Enhancing the Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Access and Use of Targeted...
-
Upload
eustace-wiggins -
Category
Documents
-
view
214 -
download
0
Transcript of Enhancing the Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Access and Use of Targeted...
Enhancing the Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
Access and Use of Targeted Transportation Funds
August 17, 2015
2
Meet Your Presenters
Brian Baker, South Plains Community Action Association
Maurice Pearl, Citibus
Donna Smith, ESPA Consulting
Carol Wright, ESPA Consulting
Intended to enhance mobility
for seniors and persons with
disabilities by providing funds
for programs to serve the
special needs of transit-
dependent populations beyond
traditional public transportation
services and the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA)
complementary paratransit
services. 3
Section 5310 Program Goal
60% - Designated Recipients in Large Urbanized
Areas
20% - States for Small Urbanized Areas
20% - States for Rural Areas
4
Allocation of Funding
State may transfer funds between the small
urbanized areas and the rural areas and from these
areas to large urbanized areas, but it must certify the
needs are being met in the area where the funds
were originally apportioned
No provisions for transfer of funds from large
urbanized areas to small urbanized or rural areas
5
Transfer of Funds
• Administration Funds – no match required
• Capital Funds – 20% local match required
• Operating Funds – 50% local match required
6
Match Requirements
• Coordination among transportation and human service
providers
• In the development of the Coordination Plan,
there must be active participation by older
adults and individuals with disabilities
• There must be representation from public, private and
non-profit transportation providers and human services
transportation providers
7
Program Requirements
• Plan must be coordinated to the maximum extent
possible with transportation services funded by other
federal departments and agencies
• All funded projects must be included in the
Coordinated Plan.
8
Program Requirements
• Section 5310 projects are designed to fill gaps in
public transit services for older adults and individuals
with disabilities when public transportation is
insufficient, inappropriate, or unavailable.
• Projects that go “above and beyond”
what is required under the
Americans with Disabilities Act
9
Eligible Projects
• Projects should improve access to fixed-route
services and decrease reliance on ADA
complementary paratransit.
• “Traditional” Section 5310 projects
(generally capital purchases)
• Projects that were eligible previously under New
Freedom funding (Section 5317)
10
Eligible Projects
• 55% MUST BE used on capital purchases
• Up to 45% CAN BE spent for operating expenses
• AT MOST, 10% is allowed for administration and to
provide technical assistance
11
Eligible Expenses
The Survey
• Conducted in August & September 2014
• Received 188 responses
People with disabilities • 63 respondents (33.5%)
Individuals representing organizations• 125 respondents (66.5%)
Key Findings
• Interests of people with disabilities most often represented by human service providers instead of people with disabilities
• 68% of respondents are not satisfied with the level of involvement of people with disabilities
Barriers to Involvement
• Transportation to meetings
• Lack of effective outreach
• Apathy
• Timing of meetings
• Need for education about planning
• Lack of access at the meetings
Solutions• Involve people with disabilities early in the process
• Apply for positions on transportation boards, commissions and planning committees
• Hold meetings at disability organization locations
• Teach about holding accessible meetings
• Learn about the planning process
• Under MAP-21, Mobility Management is an eligible
capital expense under Section 5310
• Must be carried out by eligible subrecipients
• Must be planned, designed and implemented to meet
the needs of older adults and individuals with
disabilities
16
Mobility Management
17
Mobility Management
Making a commitment to solve as many transportation needs as empathetically, creatively, and efficiently as possible.
Includes:• Tracking unmet transportation needs• Fostering existing and building new
partnerships• Being a resource to the community• Improving and expanding transportation
services
18
Voucher Programs
Funding agency provides vouchers to eligible recipients:
• To be used to purchase rides from a specific transportation provider, or
• Recipients choose transportation provider who then submits vouchers for reimbursement
19
Travel Training
Travel training programs include:• Orientation to the transit system• Group trips on transit as training• One-to-one training for teaching travel skills
Examples of Texas programs:• DART (Dallas) • DCTA (Denton) • El Metro (Laredo)• Panhandle ILC (Amarillo)• VIA Metro (San Antonio)• East Texas CIL (Tyler)
20
Wheelchair Accessible Taxis
• Capital expense to purchase accessible
taxicabs
• Increases mobility for people with disabilities and older
adults
• Increases business for both public and private transit
providers
• Can be very effective when combined with a voucher
program
21
Gap-Filling Projects • Focuses effort and funding on
satisfying unmet need
• Reduces opportunity for duplication of service
• Increases mobility for older adults and people with disabilities
• Mobility Options Project
Coastal Bend CIL
Corpus Christi, TX
22
Innovative Uses of Technology
Fast-growing area of interest and research
Direct applications include:
• Automated stop announcements
• Smartphone apps for travel supports
• Applications to improve scheduling and customer contact
• One-call/one-click centers
23
Coordination
• Regional coordination across communities, cities, counties, and state lines
• Top down model initiated at the state level such as in Texas
Thank you!
1425 K Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
(844) 277-3772
www.projectaction.com