Coordinated Public Transit / Human Services Transportation Plan

2012 Coordinated Public Transit—Human Services Transportation Plan Update

September 2012
MTC is currently conducting an update to the Coordinated Public Transit–Human Services Transportation Plan (the “Coordinated Plan”). This Plan seeks to improve transportation coordination in the region to address the transportation needs of older adults, persons with disabilities and low-income individuals. The Plan will establish priorities to inform funding decisions for specialized transportation services.

Coordinated Plan Background

Based on requirements outlined in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA), MTC completed a Coordinated Plan in 2007 to identify regional funding priorities for FTA’s Section 5316 Job Access and Reverse Commute program (for low-income populations), Section 5317 New Freedom program (for persons with disabilities), and Section 5310 program (for seniors and persons with disabilities). Since the Plan’s adoption, over $33 million in funding coming to the Bay Area from these programs supported projects derived from the Coordinated Plan.

The Plan update will continue to focus on the needs of a broad range of transportation-disadvantaged populations in order to maximize opportunities to improve service coordination between public transit and human service transportation providers, even as these specialized federal programs and their respective coordination requirements have shifted somewhat under the new federal transportation authorization bill, MAP-21.

Coordinated Plan Update Activities

The 2012 Plan update will include a summary of existing transportation resources, document unmet transportation needs, and assess recent changes in the transportation service landscape for transportation-disadvantaged populations. New data from the Census Bureau will be incorporated, as well as innovative strategies from other statewide, regional, or local efforts. New information on veterans’ transportation programs will be included, and the designation process for Consolidated Transportation Services Agencies (CTSAs) will be clarified.

Inventory Update of Transportation Service Providers

One element of this Plan update includes the documentation of the available transportation resources within the region. A brief survey has been sent to a range of agencies that provide specialized transportation to collect basic information about those programs. While the resulting transportation inventory is not meant to be an exhaustive tool for coordination, it will support the documentation of current service parameters, geographic coverage and beneficiaries of the services. The survey will be available until October 31, 2012, and can be accessed at: www.MTCPlanUpdate.tk. We encourage transportation service providers to complete the survey.

How to Get Involved

Have ideas on how to improve public transit and human service transportation coordination in the region? Want to weigh in on how to prioritize regional transportation needs and solutions for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income users? You can participate in the Plan Update process. Sign up to receive email alerts here.

Comments can also be sent directly to Drennen Shelton at dshelton@mtc.ca.gov or mailed to:

Attn: Drennen Shelton
MTC
101 Eighth Street
Oakland, CA 94607

Next Steps: Draft Plan Release

Following initial outreach on updated regional needs and priorities, the public will also have the opportunity to provide comments on the Draft Plan Update, prior to Commission adoption of the Plan Update this winter.

If you need a sign language interpreter, if English is your second language and you need translation services, or if you require any other type of assistance please contact us by calling 510.817.5757 or 510.817.5769 for TDD/TTY. We require at least three days' notice to provide reasonable accommodations.

Si necesita un intérprete del lenguaje de señas, si el inglés es su segundo idioma y necesita un intérprete, o si necesita cualquier otra ayuda por favor comuníquese con nosotros al número 510.817.5757 o al 510.817.5769 para TDD/TTY. Requerimos tres días de anticipación para proveer asistencia razonable.