Lower Savannah Council of Governments Aging, Disability and Transportation Resource Center

1. Lower Savannah Council of Governments Aging, Disability and Transportation Resource Center Land-of-Sky Regional Council Transit Operators Group Meeting January 8, 2013

2. Lower Savannah COG • Planning and development agency • LSCOG’s region = 6 counties in South Carolina - “urban”/rural • Designated by SCDOT to develop and facilitate a coordinated regional transit network • 11 years of active work in development of ADTRC • Staff worked with local providers to develop new public transit service in 4 counties • Purchased fixed-route and human service transportation by contracting with local providers

3. LSCOG’s Transportation Role Lower Savannah Council of Governments houses the MPO and is the lead organization for regional transit development, enhancement and coordination • Acting Administrators of several streams of transit funding (FTA 5307, 5316, 5317, 5310, 5311) (previously received ARRA and other federal funds) and OAA Title III) • LSCOG is the urban transit planning agency working with the MPO; direct recipient for Aiken’s urban transit funds and for Orangeburg/Calhoun rural transit funds, providing public transit in these counties through local contracts • LSCOG purchases services of services through 5310 • Purchases Services and Administrates OAA Title III transit through contracts • Houses Regional transit planners and coordinators • Employs Mobility Managers

4. History of the ADRC • In 2003 LSCOG worked with SC State Unit on Aging to apply for national funding to become an ADRC .(First of 12 ADRCs) • LSCOG Added Transit Component to that in 2005 IR&A through a 2005 CMS Systems Transformation Grant • Competed for and won MSAA planning grant from USDOT/RITA/FTA • Matched that with CMS grant dollars

5. History (continued) • 8 MSAA grantees competed for 3 implementation grants – LSCOG was chosen as 1 of the 3. • Additional FTA funds integrated technology elements in the design, along with MSAA dollars which were - matched with CMS funds. • New one-call-coordination center named Aging, Disability, and Transportation Resource Center – brought together human services and transit IR&A and mobility management services.

6. “ADTRC” = One-Call/Coordination Center • Integrates human services, transit information, assistance and other local coordination into one-call center • Equips and supports local transit provider partners in adding new technology and new practices for better service • Works with local transit providers to overcome barriers to coordination among agencies, funding sources and geographic boundaries • Overcomes barriers to coordination among agencies, funding sources and geographic boundaries • Develops & enhances transit services and resources throughout the region

7. Provides transit information, assistance and mobility management services to the public Schedules transportation with local providers Facilitates work among local providers to streamline operations and coordinate business practices Provides technology for vehicles to link public and human service transit agencies into a regional coordinating network Leads testing/tweaking/mastery of new technology by local transit Facilitates coordination of out-of-area trips among agencies and funding streams

8. Providers: Changing the way they operate as they incorporate new technology in operations Working as a part of a network to try to coordinate more out-of-area trips Some are turning over mobility management functions to LSCOG’s new ADTRC All have right of refusal and final scheduling authority over which trips they accept and perform Additional partnering agencies can participate without full technology

9. Technology for Transit Providers Automated vehicle location/mobile data computers on board vehicles region-wide/ flexible manifests Regional Route Match upgrades and training to streamline staff work Ability to reduce no-shows with automated out-bound trip reminder calls tied to Route Match and on-board equipment Digital radio communication Coordination of out-of-area trips Training Events Floodgate Messaging (not completed) Interface with Medicaid NET brokerage trip assignments into Route Match

10. Integration of Resources • The ADTRC • Cross-trained staff of 15 who can answer a range of questions • Uses internet-based telephone system to streamline direction of calls by topic to most appropriate staff • Integrates funding from a variety of human services and transit sources for sustaining operations, matching FTA funds with non-FTA funds for mobility management, planning, TA and administration. • Mobility Management is treated as capital with an 80/20 match ratio.

11. ADTRC Includes: Area Agency on Aging Long Term Care Ombudsman Family Caregiver Support Help with Medicare (including Part D) Benefits and Options Counseling and In-Depth Information Referral and Assistance Evidence Based Wellness Programs Medication Assistance Program Mobility Management Assistance for the public Administration of transit systems in three of six counties; purchase of service of section 5310 transit and older Americans Act service programs in all counties Lead agency for facilitation of regional transit coordination

14. Cross Trained I&R/Mobility Managers 1 Director of Human Services 1 Grants Manager 5 Full Time Phone Operators Staff funding sources are mobility management funds, aging funds, Medicare I&R funding from SCDOT, FTA Region IV, Aging Office

15. ACapital Investment $2.9 million: MSAA (USDOT)(FTA) Urban and rural FTA/SCDOT mobility management and capital equipment funds matched by CMS Systems Transformation grant Urban FTA ARRA funds built 3000 square foot wing to house the new ADTRC

17. By offering integrated services, using cross-trained staff, they leveraged funding sources to provide matching funds and sustainability • CMS, Aging and I&R dollars helped to purchase technology equipment and are helping to match FTA mobility management funds.