Georgia Transit Association RHST Coordination Session
GDOT Update to the Statewide HST Coordination Plan
Steve Kish, GDOTDecember 2, 2010
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Statewide RHST Coordinated Plan
Update
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Statewide Coordinated Plan Update Focus is on better Coordination of Rural Public
and Human Service Transportation (RHST)◦ Transportation for older adults, persons with
disabilities and persons with low income, including: Agency-funded transportation, such as transportation
to/from program activities Rural public transit Non-emergency medical transportation
Locally Appropriate and Feasible Structures Work where possible within Existing Structures RHST Program Support is Based on a Wide
Range of Funding Programs
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RHST Plan Update
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Stakeholder Involvement◦ Top Down – Key State Agencies GDOT, DHS and DCH◦ Bottoms Up Approach – regional workshops
Needs Assessment◦ RHST Workshops in all 12 regional commission areas◦ Assess RHST coordination within the Regions
Alternatives Analysis◦ RHST Workshops in all 12 regional commission areas◦ Discuss Potential Regional HST Coordination Approaches
Preferred Alternative◦ Work with Regions on regionally tailored RHST plans◦ Work with State Agencies on statewide RHST coordination efforts
reporting, payment, inspections, driver qualifications and training Pilot Projects
◦ Three approaches to assist Regions in moving RHST coordination plans forward
Administrative – Improved Efficiencies◦ Service Bundling◦ Inter-Agency Cooperation◦ Regional Approach◦ Coordinated Reporting Systems and Requirements
Operational – Improved Service Quality◦ Vehicles – Purchase, Insurance, Maintenance◦ Insurance◦ Service Delivery – IT & Scheduling Software◦ Utilization
Funding – Making the Dollars Stretch◦ Bundling◦ Service Payment◦ Ensure wise and efficient use of public funding ◦ Leverage new funding to attract additional federal funds◦ Sustainable Sources
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RHST Plan Update - Three Themes
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Why Change Now? Growing Demand for HST
◦ Aging population, people with disabilities↑
◦ New populations eligible for service: 500,000 new Medicaid by 2019
Growing transit-dependent populations
More transportation-intensive services
Poor economic conditions, budget cuts,
and reduced staffing
Opportune time to review GA’s HST network
0%25%
50% 75%100%125%
Total Under 18 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+
Age Group
Projected Change for Age Groups between 2010 and 2030 in Georgia
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Why Change Now? Demographic Changes
◦ Aging in place, community-based services
Economic Challenges◦ Individual and household
budgets constrained
Systemic Challenges◦ Budget constraints, staff
reductions
Growing transit-dependent populations
More transportation-intensive services
Poor economic conditions, budget cuts,
and reduced staffing
Opportune time to review GA’s HST network
Regional Issues and Success Factors
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Phase For the Customer For the Service ProviderPhase 1 Creation & dissemination of
centralized directory One-stop access for information
Facilitation of sharing policies and practices (e.g., grant applications, vehicle specifications, training curriculum)
Phase 2 Referrals and rudimentary trip planning
Local user-side travel vouchers or taxi subsidy programs
Fare and/or mileage reimbursement
Local sharing of support staff and resources Joint purchasing of fuel, maintenance,
insurance, vehicles, software/hardware, etc. Centralization of resources (e.g., back-up
drivers, volunteer drivers, escorts, bus buddies)
Co-sponsorship of local operations
Phase 3 Enhanced trip planning One-stop for requesting trips Trip boards for unsponsored trips
Multiple agency trips on same vehicle Seat filling / coordinating schedules Purchasing service from a “common” provider Consolidation of call center functions Consolidation of operations
Coordination Elements
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Tailored Approaches, not a one size fits all Funding Program Reporting Requirements Lack of Consistent Fee Structure Vehicles - purchase, insurance, maintenance Vehicle Utilization Administrative Scheduling and Reporting Software
Regional Commission Key Issues
Collaborative Partnership between DOT, DHS, DCH and Others as Appropriate
Merge HST with Rural Public Transit Using “bundled” Funds as Program Revenue
Financial Support and Partnership from Cities and Counties
Passenger Fares Provide Some Revenues Centralized Reporting - Regulations Potential Mobility Management Approach Identified Champion
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Other Region/State: Keys to Success
Georgia Success Stories \
Regional Approaches to Coordinated Service
Delivery
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Mobility Manager(s)
Purchases services from provider(s)Schedules and dispatches trips using software (and ‘know how’) to determine most cost-effective and convenient way to provide transportationPays providers using the correct mix of funding sourcesMonitors service qualityResponsible for reporting
Provider
Provider
Provider
Provider
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Mobility Manager A
Role of the Mobility ManagerDOT- 5311 Funds
DHS - 5310 FundsDHS- Other Human
Service FundsDCH- Medicaid Funds
Regional Coordinating Council
Mobility Manager(s)
Purchases services from provider(s)Pays providers using the correct mix of funding sourcesMonitors service qualityResponsible for reporting
Provider
Provider
Provider
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Mobility Manager B
Role of the Mobility ManagerDOT- 5311 Funds
DHS - 5310 FundsDHS- Other Human
Service FundsDCH- Medicaid Funds
Regional Coordinating Council
Schedule/dispatch tripsCoordinate amongst selves to provide tripsProvide trips
Role of the Providers
Region Quick Facts• 14 Counties
• Primarily rural• Largest city is Albany 76,000 residents (US 2008
Census
Region Accomplishments• Achieved coordination on Multiple Fronts
• Administration and Oversight• Funding Streams• Service Delivery
• Developed capacity throughout region• Strong network of operators
• Consolidated administrative and management resources and functions
• High level of professionalism• Simplified customer system
• Especially for Medicaid
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Case Study: Southwest Georgia
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Southwest Georgia RegionAdministration and Oversight
SWGRC is Central Administrator and Service Broker• DHS, DCH and (most) GDOT Funding is coordinated through SWGRC
• Applies for and manages funding• Allocates payment of funds to transportation providers (based on trips)• Ensures compliance with federal requirements• Handles all reporting and oversight
• SWGRC manages a call center and brokerage for DCH (NET Medicaid)• Assigns trips based on rider needs and trip origin and destination• Simplified access for clients and customers
• Services are concentrated around five providers.• Four providers are managed by the SWGRC
• Through contracts or direct oversight• Ensure compliance
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Case Study: Coastal Georgia
10 Counties Largest urbanized area outside
of the metropolitan Atlanta region◦ 638,254 population (2009)
35 cities Military Installations 49% increase in the area’s
population between now and 2030 Over 65 population
◦ 11% currently◦ 19% by 2014
Coastal Regional Commission ◦ Single recipient of transportation funds◦ Coordinates regional (local) funding contributions◦ Staffs Regional Transportation Commission◦ Participation from all 10 counties
DHS and public transit funding coordinated Results in regional rather than local system Single call-in number for individuals needing
rides◦ Directed to appropriate provider based on
geography
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Coastal Georgia Coordinated Funding
10 Counties 2 counties — Coweta and Spalding — in
Atlanta Regional Commission MPO boundaries
∘ 58% increase in population between now and 2030
∘ 22% over 65 by 2014
Public Transit Operators (also DHS operators): Heard Transit Heard Transit Troup Transit Coweta County Transit Three Rivers Transit System
∘ Butts∘ Lamar∘ Pike∘ Spalding∘ Upson
DHS-Only Operator∘ Quality Trans∘ Meriwether & Carroll
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Three Rivers
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Three Rivers Transit Operations Coordination
RC is central administrator for the regional transit program (all providers).
∘Monitors all work done by the Third Party Operator (COATS)
∘Compliance with state and federal regulations Regional transit system – Three Rivers Transit
SystemParticipating counties have annual agreements
with the RC, and pays their share of projected transportation funding
Working towards expanding regional transit system and services
Thank you!
Project Contact info:◦ Steve Kish, GDOT, [email protected]◦ Daniel Foth, CHA, [email protected]
Closing Comments
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