Press Releases

For Immediate Release

Mobility Matters – MTC Examines Older Adult Travel Needs

CONTACT:

Connie Soper, MTC
510.817.5746

Catalina Alvarado, MTC
510.817.5783

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 18, 2002...The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) will host a "Mobility Matters" conference on the transportation challenges faced by older adults in the Bay Area on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter in the Lawrence D. Dahms Auditorium, 101 Eighth Street, Oakland, California (across from the Lake Merritt BART station).

The forum is intended to focus on the preliminary results from the Older Adults Transportation Study. The draft study outlines expected demographic changes, identifies barriers that limit the mobility of older adults and recommends ways to improve the mobility of older adults in the Bay Area.

Specific features of this year’s conference include: a keynote speech by Geraldine Earp, founding member of the Senior Action Network, a San Francisco-based advocacy group; highlights of MTC’s Older Adults Transportation Study by consultant David Koffman; an update on the 2000 Census by MTC Senior Planner Chuck Purvis; and a panel discussion featuring experts in senior transportation issues.

"The number of people aged 65 or older in the Bay Area will increase by 84 percent between 2000 and 2020. Growth will be even more pronounced in the 65 to 74 and the 85-plus age groups, both of which will mushroom by 108 percent. With this kind of graying in our population, we need to begin working now, to address seniors’ travel needs," said MTC Senior Planner Connie Soper, who is organizing the conference.

Those planning to attend the conference may obtain a free, advance copy of the draft Older Adults Transportation Study report from the MTC-ABAG Library by telephone (510.817.5836) or e-mail (library@mtc.ca.gov). The report also can be viewed on the MTC Web site at <www.mtc.ca.gov>.

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