention to the existing transportation network through careful IVT financial planning, including assessment of high demand services, as well as ongoing dialogue with human service providers and public transit providers to craft high quality grant applications that bring more Federal transportation funding to specialized transportation projects.

Goal 2 – Strategically Expand IVT Services to Increase Mobility Options When Financially Feasible

This goal builds transit capacity by expanding lVT services: increasing capacity of non-emergency medical transportation by IVT and in partnership with others; implementing IVT Red, Orange and Purple lines; adding Saturday and local circulators services; and continuing to address capacity issues on key routes.

Goal 3 – Continue to Build Collaborative Partnerships to Leverage Available Mobility Options for Transportation Disadvantaged Populations

This goal envisions development of a Mobility Manager capacity to encourage various Coordinated transportation initiatives, strategies for leveraging funding for expanded services, consideration of a private sector transportation safety monitoring role, and annual agency summits to continue exploration of coordinated transportation projects.

Goal 4 – Provide Affordable Transportation to Transportation Disadvantaged Populations

This goal identifies ways to extend more transportation to the lowest income Imperial County residents through projects that connect them with available transportation subsidy initiatives, enhanced carpool and vanpool options and a mileage reimbursement program to assist with door-through-door transportation.

Goal 5 – Promote and Expand Transportation Information Portals

This goal directs continued attention to transit service information tools useful to the Coordinated Plan’s key ridership groups, including both riders themselves as well as agency personnel and family members who assist them. Information portal projects include website enhancements, trip planning tools and bus stop signage strategies.

Chapter 5 presents detailed information about these strategies, including discussion of the roles and responsibilities necessary to implementation. Congressional intent for this Coordinated Plan process was that the implementation responsibilities be shared across service systems. The needs identified in this Plan cannot be met through the public transit system alone but only in partnership and through projects coordinated with interested, willing and able human service agencies and organizations.

Chapter 6 describes the prioritization process that resulted in priorities summarized here and enumerated in Exhibit ES-5 following.

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Short Range Transit Plan Priorities

ICTC has undertaken development of an extensive short range transit plan (SRTP) to guide the development and monitoring of Imperial Valley Transit, the remote zone transportation services, City Dial-a-Rides and the Med-Express program. Begun during 2010 and concluded in January 2012, the adopted SRTP included a five-year budget of operating and capital expenses and required revenues to sustain existing service while planning for continued service expansion. As is noted throughout this document, IVT has been in a period of considerable expansion. This is due largely to its designation as a small urban area and therefore its eligibility for new Federal Transit Administration funding. Strategies already identified within the SRTP are largely ICTC’s responsibility to drive their implementation. These are separated from other strategies not specifically called out in ICTC’s SRTP processes and where implementation responsibilities are likely a coordinated, shared proposition. Critical to all SRTP strategies is to ensure that recent service expansions can be sustained. Various projects associated with that are enumerated in Goal 1 - Sustain Enhanced Public Transportation, Human Services and Private Transportation Network (Strategy 1.1). Public outreach findings actively support Goal 2 - Strategically Expand IVT Services to Increase Mobility Options, leading with prioritization of implementing the local community services of Red, Orange and Purple lines when funding is secure (Strategy 2.2). Similarly, outreach findings place critical priority on continuing attention to capacity issues (Strategy 2.4) and moving forward with ICTC’s bus stop and path-of-access improvement program (Strategy 2.5). There is interest in Saturday service on IVT routes, but of somewhat lower priority (Strategy 2.4).

Critical Priorities

Human service agencies identified critical priorities through a workshop process and as identified in Exhibit ES-5 following. Among these are strategies that must be led by human service agencies in order to be realized. Strategies receiving the greatest number of “votes” related to two in Goal 4 - Providing Affordable Transportation to Disadvantaged Populations: providing information and referral services for low-income families to social service agencies that provided subsidized transit coupons (Strategy 4.1) and secondly, development of a targeted mileage reimbursement program to assist with door-through-door transportation (Strategy 4.3). From Goal 2 - Strategically Expanding IVT Services to Increase Mobility Options, building sufficient capacity for out-of-town medical trips ranked second among top-rated strategies by participating agencies although it was top-ranked in various other outreach settings (Strategy 2.1). Also seen as critically important from Goal 3 - Build Collaborative Partnerships to Leverage Mobility Options is the importance of holding annual mobility summits to explore and develop coordination

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opportunities (Strategy 3.4). This will in part be led by a new Mobility Management function, initially within ICTC but in time possibly in other human service agency settings (Strategy 3.1) Finally, also rated as of critical priority within Goal 4 – Promote and Expand Transportation Information Portals was the strategy to create an on-line web portal to provide access to comprehensive information about local transportation options and programs (Strategy 5.2). Agency personnel recognized the portal as a key tool for “discovering” transit services that exist and to communicate these to their consumers.

High Priorities

Other strategies were identified by human service agency representatives as highly important, although perhaps of second level consideration for implementation. With that said, it is always possible to implement a strategy or project from within this group – in advance of some of the already mentioned strategies – if there are interested, willing and able partners who can do so. In a Coordinated Plan environment, strategies and their prioritization must remain fluid in order to take advantage of discretionary funding opportunities as they present. Goal 1 - Sustain Enhanced Public Transportation, Human Services and Private Transportation Network in Imperial County included the strategy of regularly coordinating with major human service agencies who provide transportation (Stratgey 1.2) that was voted as of high priority, to be enabled by the Mobility Management activities supported by Goal 3 collaborative efforts which ranked as a criticial priority. Other high priority activiites included Goal 4 – Provide Affordable Transportation to Disadvantaged Populations: enhancing carpool and vanpool matching capabilities for origins and destinations not well served by IVT (Strategy 4.2). Efforts along these lines are already in place with the Calvans program and expansion will serve the target rider groups. Goal 5 – Promote and Expand Transportation Information Portal has two strategies ranked as high priority by human services agencies, although each may yet be realized in the near-term and will facilitate riders’ and prospective riders’ use of available transportation. An activity likely undertaken by ICTC, initially in relation to fixed route transit, is to Integrate all Imperial County public transportation into Google Maps trip planner (Strategy 5.1). Also of high priority is provision of route and schedule information at the bus stop, particularly for low-frequency routes (Strategy 5.3). This will be enabled by early implementation of Goal 2’s strategy to identify high priority bus stops for improvement and enhancement. Strategy 5.3 will help to ensure that lower-ridership, outlying area bus stops are also included in an overall, system-wide bus stop program. Exhibit ES-5 following presents a listing of the prioritized Imperial County 2014 Coordinated Plan strategies.

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Exhibit ES-5, Imperial County Coordinated Plan Prioritized Strategies

Goal and Strategy Strategies Priorities

GOAL 1 – Sustain Enhanced Public Transportation, Human Services and Private Transportation Network in Imperial County

1.1 Financially sustain recent expansion of public transportation services in Imperial County.

SRTP Critical Priority

1.2 Regularly coordinate with major human service agencies that directly provide or subsidize transportation

High Priority

1.3 Promote FTA 5310 grants-making to public transit and human transportation service providers and encourage high quality projects for vehicle replacement, vehicle operations and Mobility Management oriented to older adults and persons with disabilities.

Critical Priority

Goal 2 – Strategically Expand IVT Services to Increase Mobility Options When Financially Feasible

2.1 Build capacity for out-of-town medical trips, in partnership with others and to the extent financial resources allow.

Critical Priority

2.2 Implement Red, Orange and Purple Lines, when financially viable. SRTP Critical Priority

2.3 Implement Saturday service on circulators as identified in the Short Range Transit Plan (SRTP) when financially sustainable.

SRTP High Priority

2.4 Continue to address capacity issues on Calexico and IVT routes as identified in the SRTP, as funding allows.

SRTP Critical Priority

2.5 Develop a bus stop and path-of-access improvement program to support mobility of the Coordianted Plan target groups, to implement as financial resources allow.

SRTP Critical Priority

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Goal and Strategy Strategies Priorities Goal 3 – Continue to Build Collaborative

Partnerships to Leverage Available Mobility Options for Transportation Disadvantaged Populations Mobility Options for Transportation Disadvantaged Populations

3.1 Establish an Imperial County Mobility Management function to move the Coordinated Plan Goals forward. Goal 3 – Continue to

Critical Priority

3.2 Leverage additional funding for expanded transportation services. Critical Priority

3.3 Hold annual mobilty summits to share ideas and explore coordination opportunities among public, human service and private transportation sectors.

Critical Priority

Goal 4 – Provide Affordable Transportation to Disadvantaged Populations

4.1 Provide information and referral service for low-income families to social service agencies that provide subsidized transit coupons for immediate needs.

Critical Priority

4.2 Enhance carpool and vanpool matching capabilities for origins and destinations not well served by IVT.

High Priority

4.3 Establish a targeted mileage reimbursement program to assist with door-through-door transportation.

Critical Priority

Goal 5 – Promote and Expand Transportation Information Portals

5.1 Integrate all Imperial County public transportation into Google Maps Trip Planner.

High Priority

5.2 Develop an online Web portal that will provide access to comprehensive information about local transportation options and programs.

Critical Priority

5.3 Provide route and schedule information at bus stops, particularly for low-frequency routes.

High Priority

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2014 Coordinated Public Transit—Human Services Transportation Plan for Imperial County

1.0 Introduction This introductory section sets forth the statutory requirements of the Imperial County Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan, presents the key themes and priorities from the 2008 Plan, and the approach undertaken to develop the 2014 Coordinated Plan Update.

1.1 Federal Statute and Requirement In 2005 the passage of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Public Law 109-059) established a new transportation planning requirement for counties and regions. Federal authorization legislation of SAFETEA-LU linked two existing grant programs—Job Access and Reverse Commute (5316), and Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities capital program (5310)—with a third initiative called the New Freedom formula grant program (5317). Through a coordinated plan that was to be locally developed at the county or regional level, its intent was to identify the transportation needs and mobility challenges of three populations:

• Individuals with disabilities • Older adults • Persons of low income

The Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan, or the Coordinated Plan, brings together human service organizations and public-transit agencies to identify and meet mobility needs of older adults, persons with disabilities and persons of low income. Building upon a history of coordination requirements within the 5310 programs, the Coordinated Plan process helps leverage and extend scarce transportation resources by coordinating different and often separate “siloed” service systems. Specifically, the Plan is to identify strategies for coordinating services and for meeting mobility needs and gaps, while prioritizing these for implementation. In 2012 new authorizing legislation, Mobility Action Plan for the 21st Century, Public Law 112-141 (MAP-21) included changes that impacted the Coordinated Plan. MAP-21 repealed both the Job Access and Reverse Commute and New Freedom programs. It retained and strengthened the 5310 program for enhanced mobility, restating the requirement of the Coordinated Plan and providing funding support for the strategies and projects recommended through the Coordinated Plan process. Appendix A includes the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) summary of MAP-21’s 5310 program, and more details about this funding source will be provided in later sections of the Coordinated Plan.

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The significant change introduced by MAP-21 that relates to the Coordinated Plan is that projects funded with program 5310 dollars are “projects in the Coordinated Plan,” not simply derived from it, as had been the case under SAFETEA-LU direction. With regard to how projects are included in the Coordinated Plan, recent regulatory guidance says:

“FTA maintains flexibility in how projects appear in the coordinated plan. Projects may be identified as strategies, activities and/or specific projects addressing an identified service gap or transportation coordination objective articulated and prioritized within the plan.” (FTA Circular 9070.1G, pp. V-1)

Indicating that projects also are “developed and approved through a process that include[s] participation by seniors, individuals with disabilities, representatives of public, private, and nonprofit transportation and human service providers and other members of the general public,” the Coordinated Plan development process was designed to ensure a breadth of public involvement opportunities.

1.2 This Document’s Purposes The 2014 Coordinated Plan Update will address the following four objectives:

1. Ensure compliance with law by Imperial County, including Federal Transit Administration Circular 9070.1G that requires the regular conduct of a Coordinated Plan.

2. Validate past or identify new unmet transportation needs and mobility gaps of the target groups.

3. Engender dialogue between two service sectors—the public-transit provider and the human service agencies—for purposes of identifying and supporting coordinated projects by which unmet needs and mobility gaps can be addressed.

4. Establish a list of responsive and prioritized projects and strategies to meet unmet needs and mobility gaps, positioning Imperial County stakeholders to pursue grant and specialized transportation funding opportunities that support these efforts during the next four years.

1.3 Key Themes of Imperial County’s 2008 Coordinated Plan Though this is a stand-alone document, the updated Coordinated Plan builds upon the original Imperial County Coordinated Plan developed in 2007–2008. Several issues related to the mobility of the target groups of older adults, persons with disabilities, and persons of low income identified during that process have continuing relevance for Imperial County. Mobility gaps and unmet transit needs identified during 2007–2008 included the following:

• Imperial County encompasses vast distances between communities. o Long travel times present difficulties for many riders. o Same day round-trip travel to San Diego is possible but challenging.

• Only lifeline services are available in some areas. • Limited service frequencies:

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o Between El Centro and Winterhaven o In rural areas o Between Calipatria, Bombay Beach, and other Salton Sea communities.

• Reliability concerns with AIM Transit and Brawley Dial-A-Ride • Instances of morning trip denials on AIM Transit suggest capacity issues. • Lack of service between Winterhaven and Yuma • Lack of connecting services from small communities in eastern Imperial County to intercity

routes • Lack of transit service in remote communities with small populations, such as Bard, Ripley, and

Palo Verde • Lack of early morning service to get to work and educational programs before 9 a.m.

o Imperial Valley Transit introduced a new service in 2008 to address this need. • Lack of late night and early morning transit service

o Workers with non-traditional hours need to travel locally in Imperial, El Centro, Brawley, and Calexico.

• Lack of government, medical, social services in outlying communities means residents must travel long distances to access services.

• Some Winterhaven residents will travel to Arizona for medical trips and pay out-of-pocket instead of traveling to El Centro.

• Transit info is largely distributed by word-of-mouth. • Spanish speakers have difficulty accessing transit info in their language. • Lack of bilingual printed materials • Lack of transit info at bus stops • Lack of marked bus stops • Lack of pedestrian and accessibility infrastructure • Lack of benches and/or shelters at bus stops • Duplication of service among human service agencies • Duplication of service among public and private operators

All these reported gaps and unmet needs were synthesized into the following table and presented at 2008 community workshops. These workshops enabled participants (members of the public, agency representatives, and transit providers) to confirm and/or comment on the list of needs and to articulate strategies to begin addressing these needs.

Table 1 following presents the Summary List of Needs for Imperial County in 2008, and Table 2 presents the strategies that were developed and ranked according to priority by workshop participants.

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Table 1- Summary List of Needs, 2008 Coordinated Plan [Excerpt]

A prioritization of these strategies is presented below, developed and ranked by workshop participants, on how effectively it met evaluation criteria (H=High priority, M=Medium, L=Low).

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Table 2 - Strategies to Address Gaps and Needs, 2008 Coordinated Plan [Excerpt]

Strategies

Address Documents Gap/Need

Feasibility of Implementation Coordination

High Priority Expansion of Imperial Valley Transit H M M Increase capacity of AIM H M M Creation of a local circulator shuttle in Brawley that connects to IVT H M H Development of consolidated countywide dial-a-ride services H L H Development and dissemination of transportation information, including Spanish language translation H H H Create a 211 line with transit and service information H H

Transportation summit for social service agencies and transportation providers H H H Transit/transfer coordination plan for Brawley H M H Replacement and expansion of vehicle fleet and capital equipment for transportation programs and transit agencies* H H L-H Medium Priority Vanpool program M M H Medical transportation service within Imperial County H M M Creation of a safe street crossing in Calexico at Highway 111 and Cole M M L Late night employer-operated shuttle for employees M L L Low Priority Subsidized taxi service M M L Transportation kiosk at mall or plazas L M L *Additional recommended strategy not identified by workshop participants H = High; M= Medium; L= Low

1.4 Public Transit Improvements Since 2008 Coordinated Plan There has been impressive change and development of Imperial County’s public transportation network in the intervening six years between the 2008 Coordinated Plan and the present. The conduct of the Short Range Transit Plan of 2011–2012 supported numerous recommendations, many of which have been implemented or are slated to be implemented. Funds have been identified, through a variety of local, state and federal sources, to initiate extensive expanded and new service.

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Table 3 summarizes the system changes that were being implemented as this Coordinated Plan development process began, in the spring of 2014, including adding new Sunday service and additional Saturday service in the core area, increasing weekday service frequency, developing a local circulator route in Brawley, constructing two new transfer centers, and securing remote lifeline services to various outlying communities within Imperial County.

Table 3 - Imperial Valley Transit Service Enhancements as of Spring 2014

Service Enhancement Route Geography/Location Frequency Service Hours Details

New Sunday Service Route 1 Calexico, Heber, and El Centro 2 hours 7:00 am to 5:04 pm

New Sunday Service Route 2 El Centro, Imperial, and Brawley 2 to 3 hours 7:15 am to 4:13 pm

Additional Saturday Service Route 1 Calexico, Heber, and El Centro 1 to 2 hours 5:55 am to 7:34 pm

Additional Saturday Service Route 2 El Centro, Imperial, and Brawley 1 to 2 hours 6:00 am to 7:30 pm

Increased Frequency Route 1 Calexico, Heber, and El Centro 35 minutes 5:45 am to 11:00 pmIncreased frequency to 35 minutes, Mon-Fri during peak travel times

New Brawley Service Gold Line City of Brawley 60-75 minutes 6:45 am to 6:41 pmInitiated a new circulator route within Brawley

New Brawley Transfer Center N/A City of Brawley N/A N/AThe Brawley station opened in December 2013, coinciding with the opening of the Gold Line

Expanded Service to IVCIVC Express, Route 21

Calexico to Imperial Valley College

45 min to 2 hours

6:15 am to 7:30 pmMore trips were added to address overcrowding and more options to travel to IVC

New Transfer Center N/A El Centro N/A N/A

Transfer center offers riders comfortable waiting areas, shade, mist cooling, restrooms, water fountains, and security.

Turquoise Route 10 (YCAT)YCAT Route 10

Downtown Yuma, Winterhaven and El Centro

2 runs per day - Morning and Afternoon

Varies, dependent on day of week and time of year

This service is provided by YCAT under cooperative subsidy agreement with ICTC and the Quechan Tribe of Fort Yuma. Connects Imperial Valley with Winterhaven and downtown Yuma.

Blue Route 5 (YCAT) - Quechan Shuttle

YCAT Route 5

Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and Winterhaven

1 hour 7:15 am to 7:07 pm

Counter Clockwise Loop Route from Paradise Casino to Downtown Yuma Transit Center via Quechan Casino Resort. Subsidy agreement between ICTC, Quechan Tribe and YCIPTA.

The number of trips provided on Saturdays was increased.

In January 2014, IVT implemented Sunday service in its primary corridor.

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2.0 Context for the Coordinated Plan This chapter describes the characteristics and geographic distribution of Imperial County residents who are among the focus of the Coordinated Plan: older adults, persons with disabilities, and persons of low income, as well as military veterans.

2.1 Imperial County Target Populations

Population Changes among Target Populations

As noted, the federal regulatory direction for the Coordinated Plan establishes three groups of interest:

• Older adults • Persons with disabilities • Persons of low income

Additionally, veterans who have served in the military are included as a group whose transportation needs may differ somewhat from the general public, an area of concern to this Coordinated Plan. Imperial County’s total population of 173,487 persons represented a 21.9% increase from the 2000 U.S. Census of 142,361 persons. Table 6 details current and historical population information for Imperial County, reflecting change between the 2000 census and the 2012 survey by the bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) data for the target groups, in relation to 2012 ACS five-year estimates. Older Adults – While the County’s adult population grew by 25.8%, the proportion of persons aged 65 and older grew by 26.5%, almost triple the national growth rate for older adults. This group increased from 14,500 persons over age 65 in 2000, to 18,360 older adults in 2012. With regard to income, the proportion of older adults at 100% of the federal poverty levels increased from 1.3% to 1.8% of the County’s overall population, a modest increase given the difficult economic times of this past decade. However, the number of older adults in poverty who are above the federal poverty thresholds increased by 60%, from 1,913 to more than 3,100 persons, including almost 17% of all seniors. While other seniors may be above federal poverty income thresholds, many struggle with modest fixed incomes that can impact their transportation choices. Coupled with the functional slowing of older adults, these seniors likely decrease or cease driving. Income levels and functional abilities of older residents each have implications for changes and improvements to Imperial County’s transportation. It will be important that “senior-friendly” attributes are incorporated into transportation planning. Persons with Disabilities – Because of changes in how the Census reports disabilities, it isn’t possible to directly compare and report change. However, among Imperial County adults, almost 2,300 report ambulation difficulties, or 5% of the County’s population, and among older adults, just over 2,000

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report ambulation difficulties, which is 4.5% of the County’s population. In combination, these 4,300 individuals are almost 10% of the county’s population. When coupled with other physical disabilities—hearing or vision impairments, cognitive difficulties, self-care and independent living difficulties—the overall count of unique individuals is 4,179 adults and 3,123 older adults. These 7,302 persons are almost one of six County residents, with many likely to have some level of transportation dependency, at least for some trips at some times.

Persons of Low Income – There was an increase in the number of low-income adults, as well as a slight increase in percentage of the County’s residents, from 10.5% to 11.1%, totaling almost 19,222 persons. Low-income persons are reporting incomes at or below the Federal poverty level that varies by household size, from $11,670 for a one-person household to $23,850 for a household of four.

Among older adults, as noted above, lowest income persons age 65 and older increased modestly, to 1.8% of the County’s residents. These may be seniors who are aging at home on fixed incomes. Together, almost 3,800 individuals are likely to struggle keeping vehicles operational and fueled, and will be more reliant upon public transportation and specialized transportation options.

Veterans – This country’s 22.6 million veterans are a continuing concern to this Coordinated Plan, as America reduces the number of persons in active duty from among the 1.4 million nationally, and as many individuals make their way back to civilian lives. In Imperial County, there are 6,631 veterans (ACS 2012), representing nearly 4% of the total population. Among these, those of the Vietnam era are the largest group, making up 29% of all County veterans. Veterans of World War II are the smallest group, at 7% of all veterans or about 570 individuals. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that the veterans’ unemployment rate of 8.9% for Imperial County is double that of the national veterans’ unemployment rate of 7%, and three points higher than the Census report of 11.7% for Imperial County’s overall unemployment rate. During the past 12 months, 1%, or 59 individual veterans, were in poverty. Table 6 presents details of the Coordinated Plan’s target groups, reflecting changes since 2000. Imperial County has grown by 12.2% over the past decade, adding another 5,000 citizens. Important to the Coordinated Plan Update is that the county’s older adult population has grown by a much higher rate of 34%, with older adults both aging in place and moving into Imperial County.

Population data presented uses the American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates, 2008 to 2012, since these present the most accurate profiles of rural and smaller geographies such as Imperial County.

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Table 4 - Imperial County Target Populations

2000 Census Attribute, Summary File 3 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-

Year Estimates

[2000 Census] Imperial County

People by Category

% of Total

County Populatio

n

[2012 ACS] Imperial

County People by Category

% of Total County

Population

% Change

from 2000 to

2012TOTAL POPULATION [1] 142,361 100.0% 173,487 100.0% 21.9%

ADULTS 18-64 [2] 83,126 58.4% 104,589 60.3% 25.8%Low-income Adults, Ages 18-64 - 100% Federal Poverty Levels [3]

14,999 10.5% 19,222 11.1%28.2%

with % of Adults 18-64 18.0% 18.4%

Disability [4] (non-institutionalized) Ages 16-64 "go-outside-home" disability (2000)

6,391 4.5%

with % of Adults 18-64 7.7%

Disability [4] (non-institutionalized) Ages 18-64 (2010) 10,299 5.9% with a hearing difficulty 2,156 1.2%

with a vision difficulty 1,977 1.1%

with a cognitive difficulty 3,949 2.3%

with an ambulatory difficulty 5,833 3.4%

with a self-care difficulty 2,149 1.2%

with an independent living difficulty 3,373 1.9%

SENIORS [2] 14,516 10.2% 18,363 10.6% 26.5% Seniors, ages 65-74 8,689 9,826

with % of all seniors 59.9% 53.5% Seniors, ages 75-84 4,747 6,427

with % of all seniors 32.7% 35.0% Seniors, ages 85+ 1,080 2,110

with % of all seniors 7.4% 11.5%Low Income Seniors, Ages 65+ - 100% Federal Poverty Levels [3]

1,913 1.3% 3,112 1.8% 62.7%

with % of all seniors 13.2% 16.9%

Disability [4] (non-institutionalized) Ages 65+ "go-outside-home" disability (2000)

3,449 2.4%

with % of all seniors 23.8%

Disability [4] (non-institutionalized) Ages 65+ (2010) 9,677 5.6% with a hearing difficulty 3,565 2.1%

with a vision difficulty 2,176 1.3%

with a cognitive difficulty 3,384 2.0%

with an ambulatory difficulty 6,827 3.9%

with a self-care difficulty 2,950 1.7%

with an independent living difficulty 5,228 3.0%

VETERANS [5] 6,631 3.8% n/aCivilian Population 18 years and over 122,583 70.7%

Veterans By Period of ServiceGulf War (9/2001 or later) veterans 17.8%

Gulf War (8/1990 to 2001) veterans 21.9%

Vietname era veterans 29.3%

Korean War veterans 11.0%

World War II veterans 7.3%

Veterans ages 18 to 34 years 1,094 0.6%

Veterans age 35 to 54 years 1,757 1.0%

Veterans age 55 to 64 1,240 0.7%

Veterans age 65 to 74 1,240 0.7%

Veterans age 75 years and older 1,300 0.7%

Veteran population unemplolyment rate 9.8%

Veteran population poverty status in the past 12 months 0.4%

NOTES:[1] Census 2000 Summary File 3, Total Population P001. / B01003 Total Population 2012 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates[2] Extrapolated from Census 2000 Summary File 3, Sex by Age P008 / B01001 Sex by Age, 2012 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates[3] Extrapolated from Census 2000 Summary File 3, Poverty Status in 1999 by age P087 / B1701 Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Sex by Age 2012 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates[4] Extrapolated from Census 2000 Summary File 3, Age by types of disability for the civilian non-institutionalized population 5 years & over with disabilities p041 / S1810 Disability Characteristics - 2012 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates[5] Extrapolated from S2101 Veteran Status - 2012 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates

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Limited English Proficient (LEP) Individuals – Another population of relevance to this Plan are the Limited English Proficient, or LEP, groups residing in Imperial County. Like other minority populations, LEP individuals are often low-income, transportation dependent, and underserved. The FTA is increasing focus on regulations such as Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and Environmental Justice legislation, which ensure transit providers take meaningful measure to provide access to their services for these populations and include them in public participation processes. Imperial County is home to a significant Spanish-speaking LEP population, due to its proximity to Mexico and its role as a major port of entry. 49,398 individuals, or 31% of the County’s total population, are Spanish speakers who speak English less than very well, according to the 2012 American Community Survey. Additional LEP groups do exist, but each with negligible number less than 0.2 % of the County’s total populations. These figures are reported in Table 5.

Table 5 - Imperial County LEP Populations

Table B16001: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER - Universe: Population 5 years and over

Imperial County, California

Source: 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Estimate % of Total

Population Margin of

Error Total: 159,658 100.00% ****** Spanish or Spanish Creole: Speak English less than "very well"

49,398 30.94% +/-1,856

German: Speak English less than "very well" 29 0.02% +/-35 Scandinavian languages: Speak English less than "very well"

3 0.00% +/-4

Armenian: Speak English less than "very well" 6 0.00% +/-11 Hindi: Speak English less than "very well" 6 0.00% +/-11 Chinese: Speak English less than "very well" 364 0.23% +/-191 Japanese: Speak English less than "very well" 24 0.02% +/-70 Korean: Speak English less than "very well" 270 0.17% +/-36 Mon-Khmer, Cambodian: Speak English less than "very well"

27 0.02% +/-36

Laotian: peak English less than "very well" 45 0.03% +/-208 Tagalog: Speak English less than "very well" 199 0.12% +/-121 Other Pacific Island languages: Speak English less than "very well"

37 0.02% +/-43

Other Native North American languages: Speak English less than "very well"

28 0.02% +/-22

Arabic: Speak English less than "very well" 8 0.01% +/-13

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Vehicle Access by Imperial County Residents

The availability of vehicles within Imperial County households is examined in Table 6. While ACS data show that the majority of households have access to at least one vehicle, 4% or almost 700 households do not. Most of the households with no available vehicle are one-person and two-person occupied households, but the three-person and four-person households that do not have access to a vehicle is significant, at 12% of total households with no vehicle. The absence of a vehicle in a household may limit an individual’s ability to access employment, medical care, or to complete activities of daily living, especially in areas where public transit or specialized transportation resources are inadequate or inaccessible.

Table 6 - Household Vehicle Availability

Table 7 below summarizes the mode of transportation utilized by the working population. The majority (78%) of all workers are driving alone, while 18% are traveling to work through carpool, public transportation, bicycle/motorcycle/taxi, or walking. The alternative modes of travel are likely among those used by workers of households with no vehicles. For some individuals, not owing a vehicle represents a lifestyle choice but, for others, the cost of purchasing and maintaining a vehicle is not affordable.

Table 7 - Means of Transportation to Work by Age

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2.2 Distribution of Target Populations within Imperial County Differences in the density of where older adults, persons of low income, and persons with disabilities live in Imperial County can impact both mobility needs and strategies, or projects by which these may be addressed. The four maps following demonstrate the dispersion of these target populations throughout Imperial County. General population distribution, older adults, persons of low income, and zero-vehicle households are presented.

Figure 1 - Imperial County: Population Density Map

Figure 1 above illustrates the population density for the entire Imperial County population of 174,528 residents. As expected in this vast and rural region, the highest densities of residents are found in the cities of Brawley, El Centro, and Calexico. These three cities are enlarged in inset maps to provide further detail of how the population is dispersed through the cities. Figure 2 below demonstrates where older adults, who make up 10% of the total population, live in the County. While there are significant populations of older adults found in each city, the area with the densest populations of older adults is found in Calexico, as illustrated by the dark brown box in the inset maps. Brawley has a considerably smaller population of older adults than both Calexico and El Centro.

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Figure 2 - Imperial County Senior Population Density Map

Figure 3 - Imperial County Density of Low Income Population Map

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Figure 3 above illustrates the relative densities of low-income individuals throughout Imperial County. As demonstrated by this map, 39% of the County’s population is at 150% of Federal Poverty Guidelines. The majority of that population is found in the communities surrounding the Salton Sea and in the Eastern portion of the County. There are also areas in each of the core cities of Calexico, El Centro and Brawley where the low-income population makes up 52%–65% of the population, as demonstrated by the dark red-brown section of the map and inset maps.

Figure 4 - Imperial County: Households without a Vehicle

Figure 4 above illustrates households without vehicles and is similar to the dispersion of low-income populations throughout the county. Overall, 11% of households do not have any vehicle. Throughout the eastern portion of the County, 31–54 households do not have vehicles. In both Calexico and El Centro, there are census blocks where 104–241 households are without vehicles, as demonstrated by the dark red-brown sections in the inset maps.

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2.3 SCAG Projections of Growth and Employment As part of its demographics review and analysis of the region, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) regularly develops local profiles for each county of current and projected experience. Table 8 below provides growth projections developed by SCAG (using data from September 2013). For planning purposes, ranges are predicted for population, number of households, and employment for the years of 2020, 2035 and 2040.

Table 8 - SCAG Imperial County Projections

Profile of Imperial County, last published May 2013, Southern California Association of Governments; updated with September 2013 local input. http://www.scag.ca.gov/Documents/ImperialCounty%20(2).pdf These projections indicate a growing population, albeit at varying rates of growth. Annual population growth rates of between 1.4% and 2.5% by 2035, or about ten years from this writing, translate to an additional 88,000 to 103,000 residents of Imperial County. Employment is also projected to increase. SCAG reported Imperial County jobs at 59,000 for 2012. Increased levels of employment could add between 59,000 to 66,000 jobs by 2035. Annual job growth rates that range from 2.2% to 4.9% annually suggest a steadily improving job picture, although the actual annual experience may well fluctuate from year to year, reflecting unanticipated local conditions.

2.4 Summary Discussion of the Context for Coordinated Transportation Projects Chapter 2 has presented relevant demographic characteristics of Imperial County related to older adults, persons with disabilities, low-income persons, and military veterans. The County’s 2012 population of almost 173,500 persons has grown considerably over the previous decade, a 22% increase from 2000, adding an additional 142,000 persons. There are changes among other groups within the overall population.

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Older adults in Imperial County are 10.6% of the population, at 18,360 persons. The proportion of older adults is increasing at rates faster than for the general population, and three times that of the national growth rate for persons age 65 and older. Persons of low income, specifically adults who are at 100% of the federal poverty levels, are 11% of the total population, or 19,000 adults with an additional 3,100 older adults. Persons living at 150% of the federal poverty level are sometimes a better measure of low income. These total nearly 64,000, or 39% of the County population. Persons with disabilities are difficult to compare with year 2000 demographics because the U.S. Census changed the way that it invites reporting on disabilities. Individuals now identify the functional areas with which they have difficulties. Among adults ages 18–64, almost 2,300 or 5% of the County’s population report ambulation difficulties, while just less than 2,000 adults aged 65 and older report ambulation difficulties. Combined, these 4,300 persons are almost 10% of the County’s overall population. U.S. military veterans number 6,631 persons. The largest group is Vietnam-era veterans who are now beginning to age and have increasing medical difficulties. Working-age veterans in Imperial County have an unemployment rate of almost 15%, more than double the national veteran unemployment rate of 7%. Persons in households without vehicles—almost 3,400 households or 11% of all households— are displayed to identify the geographic pockets and areas of high need around the county. Population and employment projections prepared by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) show continuing growth up to 2040. Growth rates over the next ten years could bring an additional 88,000 to 103,000 residents to the county. SCAG’s employment projections also show growth, with an improving job picture and job-growth rates between 2.2% to 4.9% annually.

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3.0 Transportation Resources This chapter presents the Imperial County inventory of transportation resources, as required by Federal Transit Administration regulation FTA C. 9070.1G. Detail on existing public-transportation services and human service transportation programs is presented, which is also detailed extensively in a matrix inventory. Some limited information about Imperial County’s private-sector transportation services is included, as these are an important part of the mix of mobility choices available to residents and visitors.

3.1 Public Transit in Imperial County

Imperial Valley Transit

Imperial Valley Transit (IVT) is the public transportation provider for the populous communities of the Imperial Valley. IVT offers fixed-route transportation from the international border in Calexico to as far north as Niland. Service also spans west to Ocotillo and out to Holtville on the east. IVT also has a partnership with Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) to provide a connection between Yuma, Arizona and El Centro. IVT Access provides Americans with Disabilities Act compliant complementary paratransit service, through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), within ¾ mile of the existing fixed-route bus service for persons with disabilities. The ADA service area is the same as the fixed-route service area for the core communities. In the communities of Seeley, Ocotillo, and the east side of the Salton Sea, IVT operates a deviated fixed route to accommodate persons with disabilities and limited mobility.

Local and Regional Zoned Routes

IVT Route 1 (North/South), El Centro to Calexico, is the core service for public transit between the cities of Calexico, Heber, and El Centro. This route travels north and south, with one-hour-15-minute headways in each direction on weekdays. Headways on weekend service range from two to two-and-a-half hours. Along this route, riders have access to the El Centro Hospital, the Imperial Valley Mall, and the post offices in both Heber and Calexico. Route 2 (North/South), Niland to Brawley and El Centro, covers the north end of the Imperial Valley between El Centro and Niland. Service is also provided in the cities of Imperial, Brawley, Westmorland, and Calipatria. Service is provided seven days a week, with separate runs traveling in both north and

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south directions. Stops are available at Imperial Valley College, the post office in Imperial, Pioneers Memorial Hospital, Brawley Library, and the city halls of El Centro, Westmorland, and Calipatria. Route 3 (East/West), El Centro to Holtville, begins at 7th and State Street in El Centro, then passes the El Centro City Hall, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and Costco before travelling northeast to Imperial Valley College and ending in Holtville. The westbound bus travels the same route in reverse. Headways are approximately two-and-a-half hours, operating Monday through Saturday. Route 4 (East/West), El Centro – Seeley – Ocotillo, connects the cities of El Centro and Seeley with stops available at 7th & State Street and the INS Courthouse in El Centro, and at Evan Hewes & Drew Road in Seeley. Weekday routes operate from 7:10 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. Monday through Friday, with three Saturday runs. Demand-response service is available on Tuesdays from the Ocotillo post office with advance notice one day ahead.

Express Routes (Express, Direct, and FAST)

Route 21 IVC Express, Calexico to IVC provides a direct connection for the residents of Calexico with Imperial Valley College. In the morning, this route circulates the City of Calexico, and then connects directly with IVC via Hwy 111. The travel pattern is reversed for the afternoon schedule, beginning at IVC to return students to Calexico. Route 21 is only operational on days when IVC classes are in session. The first run begins in Calexico at 6:15 a.m.; the last stop of the day returns students to Calexico at 6:30 p.m. Route 22 IVC Express, Niland to IVC, offers two morning runs and two afternoon runs that provide IVC students in Niland, Calipatria, Westmorland, and Brawley, transportation to and from the campus. As with other Express routes, this service is only available on IVC school days, including summer sessions. Route 31 & Route 32 Direct, Brawley to Calexico, provide direct service between the cities of Calexico and Brawley via Hwy 111, with no stops in between. Route 31 (Brawley to Calexico) and Route 32 (Calexico to Brawley) take about 40 minutes each and are available Monday through Saturday. There are two runs in each direction in the morning and evening. Direct routes charge a premium fare. Route 41 Fast (North/South), Brawley, provides “Fast” express travel from Brawley to Imperial, then on to 7th and State Street in El Centro. Travel from Brawley includes one morning run and one evening run. A return trip from El Centro to Brawley is available in the evening. Route 41 operates on weekdays.

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Route 45 Fast (East/West), Holtville, is a half-hour run allowing residents of Holtville to travel to El Centro in the morning and return in the evening. The service is available on weekdays beginning at 5th Street and Holt Road in Holtville, and ends at 7th Street and State Street in El Centro.

Remote Zone Routes

IVT offers two remote-zone routes that provide lifeline service to the more isolated communities in the Imperial Valley. Remote-zone routes only operate on certain days of the week. Route 4, El Centro-Seeley-Ocotillo, provides service to riders on Tuesdays who call one day in advance to schedule a ride from Ocotillo at 9:00 a.m., as part of the existing Route 4 Seeley to El Centro route. A return trip back to Ocotillo is available at 6:00 p.m., ending the last run of the day for Route 4. Route 51, North/South, Brawley to Bombay Beach, is available on Thursdays only. Route 51 is a remote-zone route with service from Brawley to Bombay Beach and stops in Calipatria and Niland, including Slab City. There is one run leaving Slab City in the morning and one run returning from Brawley in the evening. A system map of IVT fixed transit routes is shown in Figure 5.

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Figure 5 - Imperial Valley Transit Fixed Routes

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City Circulators

IVT Blue Line, El Centro, serves as a local circulator for the southern portion of the City of El Centro, providing stops for the El Centro Hospital, County services, and City Hall. The Blue Line operates from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays only. IVT Green Line, El Centro, provides coverage of the northern section of El Centro. IVT operates the Green Line circulator on weekdays, with stops at the Social Security Administration, City Hall, and Central Union High School. IVT Gold Line, Brawley, serves as the local circulator for the City of Brawley, allowing travel for residents to the Pioneers Medical Center and Walmart. The Gold Line operates on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

IVT Fixed-Route Fares

Table 9 presents the current fare structure for IVT fixed-route services, grouped by passenger category and fare type. The fare categories are summarized as Adult (ages 5-59), Senior (ages 60+), Disabled, Children (under age 5), and students. Fares are based on the tiers of fixed-route service, including local and regional zones, and the longer distance express services. Punch cards are available in 20-ride denominations for local and regional zone routes, and 20-ride student-express punch passes. Local zone punch passes reduce the cash fare to $0.80, and regional punch passes reduce the one-way fare to $1.00. Student punch passes do not offer a discounted one-way fare because the student express fare is already discounted.

Table 9 - IVT Passenger Fares

Fare Type AdultsSenior (60+) & Disabled

Children Under 5

Students

Cash Local Zone $1.00 $0.50 FreeCash Regional Zone $1.25 $0.60 FreeCash Direct Routes $2.50 FreeCash Express Routes $1.75 Free $1.25Cash Fast Routes $2.25 Free20 Ride Local Zone $16.00 $10.0020 Ride Regional Zone $20.00 $20.0020 Ride Student Express $25.00

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Yuma County Area Transit

The Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA) provides the funding for Yuma County Area Transit (YCAT) fixed route, vanpool, and YCAT OnCall demand-responsive bus service throughout southwestern Yuma County, and into Imperial County through Winterhaven and El Centro.

YCAT Turquoise, Yuma to El Centro, provides a connection between El Centro and the City of Yuma in Arizona. Service stops include the Yuma Palms Regional Center, Paradise Casino, Winterhaven, Quechan Casino Resort, and in El Centro at the Imperial Valley Mall. The service runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Operating hours vary between the summer and winter schedules. The one-way regular fare is $5.00. This service is provided by YCAT under cooperative-subsidy agreement with Imperial Valley Transit and the Quechan Tribe of Fort Yuma. YCAT Blue Route 5, Quechan Shuttle – The YCAT Blue Route or Quechan Shuttle operates hourly service six days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This circulator originates at the Yuma Transit Center, travels to the Paradise Casino around the Fort Yuma Reservation, to Winterhaven, the Quechan Casino Resort, and back. It is partly funded by federal Tribal Transit 5311(c) Funding. The adult one-way fare is $2.00. This is a deviated fixed-route service and can flex off route up to 3/4 of a mile for an additional $2.00.

Public Demand Response Services

Imperial County has several options for public demand-responsive transportation, including ADA Paratransit service, and curb-to-curb dial-a-ride services for the larger cities in the Imperial Valley.

IVT Access serves as the countywide curb-to-curb paratransit service for persons with disabilities, certified under the Americans with Disabilities Act. IVT Access operates during the same hours and covers the same service area consisting of a ¾-mile envelope around the existing IVT fixed-schedule

bus routes (Figure 6). Trip reservations can be made between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, one day to two weeks prior to a planned trip. Same-day trip requests are honored only if space is available. The one-way trip fare for ADA-certified riders is $2.00 to $2.50, depending on origin and destination. The fare for riders who are not ADA certified is three times the fixed-route bus fare. All Access vehicles are wheelchair accessible.

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Figure 6 - IVT Access Service Area Map

Brawley Dial-A-Ride offers curb-to-curb transportation throughout the city of Brawley. The service operates on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. It is open to the general public, with a cash fare of $1.50 for adults and $0.75 for children under 12 years of age. Calexico Dial-A-Ride provides curb-to-curb transportation to older adults and persons with disabilities who are within the City of Calexico. The service operates seven days per week from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., requiring a cash fare of $1.00. Same-day requests for service are accommodated on a space-available basis. El Centro Dial-A-Ride offers demand-responsive service within the city limits of El Centro. The operating hours are weekdays only, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The service is open to older adults and persons with disabilities with a cash fare of $0.75 per one-way trip. Imperial Dial-A-Ride provides demand-responsive service to the residents of the City of Imperial for travel within the city, and intercity travel to El Centro. This service is operated on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cash fare for trips within Imperial are $0.75, while trips between Imperial and El Centro are $1.75, and the origin of the first leg of a round trip for intercity service must begin in the City of Imperial. This service is available for older adults and persons with disabilities.

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West Shores Dial-A-Ride operates two days a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Service to Westmorland is available on Tuesdays, and transportation for senior nutrition is available on Thursdays. The base fare is $2.00, and the service is open to the general public. Through the course of this study, the local dial-a-ride programs mentioned above with the exception of El Centro Dial-A-Ride have been consolidated in to a new unique service brand called IVT Ride. Set to begin operation in October 2014, IVT Ride brings the local Dial-A-Ride systems under a combined program operated by First Transit. Med-Express is a lifeline service for members of the general public to make long-distance non-emergency medical trips to San Diego County. Provided by ARC Imperial Valley, the Med-Express operates on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and then alternates between Monday and Friday service every other week. The route begins at 5:00 a.m. in the City of Brawley at 8th and Main Street, and travels south to pick up riders in the City of Calexico at 4th and Heber, with a final Imperial County pick-up point at 5th Street and Olive in El Centro. Once the bus leaves El Centro, it then travels to San Diego, dropping off passengers to appointments at one of 12 locations along its route. Riders are then picked up from these locations in reverse order for an afternoon return to the Imperial Valley. The cash fare is $7.50 each way for riders who have been qualified as transit-dependent and require essential lifeline medical services. Personal-care attendants pay $3.50 for each one-way trip, and members of the general public must pay $30 for a round-trip fare. These public transportation programs are further detailed in the Inventory, in Appendix B.

Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) and New Freedom Projects

Through a competitive grant offered for New Freedom funding by Caltrans, the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC) was successful in securing operating dollars to support Imperial Valley Transit by acquiring two MV-1 (Mobility Ventures) vehicles. They are in use by the supervisors of the fixed-route services, including the ADA paratransit program as needed, to aide mobility impaired, wheelchair users who are stranded at bus stops due to occupied wheelchair tie downs, and to pick up persons who may be stranded at doctor offices, released later than anticipated. Riders in wheelchairs can also be transported directly by these vans in situations where their health and welfare would be impacted, such as high heat conditions. The total cost for this project is $400,000, offset by $200,000 in New Freedom funding and $200,000 in toll credits that were available for the statewide Call for Projects. Although this effort was initially

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funded through the New Freedom program, it was subsequently transferred to FTA Section 5307 formula funding that ICTC already receives to fund portions of IVT service.

CalVans Transportation Authority

CalVans is a Joint Powers Public Transportation Agency comprised of a number of Local Transportation Planning Agencies and based in Kings County, CA. Participating agencies appoint a representative to sit on the CalVans Board and represent their area. The Board Members serve as local representatives providing input and direction to the Agency. The CalVans program began in the central valley to help create lower cost commute options for workers traveling long-distances within and between large central valley counties. Among other activities, it initiated

a pilot project known as Agricultural Industries Transportation Services (AITS) established to achieve one simple goal: to provide qualified agricultural workers with safe, affordable vans they could use to drive themselves and others to work. However, government agencies at the federal and state levels regulate farm worker transportation to such a degree that AITS almost didn’t get off the ground. Today it is a successful program operating in multiple counties. With the expansion of both its traditional and AITS vanpooling programs, and with a growing interest among student populations to rideshare, CalVans has developed a website capability as a one-stop resource for driving, joining and forming a vanpool in a CalVans vehicle. Its address is: www.CalVans.org Registered persons can identify vanpools and/ or riders to “Drive One, Form One or Join One.” Calvans is newly in Imperial County, with approximately 120 vanpools starting up during 2014/2015. Other California Counties currently served by CalVans include: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Ventura.

3.2 Human Service Transportation Programs In addition to public transit and paratransit programs, a variety of human service agencies directly provide, subsidize, or arrange transportation for their clients. Transportation support offered by human service agencies falls under several types. Described here are those that directly provide transportation services and those that subsidize the cost of transportation for their clients on other transportation systems. Details of these programs are summarized in the Inventory in Appendix B.

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Directly Operated Transportation

ARC Imperial Valley operates various vocational programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, including paid vocational opportunities for individuals over 18 years of age. It has a fleet of buses to provide transportation to clients for travel to and from its day programs. ARC Imperial Valley receives funding for this transportation service through San Diego Regional Center and Easter Seals. Under separate contracts, ARC Imperial Valley is the contractor for the city Dial-A-Ride programs in El Centro, Imperial, and West Shores, as well as the operator of the Med-Express service.

Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley offers a wide variety of youth activities, from games and athletics to daycare and leadership opportunities. Transportation from school to the Brawley BGC site is available in the afternoon, while at three sites transportation contracts are for event transportation, trips to the movies, baseball games, bowling alleys, and Imperial Valley College. The Boys & Girls Club has a budget of $17,000 for transportation.

Calexico Unified School District operates on weekdays from 7am to 4pm. Calexico students are eligible for transportation if the distance between their school-established bus stop and the school is beyond the following minimums:

1. For elementary school students, Grades K–3: one mile; Grades 4–8: two miles 2. For students attending a four-year high school, Grades 9–12: three miles

Catholic Charities serves about 1,400 home-delivered meals and about 580 congregate meals daily. Meals are provided to ten sites and two Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) locations. Catholic Charities contracts with ARC Imperial Valley, First Transit, and Sunrise Transportation to bring individuals to the sites for congregate meals.

Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo provides general medical health services at six clinic locations in the Imperial Valley. Clinicas operates its own transportation program, transporting clients from their homes to doctor appointments at any one of its clinics. The program uses two vehicles: one 15-passenger van and one 12-passenger van. Riders must schedule an appointment two days in advance of their medical appointment.

Transportation operates as a semi-fixed route, only serving certain clinics on certain days of the week. Vehicles pick up patients from home beginning at 8:00 a.m. to deliver them to clinics for appointments. Vehicles pick up the passengers from the morning drop-offs beginning at 2:00 p.m. for the return home. This is a courtesy shuttle—no fee is charged for riders.

DayOut Adult Day Health Care provides adult daycare services at locations in Brawley and El Centro that include organized daily activities in a community-based setting, transportation, meals, and professional supervision. Vans provide transportation for those who need door-through-door services, and DayOut also pays IVT Access fares for clients. The El Centro and Brawley facilities have three vehicles each.

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has a van that leaves every morning about 7:30 a.m. from El Centro’s Imperial Valley Mall in front of the Rite Aid. Driven by volunteers, passengers call (858) 552-7470 to reserve a trip to the San Diego VA Medical Center in La Jolla. All riders must be ambulatory

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because the DAV has no lift-equipped vehicles and its national charter prohibits its volunteer drivers from assisting passengers in wheelchairs.

Imperial County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) provides services and resources that promote wellness, recovery, and resiliency for adults and senior adults with severe mental illness, and for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their family members. Transportation is available for those who cannot use public transit because it is not available or they are unable to use it due to an illness. Transportation is provided using six 15-passenger vans and 66 staff vehicles to transport clients and make home visits.

Imperial County IHSS Public Authority program provides domestic and personal care to Medi-Cal eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals so that they can remain safely in their own homes. The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program has service providers who transport clients. Providers are paid for the time of travel only through the IHSS program and not the IHSS Public Authority. There has been an increase of IHSS providers/caregivers who are refusing to provide transportation because the IHSS program does not pay for gas.

Imperial County Office of Education works closely with Imperial County's 16 independent school districts, as well as its public service agencies, businesses, institutions of higher education, and elected officials, to meet the educational needs of children.

Imperial County Work Training Center provides the WTC Work Service Program, a vocational employment program for persons with developmental disabilities, is designed to help transition clients to independent employment on their own. Transportation is provided by WTC to its vocational-program employees for travel to and from work on the days they are contracted. Transportation is available seven days per week.

Naval Air Facility, NAF El Centro, has a full array of support facilities: Commissary, Navy Exchange, medical and dental clinics, Consolidated Officer/Chief Petty Officer and Enlisted Club, and a wide variety of recreational activities. NAF has 101 housing units, plus newly renovated barracks for its single sailors.

The NAF El Centro operates a “kids” bus that transports the children of servicemen and women between school and the air facility. The vehicle is also used for field trips and special activities. Transportation for servicemen from El Centro to the base can also be arranged through the facility’s Duty Office.

Quechan Tribe Senior Center of the federally recognized Quechan Tribe has its main office in Fort Yuma, Arizona. The Quechan Reservation is located along both sides of the Colorado River near Yuma, bordering the states of Arizona, California, and Baja California in Mexico. The tribe’s senior center program brings elders to and from the nutrition program on Fort Yuma reservation lands in California, near Winterhaven. The senior center has two vehicles to assist with transporting participants to senior-center activities. Additionally, the Fort Yuma Health Center has two vehicles but only a part-time driver, and transports less than 100 people per month with out-of-county trips. As a member of the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority, the Quechan Tribe supports YCAT's Blue Route circulator and Turquoise remote-zone line from Yuma to El Centro with tribal transit funding.

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Subsidized Transportation

Area Agency on Aging is the regional focal point for services for older adults, and administers federal and state funds. AAA offers nutrition programs that include congregate meals, home-delivered meals, and a nutrition consultant. AAA pays public transit fare for trips to congregate meal sites. DayOut ADHC provides adult day healthcare to serve persons with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and other diagnostic areas. DayOut is a program designed to engage seniors with health or social needs during the day. When needed, DayOut will pay the IVT Access fares for clients to travel to and from its daycare centers. Imperial County Department of Behavioral Health buys transit tickets for clients who are capable of using the transit system, through its resource center (Regional Tickets, Blue Line, IVC Express). Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) works closely with Imperial County's 16 independent school districts, as well as its public service agencies, businesses, institutions of higher education, and elected officials, to meet the educational needs of children. ICOE spends roughly $50,000 per year subsidizing bus passes in Imperial County. Imperial County Department of Public Health provides California Children's Services (CCS), a state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. CCS subsidizes the fare on ARC Imperial Valley's Med-Express service, which provides non-emergency medical transportation to San Diego County for children in need. In some cases, CCS reimburses mileage to a parent or guardian at the IRS reimbursement rate. Imperial County Work Training Center, with its Multipurpose Senior Service Program (MSSP), provides social and health case management for frail elderly clients who are certifiable for placement in a nursing facility but who wish to remain at home. IVT Access and the ARC-operated Dial-A-Rides provide transportation for seniors in the MSSP program who travel to and from home for medical appointments. The cost of transportation is reimbursed to the transportation providers by the Work Training Center through Medi-Cal on a monthly basis.

3.3 Private Transportation Providers Agricultural buses in Imperial County transport farm workers from specific locations, mostly from Calexico, to the agricultural farms throughout the Imperial Valley. The demand on these buses is seasonal and in line with crop growing, leaving their pick-up locations pre-dawn to return in the evening. Calexico Transit is a private fixed-route circulator within the city of Calexico. It has four routes and runs daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The cash fare is $2.00.

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Gran Plaza Outlet Shuttle lets shoppers take advantage of the courtesy shopping shuttle, Gran Plaza Express. The shuttle service runs between 1st Street & Heffernan Avenue in Calexico and the Gran Plaza Outlets. Pick-ups begin 30 minutes before opening and the last shuttle leaves the center 30 minutes after closing. Service is available seven days a week and is free for Gran Plaza Outlet customers. Greyhound Lines, Inc. is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation, serving more than 2,300 destinations with 13,000 daily departures across North America. Greyhound stations serve locations in Calexico and El Centro daily, with frequency and fares varying from origin and destination. Greyhound also serves Yuma, Arizona for trips into El Centro and San Diego by residents of Fort Yuma and Winterhaven. Taxis operate as a driver for hire, usually for a single passenger or small group of passengers riding together to specific location. In Imperial County, multiple traditional taxi companies offer taxi services at varying rates. Transportes Intercalifornias provides intercity travel from Mexico through the Imperial Valley to Northern California. A morning run leaves Calexico at 9 a.m. and the afternoon run leaves Calexico at 3 p.m. The system operates daily, with fares varying by origin and destination. The Calexico bus station is located at Rockwood and 3rd Street.

3.4 Transportation Resource Inventory The transportation services available in Imperial County are numerous and wide-ranging in type. For purposes of this Coordinated Plan, these can be depicted as shown in Figure 7 following.

Four general categories of transportation are presented: the public transportation programs of Imperial Valley Transit; the neighboring YCAT Transit with its Turquoise Line that travels to El Centro; the municipal paratransit programs, many of which will be enfolded into IV Ride and the specialized program of Med-Express; the human service directly operated transportation programs that are numerous and provide services targeted to their client base; human service agency subsidy programs that are offered by the Area Agency on Aging, several county social service programs, and the DayOut centers; and private sector transportation, which in this graphic includes the private-public CalVans vanpool authority, as well as local taxis, Greyhound buses and Transportes Intercalifornias, the Gran Plaza Express and the informal network of agricultural buses, among others.

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Figure 7 - Imperial County Transportation Types

These services are further detailed in Appendix B, Transportation Inventory, of this document. While there are inevitably other programs and services to be catalogued, these reflect the primary and active programs identified through this Coordinated Plan process.

3.5 Summary Discussion of Transportation Resources Chapter 3 reported on the substantial, existing resources available to transport older adults, persons with disabilities, persons of low income, and military veterans throughout Imperial County and to destinations outside of the county.

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Imperial Valley Transit has an extensive fixed-route public transit system that consists of zone-based routes, express routes that provide fast and direct travel for commuters and students, local circulators for travel within cities, and remote-zone routes that provide lifeline service to the more remote communities of the county. CalVans is an emerging new public transportation resource. There are many human service transportation programs that include directly operated transportation, contracted transportation and the subsidization of transportation through bus passes, tokens, and direct fare reimbursement to other transportation providers. Private sector transportation resources are also important to a region with large numbers of transit-dependent persons. Private sector fixed-route, agricultural buses, taxis, and ridesharing provide services within and beyond Imperial County for residents and visitors. Appendix B provides a Transportation Inventory that presents additional detail about transportation services and their passenger fares, service areas, and other service-related data, such as the number of vehicles or passenger trips where information was obtainable.

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4.0 Market Research - Mobility Need and Gap Findings

A wide net was cast to bring back both qualitative and quantitative information from Imperial County stakeholders and consumers about the mobility needs and concerns of older adults, persons with disabilities, low-income, and military veterans. Chapter 4 reports key findings from three outreach efforts: 1) a series of stakeholder interviews, 2) consumer intercept-survey responses, and 3) an e-survey by a countywide agency. Input from an ICTC Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee workshop was also incorporated. Nearly 240 individuals contributed to these efforts.

4.1 Key Stakeholder Interview Outreach Figure 8 - Key Stakeholder Agencies Interviewed This section reports on qualitative findings from interviews conducted during March 2014 with 29 agencies and almost 50 staff persons. This subsection presents key findings about what these stakeholders reported regarding the transit- dependent markets that are the focus of this Coordinated Plan. Mobility gaps of individual group are discussed. Various trip types or other transportation-related needs are detailed.

Transportation Disadvantaged Populations

While this Coordinated Plan’s Chapter 3 demographic analysis of Imperial County identified characteristics of county residents’ transportation needs, the comments of stakeholders during this update process reinforced the importance of public transportation and specialized transportation for the County’s older adults, persons with disabilities, and persons of low-income. Indicators of transit dependency:

• Catholic Charities provides home-delivered meals to about 1,400 individuals, with congregate meals for

Adult Day Health Care – El Centro DayOut Adult Day Health Care – Brawley DayOut ARC Imperial Valley Transportation Program Catholic Charities Senior Nutrition – El Centro Clinicas de Salud City of Brawley Public Works City of Calexico Public Works City of El Centro Public Works City of Imperial Planning & Development El Centro Regional Medical Center Oncology Clinic Outpatient Services In-Patient Care First Transit – IVT Contractor Imperial County Area Agency on Aging Imperial County Dept. of Behavioral Health Imperial County Public Authority

Adult Protective Services In-Home Supportive Services Imperial County Veterans Services Imperial Valley Community College One Stop Centers in Brawley, Calexico, El Centro Quechan Indian Tribe / Fort Yuma

Tribal Administrator Economic Development Fort Yuma Community Health Center

UCSD Health Systems, Office of Strategic Planning US Dept. of Homeland Security Border Public Affairs Veterans Administration Medical Center VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic Workforce Investment Board WomanHaven Domestic Abuse YCAT – Yuma County Area Transit

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seniors at ten sites, and two programs of Adult Day Health Care (ADHC). • Half to two-thirds of older adults come to nutrition site locations on public transportation, as

reported by agency staff. • The Social Services departments are now co-located adjacent to the Public Authority buildings at

2999 South 4th Street in El Centro. The In-Home Supportive Services program alone has a caseload of more than 5,000 persons. These co-located facilities serve dozens of daily visitors.

• A majority of the patients seen at the El Centro Regional Medical Center are Medi-Cal recipients and Medi-Cal eligible, reflecting low household incomes.

• Many individuals in wheelchairs are reported by DayOut centers, the senior centers, the Veterans Community Based Outpatient Clinic and others, populations who need specialized transportation options due to various health conditions.

• Multiple agencies indicate they have bus-pass subsidy programs to help address affordability concerns of clients, including Area Agency on Aging, senior nutrition programs that subsidize Dial-A-Ride fares, El Centro Regional Medical Center, Clinicas de Salud, and the DayOut Adult Day Health Care programs in Brawley and El Centro.

Many comments about need for expanded out-of-county medical transportation were received, in part because residents have limited ability to meet these long-distance trip needs on their own. Significant Presence of Private Sector Transportation includes multiple private transportation providers in Imperial County, reflecting the depth and extent of the transit markets. At the time of these interviews, Numero Uno had been a key private sector intercity bus service, although it has since ceased operations. Private bus service charges a fee for runs between Calexico’s 3rd Street and Paulin Avenue, and the outlet malls or the Imperial Valley Mall. Private farmworker buses travel daily from the Calexico 3rd Street and Paulin Avenue transfer center where many day laborers wait to obtain seasonal work around the County. Other private transportation is less formalized. Area Agency on Aging staff, among others, reported that families and older adults in the outlying communities often pay as much as $25 a trip for a ride into the central core communities when older adults or persons with disabilities cannot drive themselves or do not have access to a car. High Utilization of Public Transportation was observed, including on ride-alongs on the IVC Express between Calexico and Imperial Valley College. Buses are often near capacity at the first stop at Calexico’s 3rd Street and Paulin Avenue, and then pick up more riders until it sometimes isn’t possible to add any more passengers. This reflects the unique conditions of this border county and its public transportation challenges. Bicycles and Walking abound with extensive local use of bicycles, particularly for school-aged youth and many pedestrians. Bikes on buses were observed but not as extensively as in some communities, but bicycles were frequently observed traveling between cities. Similarly, pedestrians begin with the

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thousands of daily pedestrian crossings from the border at Mexicali for a wide variety of work, educational, and shopping purposes in Calexico and beyond. They include too residents who don’t have access to a car for some or all trips.

Older Adult Mobility Topics

Stakeholders noted numerous improvements to Imperial County’s public transportation programs, particularly to the central corridor of IVT services. Easing overcrowding on IVT Route 1 is making it easier for older adults to feel less crowded.

Figure 9 - Brawley Transit Transfer Center Environmental concerns are significant for older adults. The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) personnel report that the new El Centro Transfer Center's shade and water misters are a significant help to seniors. They also indicated that indoor waiting areas for older adults are important. Numerous stakeholders noted a need for expanded shelter from the sun and wind. Specific areas where stakeholders see need for shelters and benches include:

• IVT’s Blue Line locations with nearby restaurants and the bowling alley.

• Remote-zone communities where the bus comes infrequently for waiting passengers.

Lighting around stops and benches was noted as important for older persons’ sense of security. As it is often dark by 5 p.m., lighting helps to enhance feelings of safety. Senior services and nutrition-program managers report that older adults express various safety concerns while using public transit. Underserved areas of the county or where more service may be needed include:

• Winterhaven along River Park where there is a RV resort with transit-dependent older adults, including snowbirds with no access to any transit, as reported by YCAT SSTAC members.

• Bard north of the Fort Yuma Reservation, where a number of older adults live. • Bombay Beach, where older adults need to travel to Brawley or El Centro for medical

appointments. • Niland’s older adults pay up to $25 for a trip to get into town, Brawley, and El Centro.

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• Slab City, about 4 miles east of Niland near Salvation Mountain, is a settlement of mostly homeless persons and campers, including some elderly. The homeless task force does an annual count of the resident population there.

Other areas with residents in need of transportation, as reported by agency stakeholders, include West Shores, Palo Verde, Ocotillo, Salton City, and Andrade.

Seeley is among the areas identified as underserved by IVT Access because it requires negotiated pick-up times for consumers traveling into the central corridor. Transit affordability is a common concern of older adults who struggle on fixed incomes, as noted by SSTAC members, AAA, and Catholic Charities representatives, among others. Several noted it is particularly difficult to purchase passes for larger amounts in larger denominations. Transit information is needed and accessed by older adults in various ways.

Figure 10 - AAA Office Transportation Information Display The Area Agency on Aging works to promote the availability of IVT information, including with a Transit Schedule bulletin board displayed prominently in their Clark Road offices in El Centro, as show in Figure 10. Case-manager staff at AAA and at County offices offered comments, including that the IVT website is not user friendly and can be difficult for some agency staff, as well as consumers, to find needed information. Agency personnel, including AAA Information and Referral staff, expressed confusion about the ICTC fares, indicating they found it difficult to offer guidance or clarity on fares when they attempted to help customers arrange transportation.

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Persons with Disabilities Mobility Topics

A number of topics were identified, as summarized below: ADA certification processes are working acceptably, as reported by several, including the DayOut staff. They indicate it is useful to work through ICTC staff to complete the ADA certification application, particularly when agency staff assists consumers. Staff described a complex arrangement of transit providers exclusively within El Centro, which is serviced by one provider, by another provider for trips into El Centro. This results in some confusion as to which provider may be utilized, as reported by the El Centro Adult Day Health Care staff. Long wait times are difficult for frail elderly and persons with disabilities, compounded by high temperatures. Instances of long vehicle waits were reported by the El Centro and Brawley Adult Day Health Care programs, several County programs, and the Area Agency on Aging, including

• Brawley Dial-A-Ride’s return trips for going home in the afternoon can be quite delayed, as long waits can sometimes climb to two hours or more.

• IVT Access trip pick-ups to the northern part of the central corridor, specifically Brawley and points north and west, can be delayed.

• Conversely, El Centro’s Adult Day Health Care receives its participants early in the morning around 7:15 a.m., and the center accommodates this drop-off time. It seems to be helping with on-time performance for these riders.

• Senior center concerns expressed by riders and administrators indicated that the El Centro Dial-A-Ride trip times are long, sometimes over 90 minutes to get home.

• Because of the heat, riders cannot wait outside, and they risk missing the bus when it comes. To help riders get to buses quickly, it would be helpful if there were some kind of advance notice that the vehicle is coming or is close.

Scheduling Inefficiencies exist with instances of multiple vehicles arriving at some agencies to take passengers to the same location, for example to Holtville. Agency personnel suggest combining these passenger trips would lead to more efficient service. Services Are Appreciated,Responsive, and Drivers are Good, according to agency personnel and rider comments:

• IVT Access drivers are appreciated by consumers and by agency personnel. They seem committed to their work.

• Med-Express drivers are particularly appreciated because they make bathroom stops a priority. • Imperial Dial-A-Ride driver compliments were offered, and city staff indicated that it is much

appreciated by residents, reporting it is “well known and well liked.”

Mobility Device, Securement, and Safety Concerns

Agency stakeholders presented topics or concerns with equipment-related implications:

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• Wheelchair capacity can be insufficient, as reported by medical services and some county agency personnel. Persons in wheelchairs are at a particular disadvantage waiting for vehicles when the fixed-route services are overcrowded. Such passengers may at times be passed by. There was no reported agency awareness of IVT’s policy of picking up stranded passengers in wheelchairs with its New Freedom-funded lift-equipped vans.

• Seatbelts on vehicles are recommended by agency personnel. They would like to see onboard

seatbelts on IVT Access, for rider safety and to keep dementia patients from standing up while the vehicle is moving.

• Not All Riders are ADA Certified, so it is important to keep the whole system of fixed route

services accessible and responsive to passengers in wheelchairs. There are a lot of persons in wheelchairs in Imperial County who are not ADA certified.

• Oxygen tank tie-down requirements of IVT Access restrict riders to tied-down oxygen tanks

secured to the chair. For some low-income passengers, this is not possible because they can’t afford a wheelchair with its own tank securement. Also, some portable oxygen systems don’t have securement capabilities. Perhaps there could be a securement system within the vehicle to secure tanks.

• Vehicle Replacement and Vehicle Accessibility Needs, which can include persons with

disabilities and frail older adults, need accessible vehicles and taxis, but some local public transportation services do not have the lift-equipped vehicles needed by these riders. The Adult Day Health Care program in Brawley, which does have large numbers of persons in wheelchairs, recounted stories of needing to get clients in wheelchairs home, but without sufficient lift-equipped vehicles available—either between their own vehicles or Brawley Dial-A-Ride—they had to wheel clients home during severe weather conditions.

• Effective Air Conditioning was reiterated as a need by stakeholders regarding transit vehicles,

because of the importance of having functional air conditioning where outside temperatures that climb above 115 degrees in summer months. Both public transportation and human service agency services need effective capital-replacement programs to ensure riders have comfortable and safe transport.

• Door-through-door and escort transportation are important needs of the frail elderly and those

who are chronically ill or with debilitating disabilities, as reported by the In-Home Supportive Services program staff. The IHHS workers are acutely aware of their consumers’ needs, but are not in a position to assist with transportation needs because they are not reimbursed for gasoline expense.

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• Imperial County Behavioral Health has a strong, directly operated transportation program with six 15-passenger vans and 11 dedicated drivers. With these vehicles, plus cars used by staff, Behavioral Health regularly transports clients between multiple Behavioral Health facilities around the County. Traveling several times each week to Bombay Beach, Ocotillo, and the Salton Sea, it currently coordinates with the Department of Rehabilitation around consumer needs, including transportation. Behavioral Health also offers a travel-training program using staff to ride buses and teach clients how to use public transportation.

College Students

Imperial Valley College

Imperial Valley College (IVC) students traveling to the campus at 380 Aten Drive in Imperial are heavy users of public transportation, with about 700 students on campus daily when school is in session. Most of these students have cell phones and smart phone/Internet access. Student representatives report a mix of getting transit information via word-of-mouth and on the Internet. Bus information at the IVC bus stop is desirable. Some students are using public transit as their primary means of transportation to the campus, many living in Mexicali and crossing regularly to come to IVC classes. Other students ride the bus more intermittently, when their own car or their regular ride is not available. A student traveling on IVT from Brawley commented how much less crowded her bus was than those her peers take who travel south to Calexico. A student traveling by bus from Calipatria commented that the two-hour trip is too long and too far to travel easily by public transit to IVC. As noted, the early morning Route 1 Calexico to IVC fills up almost entirely by the first Calexico stop at 3rd Street and Paulin Avenue. Students recognize that late afternoon buses going south are very full, too, but they appreciate the added IVT service that has decreased crowding. Also appreciated by student representatives is the last weekday bus ride after classes end at 9:40 p.m., and recounting various stories of driver assistance, they appreciate helpful bus drivers. There was some student interest in bus passes tied to their fees, which offered free or discounted bus service. There were comments, however, about the number of existing fees associated with student registration. Parking is $25 per semester per car but finding parking spaces can be difficult at times.

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San Diego State University Campus at Calexico

There is a new San Diego State University program developing in Calexico that is seeking to enroll 100 students annually for about 800 students overall. Students will take their first two years of classes in Calexico and then transfer to the main San Diego campus. There has been outreach throughout the county, including attracting a group of students from Heber to the new Calexico campus of San Diego State University. During the initial two-year period, students will periodically need to travel into San Diego. The school planners could work with IVT around scheduling of classes and timing of trips into San Diego, to develop a coordinated response. Student fees could include a transportation assessment. Both students and college administrators indicated a willingness to consider this.

Veterans in Imperial County

There are currently 16,000 active veteran caseload files in the office of the Imperial County Veterans Services. Because the County will assist any veteran, not just Imperial County residents, some travel from San Diego County because of less backlog and claims can be processed more quickly. Stakeholders report that there isn’t the homeless-veteran issue that exists in other counties. Exceptions may exist in Slab City, near Niland, and Calipatria, as well as some in Winterhaven along River Park. Because there are limited services for veterans, County departmental staff persons report they haven’t seen many new veterans who are substantially disabled, although there are significant reported cases of PTSD and depression. The majority of Imperial County veterans are Vietnam-era vets. A number of veterans live in Mexicali because of lower living costs and the safety-net resources of family. Trip needs reported by veterans’ personnel were limited, in part because services available specifically for veterans are limited. The local Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) is at 1600 Imperial Avenue in El Centro where basic medical services are provided between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Clinic services include:

• Primary care • Simple lab tests • Tele-mental health • My HealthVet computer access • Photos for veteran ID cards • Clinical video Tele-health for diabetes, lipid, renal GI, anti-coagulation, weight control (MOVE),

tele-retinal (eyes) and tele-derm (skin)

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The two physicians and one nurse practitioner at El Centro CBOC see between 75 to 120 patients each week. All other medical services are referred to San Diego at the VA Medical Center La Jolla. A significant but unknown number of these veterans are transportation disadvantaged. The CBOC director in identifying transportation needs as a barrier to care, cited a recent example of a patient who drove himself to the clinic, perceiving no other option, and died soon afterwards. Persons in wheelchairs are regularly seen at the clinic and in high numbers, adding to the complexity of transportation needs. Staff at the CBOC provides contact information for the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) to assist veterans with trips to San Diego. There was some limited awareness of IVT transportation services, but no knowledge of the Med-Express option that could be of value to military veterans in wheelchairs. The DAV van makes trips on most mornings, leaving about 7:30 a.m. from the Rite Aid pharmacy at Imperial Valley Mall on Dogwood in El Centro. Its vehicle is driven by volunteers and is generally, but not always, at capacity. The DAV, per its national charter, can only transport ambulatory individuals and has no ability to assist veterans in wheelchairs because the van is not lift-equipped.

Border Pedestrian Crossings and Prospective Transit Users

Pedestrians enter the U.S. at the West Calexico border with Mexico, and at the new Calexico East Port of Entry. Persons come across the border for a variety of reasons and are generally transit-dependent. Daily rates of pedestrian traffic at the two ports of entry vary considerably, presented in Table 10 as annual crossings. The long-standing West Port of Entry reports that 42% of FY 2013 crossings were pedestrians, or 4.8 million of a total of 8.9 million annual crossings. At the new East Port of Entry, located 10 miles east of the existing West Port of Entry, only 6% of 3.4 million crossings are pedestrians.

Table 10 - FY 2013 Port of Entry Border Crossings: Mexicali into Calexico

Figure 11 - Calexico West Border Crossing

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Stakeholder interviews reported that pedestrians account for the following groups, each of which has defined transit needs:

• Elementary and secondary school students, for whom pedestrian improvements and safe paths-of-access to schools are important.

• Community college students who are using the IVT Route 1 extensively and may also be using local Calexico circulator service.

• Agricultural workers and day laborers are sometimes using the proprietary transportation services that often wait for passengers at and around 3rd and Paulin or at 1st Street and Heber.

• Some American military members are living in Mexicali to be nearer family support systems and stretch their incomes, while still receiving healthcare in the U.S.

• Unemployed persons reportedly represent large numbers of those coming into Imperial County for day work and seasonal agricultural work. The current unemployment rate as reported by the Workforce Development Office is 23%, which was at 35% at the lowest point of the Great Recession. It is difficult to know the proportion of daily pedestrian visitors looking for work.

Figure 12 - Calexico Bus Transfer Center at 3rd Street and Paulin Avenue

Transit Access at the Two Calexico Ports of Entry

Figure 13 - Taxi at New Border Port of Entry There is a robust taxi industry in Imperial County. While no taxi- management interviews were secured as a part of this update, taxi services are an important component of the overall mix of services available to the transportation-dependent of Imperial County. Taxis play an important role in providing services to the pedestrian traffic that crosses into the U.S. at the East Port of Entry where there is no public transportation at this time.

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Medical Trip Needs

University of San Diego Medical Center

Concern about medical transportation needs was expressed in many settings. To better serve their patients’ health needs, a UC San Diego Health Systems Chief Strategy Officer for Administration has identified transportation needs of Imperial Valley patients who need to travel into UCSD health facilities in La Jolla and Hillcrest. Interviews with more than a dozen physicians identified transportation as a common reason for missing medical appointments for patients living in the Imperial Valley. These doctors represented several medical specialties, and included primary care and general practice physicians.

Discussions are early but consultant staff anticipates strategic planning reports to USCD Health System’s CEO Paul Viviano that will identify strategies by which UCSD can address this transportation gap. There is some interest, albeit not yet any formalized policy, in developing transportation service of one-day-a-week to bring patients from their homes in Imperial County to medical appointments at USCD facilities and return them. UCSD representatives contacted indicated they were unaware of Med-Express or any other public or private transportation between Imperial Valley and San Diego medical facilities.

Med-Express Use and Awareness

Med-Express, operated by ARC Imperial Valley, is a popular service that is well known among social service agency personnel, but not as much among healthcare professionals interviewed. Comments offered by agency persons and by focus-group participants included:

• Riders consider Med-Express a good value with $19.50 round-trip fares perceived as reasonable. • The pre-pay requirement in advance of the trip seems reasonable to ensure that riders will show

up so seats won’t be wasted. • The pre-pay arrangement whereby the riders buy their Med-Express ticket through the Dial-A-

Ride driver is working well for riders who live in El Centro. • There were multiple reports of Med-Express reservations at capacity, with comments from

SSTAC members, County office personnel, AAA staff, and Adult Day Health Care programs, among others.

• Reservations for trips within one week were extremely difficult to secure, as reported by medical personnel familiar with Med-Express, because vehicles are full.

• One customer noted that she tries to book her trips weeks in advance so she can be sure to secure a ride, making a point to book her trip as soon as she makes a medical appointment.

• Med-Express’ contractor indicates that riders can go standby, to fill the spaces of no-show riders, if they arrive at the ARC Imperial Valley by 6 a.m. on the day of the trip.

• Reportedly four in ten trips are to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

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• Children’s medical trip needs are significant, as reported by the Public Health Department, because most of their medical specialty needs are unavailable in Imperial County, so children and their families must travel to San Diego.

In terms of how the Med-Express program is meeting needs, Figure 14 shows the distribution of calendar year 2013 trips to various San Diego medical facilities. A total of 5,237 trips were scheduled during the year, or about 100 passenger trips per week. The majority were round trips to San Diego and back, or about 50 persons per week. Figure 14 shows that the largest proportion of trips are to Children’s Hospital, totaling 2,131 during 2013. Regular doctor appointments were the second highest destination with 1,260 trips. These were distributed around San Diego County, but were generally clustered near the medical facilities already visited by the Med-Express. UC San Diego Medical Center was the third most frequented destination with 921 trips in 2013.

Figure 14 - Med-Express Trips by San Diego Destination in 2013, n=2,131 Trips

Med-Express trips to San Diego’s VA Medical Center La Jolla numbered 129. It isn’t possible to know what number of these may have been persons in wheelchairs, but given that Med-Express provided 215 wheelchair trips, or 4% of all trips last year. Since the start of its pay-in-advance policy, more Med-Express seats have been filled. Med-Express administrators indicate they can substitute a larger bus if reservations exceed the capacity of its 15-passenger bus. No-show seats during the 2013 calendar year were 53 (2.5%) and cancelled trips were 95 (4.8%), reportedly fewer numbers than in previous years when passengers paid for the trip at the time of boarding. These are low no-show and cancellation rates.

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Other Medically Related Trip Concerns and Resources

Although the El Centro Regional Medical Center does use private taxis to assist getting patients home when discharged from the hospital, or following day surgeries or treatments, most taxis are not lift-equipped, making it difficult for persons in wheelchairs, as reported by hospital personnel. The VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic manager echoed the same in comments about the relatively high number of patients in wheelchairs they see, and that the DAV cannot provide transport to persons in wheelchairs traveling to San Diego and the VA Medical Center La Jolla. There were numerous other comments about the need to have more medical transportation to out-of-county destinations. These came from two City public works departments; hospital clinic and oncology personnel; County office personnel; the Area Agency on Aging director, among others. Clinicas de Salud has six clinics around Imperial County, some of which see 100 and more patients per day. Clinics are located in Calexico, El Centro, Imperial, Brawley, West Shores, and Niland. The program operates its own vehicle on a weekly semi-scheduled loop that travels between the clinics to bring patients into the central core for referrals or specialty appointments. The transportation is offered to persons with clinic appointments only, and some use the opportunity to do shopping or address other trip purposes.

Other Local Medical Trip Resources and Needs

Using Imperial Dial-A-Ride to get to medical appointments in Imperial and El Centro was reportedly working well for riders in a focus-group discussion. El Centro Regional Medical Center indicated that it uses local taxis to get some discharged patients home, specifically those who have no transportation or who may have come to the hospital by other means.

Fort Yuma Indian Reservation and Quechan Tribe Transportation Topics

On the Reservation

There are about 2,000 residents, including Quechan Tribal members, on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation along the eastern edge of Imperial County adjacent to Yuma, Arizona. About 40% are children and youth under age 19, about the same number are adults, and some 20% are elders, or senior adults. The tribe operates two vehicles for its seniors, bringing elders from around the reservation to the nutrition program and other activities at the Quechan Senior Center.

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The tribe is a member of the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA) and contributes to the planning, design and funding of YCAT transit services. The YCAT Blue Route or Quechan Shuttle operates hourly service six days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This circulator originates at the Yuma Transit Center, travels to the Paradise Casino around the Fort Yuma Reservation, to Winterhaven, the Quechan Casino Resort, and back. It is partly funded by federal Tribal Transit 5311© Funding. An intercity service, the YCAT Turquoise Route operates three times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. It connects Yuma, Winterhaven, and El Centro, supported by funding from Tribal Transit and ICTC sources. These services were developed, in part, in response to a 2008 Tribal Transit study conducted by the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), which documented tribal members’ mobility challenges. Many tribal families are transit-dependent, without a car, or with more adults than working vehicles. The local circulator, Blue Route into Winterhaven and also partially supported by ICTC, is valuable to tribal members to help them get to local shopping, movies or other services. Although it reaches many of the key destinations, it does not go far into the residential areas of the reservation. The local Employment Development Department provides classes for unemployed and underemployed persons and had attempted evening classes. The Blue Route’s last stop at 6:19 p.m. at the Quechan Community Center is not late enough to assist the transit-dependent who might otherwise use it for evening classes. There is interest in expanded service hours for this reason, and for evening recreation and shopping trips.

Tribal Trip Needs into El Centro

Quechan Tribal members reported needing to travel into El Centro, including the need for continuing lifeline levels of transportation into El Centro for Medi-Cal health services, Department of Motor Vehicles, the courts, and various social-service appointments. Tribal residents shop in both Yuma, Arizona and in El Centro, as there are a variety of stores and goods available in each community. Previously, Winterhaven and Quechan Tribal members could use only Greyhound to get to El Centro for

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$17 to $22, with inconvenient trip times. There have been generally successful efforts to connect with Med-Express to get patients to San Diego for medical appointments. A senior-center participant, who had used the Turquoise Route to travel to El Centro soon after it was initiated, was glad to hear that it added a stop to the Paradise shopping center at Target.

Fort Yuma Health Center

The Indian Health Service at Fort Yuma has two vehicles but can only afford a part-time driver. Previously there were two drivers and they were kept busy. At the peak of operation they were transporting about 100 people per month:

• About 75% to Phoenix, Arizona • About 10% to Parker, Arizona • About 10% to El Centro • About 5% to San Diego

Even with two drivers, Indian Health Service was never fully able to meet demand for these medical trips, most of considerable distance to specialty doctors and services. Now with just a single half-time driver, the service is assisting with only local transportation. The Fort Yuma Health Service clinic sees about 80 patients daily. More than one in ten (11%) are no-show appointments, with half of them reporting that it is due to transportation. Needs include a consolidated transportation directory of available transit in both California and Arizona, to and near the medical facilities to which patients are referred.

Veteran Tribal Members

For basic medical and behavioral healthcare services, Winterhaven veterans may use the VA Medical Center clinic in El Centro, at 1600 S. Imperial Avenue, or at VA clinics in Phoenix, Arizona. San Diego’s VA Medical Center is the primary in-patient facility for the region, and any acute care or specialty referrals for veterans will likely be there. The Marine Base in Yuma is reportedly taking Behavioral Health clients to San Diego for specialty appointments. Not uncommonly, tribal members report that veterans move away from the reservation if they need significant services, as with a recent returning service member (OEI/OEF) who moved with his family to Ontario, in part due to healthcare needs.

Winterhaven Township Trip Needs

Older adult residents of Winterhaven’s Rivers Edge RV Resort and recreation center were often described as transit-dependent. The Blue Route does not serve them, but many snowbirds are often without transportation unless they move their recreational vehicles. Families are often low-income and many are aging-in-place. Tribal members and YCAT staff reported a perception that this population is increasing.

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Transit Information Topics

Multiple agency personnel affirmed that riders and prospective riders are communicating via word-of-mouth and that it is the best way to pass along information about transit; however, agency personnel also indicated that they use the Internet to gather information on behalf of riders and would like to see improved transit information available.

• Current information at new transit centers, particularly the large signs at the new Brawley Transit in English and Spanish, is important to help users and new users find their way around.

• Presentation of transit information in English and Spanish is important, as are bilingual radio ads. Print materials are important, although fewer rely on printed matter.

• Brawley residents using Internet transit information more often is a perception reported by City staff, underscoring requests that current transit information be presented on the IVT website.

• A Trip Planner/Google Transit capability would be helpful to agency personnel to help understand which public transit is available to riders, and when and where they need to be.

• Periodic transit presentations of what is available would be helpful, for example at the 10 nutrition sites located around the County. This would be useful to consumers and staff, and particularly important given the many changes to the existing public transportation program in recent months.

• Bus-stop signage is missing at many stops, as verified by the IVT contractor, making it difficult for new passengers to feel confident they are waiting for the correct bus. Large prominently placed signs are effective.

• Quechan healthcare workers are interested in a combined transportation directory or inventory to assist them in helping patients who are referred to El Centro or San Diego.

Transportation Facilities Topics

Bus stop improvements—particularly signage, shelters and benches—were noted as “very important” by intercept-survey respondents, human service agency personnel, and echoed by City personnel and the IVT contractor. The Social Security office in El Centro is among the locations identified that need an effective bus shelter because many riders wait there for transportation. Effective transit information at the new transit centers in El Centro and Brawley, and eventually in Calexico, was noted by City staff, including interest in real-time bus information such as Next Bus.

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Sidewalk and pedestrian path-of-access concerns were raised by representatives of all targeted ridership groups, since transit users are also pedestrians for some portion of their trip. Bicycle and bike-to-bus improvements were commented upon by community college students who sometimes travel by transit, sometimes by bike, and sometimes by private auto to Imperial Valley College. The improvements could include building more bikeways and ensuring maximum bike-carrying capacity on transit vehicles. Expanded service requests or comments continue to address overcrowding on buses, particularly on IVT Route 1. From the City of Imperial, there was some interest in later evening service on the Dial-A-Ride by agency representatives working with older adults.

Existing Coordination Projects and Interests in Imperial County

Existing transportation coordination projects and interests were identified through the outreach processes. Key agencies and project areas include:

• The Imperial County Area Agency on Aging, currently publishes a directory of resources including transportation. The agency expects to continue to do so in English and Spanish, and ensure the information is updated annually. AAA personnel are interested in coordinating information tools and resources regarding transportation.

• Adult Day Care/El Centro DayOut and Brawley DayOut centers are willing to provide training to

IVT drivers about how best to work with riders who have Alzheimer’s and are frail and elderly.

• In-Home Supportive Services (IHHS) pays workers for time spent assisting enrolled consumers, and sometimes it involves providing clients with transportation. There has been less willingness to do so as the price of gasoline has risen. There could be some interest in a reimbursement program for mileage that could enable the enrolled IHHS customer to pay the IHHS worker for gas to provide escorted door-through-door transportation needed by some of the frailest.

• The Quechan Tribe has a working partnership with YCAT and is a voting member of the YCIPTA,

the regional organization for transportation planning and transit operations. The tribe’s federal transportation funding is grant-based, and demonstration funds that helped initiate the Quechan Shuttle will expire in the near term. For that reason, the tribe is interested in continuing dialogue with ICTC regarding coordinated transportation services to help connect tribal members with services and shopping in and around El Centro, as well as medical services in San Diego County.

• College and university planners are willing partners with transit, recognizing its importance for

largely transit-dependent student populations. The new program developing in Calexico with

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San Diego State is interested in considering how students travel into San Diego. Imperial Valley College administration has interest in continuing support of IVT service to campus, given the significant role it serves for students.

• The Imperial County Public Health Department also has significant trip needs, particularly for

children. It has some financial resources with which to work and is interested in working towards coordinated solutions and transportation partnerships.

• Culture of partnership and agency cooperation exists in Imperial County upon which to build

was evidenced through the multiple interagency arrangements that were described.

4.2 Consumer Intercept Survey An intercept-survey of 117 consumers and pedestrians was conducted in Imperial County over eight time periods during February and early March. AMMA team members distributed bilingual surveys at the following locations:

o Downtown Calexico, 1st Street and Heber o Grand Plaza Outlets o El Centro and Brawley senior centers o El Centro University of Phoenix o One Stop Centers in El Centro, Calexico, and Brawley o Center for Family Solutions o University of Phoenix

Team surveyors, who asked respondents to provide information about local travel, also asked about improvements to transportation choices that would assist them. Persons surveyed were provided with pens and clipboards.

Of the surveys received, 48% were completed in Spanish and 52% in English. Of the 117 whose responses were reported, some chose not to answer all questions.

About the Respondents

City or Community of Residency

Respondents were asked which city or community they currently live, and the majority resides in the City of El Centro (48 persons). The City of Calexico was second (40 persons), while the cities of Brawley (11) and Imperial (9) had fewer respondents (Figure 15). Two lived in the City of Heber. Of the seven respondents noting “Other Community,” six indicated they lived in Mexicali and one in Phoenix.

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Figure 15 - Intercept Survey: City of Residence

Education and Employment Status

Respondents surveyed were asked to best describe themselves in terms of employment, student status, or retired, as presented in Figure 16. Those who were employed either part-time or full-time were almost four in ten (39%) respondents. These individuals were evenly distributed between seasonal (15%), year-round (14%) or full-time employed (14%). The largest single group of 22 respondents reported they were employed higher-educated students, at 20%, while unemployed higher-educated students, was 10%, a combined student population of 30%. The second largest group of 20 respondents was not employed and not students, or 19%. Both high school or middle school students and retired residents were comparable in number (7%), which were the smallest groups among persons surveyed.

Figure 16 - Intercept Survey: Education and Employment Status .

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Age & Gender Figure 17 - Intercept Survey: Gender of Respondents

Over 50% of those surveyed responded to the Age and Gender questions. Among those who did, nearly 70% of them were female (39) and only 32% were male (18). Women reported ages ranging from 21 to 88 years old. Men reported ages between ages of 21 and 80. These questions were at the end of the survey and some individuals may not have had time or inclination to answer. Figure 18 below breaks down the ages of respondents. As indicated, there were no teenagers who provided their age, although there may have been some who completed a survey.

Figure 18 - Intercept Survey: Age of Respondents

Persons ages 31 to 40 represented the largest group, at 30% of respondents. Younger adults aged 21 through 30 had the second highest number of persons surveyed, at 26% of respondents. Older adults above age 60 represented 13% of respondents who provided the information.

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Transportation Used and Needed

Transportation Used by Trip Type

Respondents were asked, “What transportation do you use to travel to: Work, Medical, School, and Shopping or Personal Trips.”

As shown in Figure 19, persons surveyed most commonly chose “Drive Alone” as the main source of transportation for all trip types, as 47% to 52% of respondents indicated they travel alone to work, medical appointments, school, and shopping or recreational trip types.

Respondents who chose “Drive with Others” or “Ride the Bus” were between 20% to 33% of the respondents, with greater variation by trip type.

Between 9% and up to almost 20% of persons indicated they walk, and 9% to 12% reported other modes of transport for these trip types, noting that they borrow a car or take a taxi.

Figure 19 - Intercept Survey: How Do You Get Around For Certain Trip Types,

As Percentage of Responses by Trip Type

In terms of persons who indicated some degree of transportation dependency, because they rode with others, took the bus, or walked, the following observations were noted:

• For those driving with or riding with others, work trips (33%) are the most frequent purpose, followed by shopping trips (29%).

• For those riding the bus, trip purposes of all types—work, medical, school and shopping—were generally more evenly distributed: shopping (28%) was most noted, followed by work (27%), medical (26%), and school (27%).

• Walking trips were most frequently noted for work (18%) or school (18%).

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Rating of Personal Transportation Difficulty

Persons surveyed were asked to rate various trip types in terms of the difficulty for them or members of their households to making the trip. Numbers of respondents by trip type included shopping (95), work (94), school (76), and personal business (35). Options for rating included “Always Able to Get There,” “Usually Able to Get There,” “Can but Takes a Long Time,” “Sometimes Difficult Due to Lack of Transportation,” and “Often Difficult Due to Lack of Transportation.” Responses by trip type were:

• Among the 95 responses for shopping trips, 36% chose “Always Able to Get There,” 12% “Usually,” 17% “Can but Takes a Long Time,” while 23% chose “Sometimes Difficult” and 13% “Often Difficult” due to lack of transportation.

• Of 94 responses for work trips, 33% responded that they are “Always Able to Get There,” 18% noted “Usually,” 18% “Can but Takes a Long Time,” while 12% chose “Sometimes Difficult” and 19% “Often Difficult” due to lack of transportation.

• Of 76 responses for school trips, 33% responded that they are “Always Able to Get There,” 18% noted “Usually,” 17% chose “Can but Takes a Long Time,” with 18% noting “Sometimes Difficult” and 13% “Often Difficult” due to lack of transportation.

• Of 35 responses for personal trips, 29% responded that they are “Always Able to Get There,” 11% “Usually,” 23% “Can but Takes a Long Time,” with 17% noting “Sometimes Difficult” and 20% “Often Difficult” due to lack of transportation.

For persons who are transportation disadvantaged, shopping trips emerge as the most difficult due to a lack of transportation sometimes or often, for a combined 36% of respondents. Work trips follow as most difficult for a combined 31% of respondents, who noted it was sometimes or often difficult due to lack of transportation.

Figure 20 - Intercept Survey: Rating of Transportation Difficulty by Trip Type,

As Percentage of Responses by Trip Type

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Familiarity with Public Transit

Figure 21 - Intercept Survey: Transit Famliiarity Persons surveyed were asked how familiar they were with public transit in Imperial County. More than two-thirds, 37% (42 persons) responded as “somewhat familiar” and 33% (38) were “not very familiar” with Imperial County public transit. Eleven percent (12) were “not at all familiar with public transit,” and only 3% (3) chose not to give an opinion. Only 17% (19) are “very familiar,” which suggests that they are the regular users of transit among those surveyed; however, the following question indicates that there may be larger proportions of intercept-survey respondents are transit users.

Frequency of Ridership

Figure 22 - Intercept Survey: Public Transit Used Persons were asked if they have used public transit within a month before filling out the survey. Thirty-seven percent (42) reported using the Imperial Valley Transit. IVT had the highest overall rating of transit riders, compared to the other public transit services listed. Calexico Dial-A-Ride, with nine respondents (8%), was the second highest, followed by Imperial Valley Access and El Centro Dial-A-Ride with eight respondents (7%) each. Brawley Sunrise (3%), Imperial Dial-A-Ride (2%), and Med-Express non-emergency medical (2%) showed the lowest use among persons surveyed. Thirty-six percent surveyed responded using none of these

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services. Other sources of transportation consisted of personal vehicle, taxi, shuttles, senior transport, and Number Uno transit, which is no longer in service.

Source of Transportation Information

With responses from 110 persons, Figure 23 below presents responses to the question “How do you get information for public transportation in Imperial County?” Of these, 41% was the largest group (45 persons) that indicated they get their information from schedules or brochures. Recognizing that 48% of these surveys were completed in Spanish, this underscores the importance of bi-lingual transit information.

Persons using the Internet for online information were 17% of respondents, while 11% indicated they sought information over the phone. Just 3% of respondents indicate they use the IVT Hotline for information.

Getting information from family and friends was commonly reported, with a combined percentage of responses at 36%, indicating that family help a lot or sometimes in assisting with transportation information. One in four intercept-survey respondents (26%) indicated that they had not sought any public transit information.

About a quarter (26%) of participants have not sought public transit information because they own a personal vehicle.

Figure 23 - Intercept Survey: Transit Information Sources

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Improvements to Public Transportation

Surveyed persons were asked what type of public transit improvements would assist them, and 96 comments were offered by 71 persons or 60% of all persons surveyed. Figure 24 below depicts the categorized responses. The top segment shows the fixed route-related responses while the bottom half displays prioritized demand-response and related Dial-A-Ride comments.

Figure 24 - Intercept Survey: Suggested Improvement Comments

Increasing service frequency (22%) ranked first among suggested improvements received, with comments like “more buses,” “faster service” and “quicker service” commonly noted.

Expanding routes (19%) to bring buses closer to homes, to more shopping locations, and further into neighborhoods to shorten riders’ walks to bus stops, were the next most frequent comments.

Bus stop improvements were the third most common responses (13%). Frequently requested comments included shade, benches, and drinking fountains at more stops.

Information topics (10%) included requests for more schedules and brochures, pamphlets on buses, and available maps and information at bus stops.

Expanded service hours (7%) related to comments for more evening and weekend service, with just a single comment specifying more Sunday service. More places to purchase bus tickets were requested in 4% of the comments, while two respondents who indicated the bus was slow and late requested increased service reliability.

The second group of comments in Figure 24 above involves persons using wheelchairs and mobility devices, with 13% indicating they need improved wheelchair access. This may relate to problems of

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fixed-route buses being at capacity for persons in wheelchairs, given that some fixed-route buses become very crowded. Similarly, demand-response vehicles may sometimes be at capacity for wheelchair tie-down positions. It may also reflect the high number of clientele in wheelchairs.

Dial-A-Ride capacity issues, which included long waits for rides, were noted by 5% of commenters, with some additional demand-response topics that included driver assistance and driver rudeness concerns, long waits on the telephone to schedule a trip, and one who requested medical transportation.

4.3 Agency E-Survey Findings

To further develop the picture of mobility needs and gaps, an E-survey was crafted and targeted to human service agencies, public organizations and other entities with insight into the concerns of the transportation-disadvantaged clients. The distribution list consisted of approximately 126 email addresses to general agency staff, and an additional 375 email addresses to the Imperial County Office of Education. On three occasions during April and May 2014, agencies were invited to respond to the 22-question E-survey. It sought basic agency information, including descriptions of agency caseloads and daily on-site visits, transit service effectiveness, and the types of transportation needs communicated by customers. Information about transportation programs offered by agencies was also sought, contributing to the Coordinated Plan’s Inventory of Chapter 3.

About the Responding Organizations

A total of 44 individual responses were received from 29 agencies. Eight respondents were from the Office of Education. The survey was designed so that multiple agency caseworkers from the same agency could offer input and comment on the transportation needs of their customer base.

Table 11 presents the responding organizations and the number of respondents per that organization.

Table 11 - Agency E-Survey: Respondents

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Table 12 below presents the title of persons responding to the agency surveys, reflecting a breadth of organizational perspectives but also multiple agency heads, directors, or senior-level positions.

Table 12 - Agency E-Survey: Titles of Respondents

Figure 25 - Agency E-Survey: Agency Types As indicated in Figure 25, the responding organizations were predominately public agencies at 80% and 20% for private nonprofit. No tribal organizations or for-profit private agencies responded to this survey invitation. Consistent with the heavy representation of public agencies, 20 reported countywide service areas, including unincorporated areas of the county. Multiple city jurisdictions were reported. Three agencies specifically served the Winterhaven area, including the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation. Several were specific to their organizational focus: serving schools throughout the County Office of Education; sites served by the Migrant Education Program; or the various medical clinics, WIC sites, dental or after-hour clinics operated by Clinicas de Salud.

About the Constituents They Serve

Table 13 below reports the caseload figures and responses to survey questions about active clients on agency rosters who live within Imperial County. Given a total reported consumer base of almost 187,000 persons, there is likely some overlap among these agencies, many of which are public agencies that have overlapping constituencies.

20%

80%

Non-profits

Public agencies

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Less likely to be an overlapping number is the figure of nearly 12,000 persons traveling to agency sites daily. These survey respondents estimate that almost 9% of these persons or just over 1,000 daily visitors need transportation assistance.

Table 13 - Agency E-Survey: Number and Characteristics of Caseload

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Of the almost 12,000 persons traveling into sites daily, 9% or 1,064 persons are reported as in need of transportation. Among these, almost 2% or 186 persons are in wheelchairs and traveling daily. Notably, some agencies have considerably higher proportions of persons needing transit and/or using wheelchairs than shown by the overall averages. Even where these numbers are somewhat undercounted, it represents a significant number of daily travelers and lift-equipped trips in a relatively small geographic area, namely the core communities where most IVT transit services are provided.

Transportation Topics and Needs Reported

Agencies were asked to report on their familiarity with public transportation in Imperial County, specifically the programs of IVT, IVT Access, Med-Express and the city Dial-A-Rides. Figure 26 shows the majority of respondents (34%) report they are very familiar with fixed-route services and/or have contact information for the County’s various dial-a-ride programs. Slightly less (32%) indicate they are somewhat familiar and have a general knowledge of available public transportation.

Figure 26 - Agency E-Survey: Reported Familiarity with Public Transportation

Among those indicating they had no familiarity with public transit, which included five organizational respondents, was executive staff from the County Office of Education-Interagency Steering Committee, the Boys & Girls Club of Imperial Valley, the Imperial Workforce Development Board, and the Office of Education’s Special Education department. Such responses of “not familiar at all” represent opportunities to develop agency awareness and knowledge about how Imperial Valley transportation programs work, what services they provide, and where they operate. Agency representatives were asked how frequently consumers communicated certain types of trip needs. Figure 27 shows responses, sorted by needs communicated as “Often,” “Sometimes/Rarely” or “Not at All,” and reflecting 100% of agency responses.

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In terms of out-of-county trip needs, San Diego County was greatest in “Often” and “Sometimes” (42%) for trip needs communicated, while Yuma County, Arizona had the greatest proportion of “Rarely or “Not at All” indications (50%). Medical trips are top-ranked in terms of “Often” or “Sometimes” needed (almost 60%), with the smallest number of “Rarely or Not at All” indications. The responses for local medical trips and for regional medical trips are almost the same, with about 40% communicating “Often,” and cumulatively with the “Sometimes” responses, was almost 70% of respondent replies.

Figure 27 - Agency E-Survey: With what frequency are these trip needs communicated?

Door-to-door and door-through door assistance was the second-ranked need with about 23% reporting “Often” and cumulatively to 38% including “Sometimes,” which could involve either driver assistance or help from rider escorts. More transit service on Saturdays, Sundays and in the evenings was requested “Often” by 22% of survey respondents, with fewer requesting evening service. More Sunday had a slightly lower ranking of 20% by of respondents. Combined, “Often” or “Sometimes” needs included more Saturday service (38%), more evening service (32%), and more Sunday transit service (30%). In terms of the next tier of needs, agency representatives reported “Often” and “Sometimes” requests for the remaining trip types: College and adult education trips – 34%

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Bus stop improvements – 34% Work trips for agricultural workers – 34% Trips beyond the IVT service area – 34% Day care trips – 32% More seating/overcrowding – 25% Work trips – 16%

Project Responses

Agency representatives were asked about interest levels in four project areas, each with a minimum of descriptive language. Figure 28 reports that Enhanced Bus Stops or bus stop improvements received the most favorable response, with 55% of agencies indicating they were very or somewhat interested. Only slightly fewer, 52%, indicated they were very interested or somewhat interested in Transportation Coordinators at Nonprofit Agencies.

Figure 28 - Agency E-Survey: What level of interest do you have in these transportation projects?

Help Acquiring More Accessible Vehicles was rated 39% of responding agencies that were very interested or somewhat interested, while 38% responded accordingly for Mileage Reimbursement for Trips from Isolated Communities.

Reported to Barriers to Accessing Transportation

Among the barriers reported were:

• Availability of rural transportation, as reported by the Area Agency on Aging. • Youth group transportation needs, specifically to transport up to 50 youth on field trips and for

special events, as reported by the Boys & Girls Club. • Affordability of transportation, as reported by the Calexico School District.

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• Affordability of transit infrastructure, as reported by County of Imperial Public Works. • Funding availability for eastern Imperial County services, as reported by Yuma County

Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority. • Frequencies of public transit services, including expanded service areas and routes, as reported

by representatives of the cities of Brawley, Calexico, El Centro, and Holtville. • Frequencies of public transportation from eastern Imperial County, as reported by the Imperial

County Office of Education. • Increased hours of IVT Access service in the evenings and on weekends, as requested by Clinicas

de Salud. • Bus stops and bus stop amenities needed in Holtville, including shade, lighting, and drinking

fountains. • Closer bus pass purchase locations, reported as too distant and difficult for consumers to reach • Increased capacity on Med-Express, including more seats, more days of operation and

expanded service hours, as reported by the Imperial County Public Health Department. • Need for out-of-county transportation to locations in San Diego, Riverside, and Yuma counties. • Need for door-to-door and door-through-door escorts, including those traveling with the

frailest riders, as reported by the Imperial County Department of Social Services.

The In-Home Supportive Services (IHHS) program reports that one barrier to accessibility is providers who perform a number of tasks for enrolled program participants, but are increasingly unwilling to provide transportation without reimbursement due to the cost of fuel, particularly since many trips taken by patients are lengthy.

4.4 Workshop with SSTAC Members A March 2014 workshop with about 15 members of Imperial County Transportation Commission’s Social Services Transportation Advisory Committee (SSTAC) identified various mobility topics: Need for bus stop improvements along IVTs Blue Line

• No shade, none or too few shelters • Benches and shelters near Carrow’s Restaurant and the bowling alley, among other places;

some have benches but need shade from the sun.

Interest in continued and expanded partnership around YCAT’s Turquoise Route • Connecting to YCAT services to bring Winterhaven/Quechan Tribe members to El Centro • Potential for joint funding between YCAT and ICTC; opportunity for ICTC to contribute to

operating costs • Travel to the Paradise Casino from Winterhaven • Transit-dependent at the RV resort along River Park has limited or no transportation in the area.

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New college campus in Calexico, San Diego State University • Partnership for freshman students, enrolling 100 two-year students annually, or about 800

students overall. • Need for transit to San Diego, which IVT does not currently serve. • Need for transit from Heber for a cluster of students • Conceivably scheduling classes that can accommodate more transportation resources • Student assessments of transportation expense • SRTP’s longer term recommendation regarding student passenger fares

Children and Public Health medical appointment needs

• Out-of-county medical trips • Med-Express service issues with full capacity, no space • Public Health Department’s funding to assist with promoting medical transportation, using funds

to coordinate local transportation only • Getting appointments one week in advance but no seats available; at capacity 16-passenger

vans with 14 pay-in-advance passengers regularly filling seats • Difficult out-of-county appointment scheduling, with specialty clinics limited to certain days,

such as children’s services, and not always on the days when Med-Express has seats • Interest in partnership around transportation issues

City of Brawley Dial-A-Ride

• High ridership in the first two weeks of the month • Two eight-passenger buses with two wheelchair positions; need for more available tie-downs • Need for door-through-door assistance, which is difficult or impossible for public-transit

operators to provide Input from SSTAC members, as well as other stakeholders in the community, was used to compile the map presented in Figure 29, which shows current common destinations around Imperial County that are frequented by persons who are the focus of this Coordinated Plan—persons with disabilities, older adults, persons of limited means, and military veterans. Appendix C includes the specific destination names used to build this map.