Transportation Coordination & Federal Transportation Administration Programs

1. Transportation Coordination & Federal Transportation Administration Programs Marianne Freed, MSW/LSW Office of Transit Ohio Department of Transportation Thursday, May 17, 2007 Ohio Job & Family Services Directors Conference

2. Ohio Statewide Transportation Coordination Task Force • Officially began in 1996 after a Federal Transit Administration meeting in Chicago • Membership includes upper and mid managers from various state departments and commissions • Additional member represents Metropolitan Planning Organization/Small Urban Transit System and Ohio Coordination Program project

3. Current Membership of the Task Force • Ohio Department of Transportation • Ohio Department of Job and Family Services • Ohio Department of Aging • Ohio Department of Mental Health • Ohio Department of MR/DD • Rehabilitation Services Commission • Governors Council for People with Disabilities • Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

4. Mission • Provide leadership that facilitates citizen mobility through the coordination of transportation resources and effect pro-coordination policy and communication at all levels.

5. Task Force Action Plan • Current Action Plan being implemented includes: • Outreach/educational activities • Exploration of Technological possibilities to assist with coordination efforts • Assessment of all current transportation programs used by the state departments and their associated regulations, rules, reports, etc.

6. SAFETEA-LU and the Locally Developed Plan • The Transportation Reauthorization Bill passed in 2005 • Includes additional funds for rural transportation program (5311) that is administered by the state • Added new programs • Revised some existing programs • Final Guidance for new & revised programs (with ties to the Locally Developed Plan) issued March 29, 2007 • Programs administered at the federal level by the Federal Transit Administration-USDOT

7. New and Revised Federal Transit Administration Programs • Job Access/Reverse Commute (JARC) • New Freedom • Section 5310 (has many names) • Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities • Specialized Transportation Program • Section 16 • Section 16(B)2

8. JARC-Section 5316 • Existing Program-Job Access • Connect low income to: • Jobs • Employment related training including education programs and pre-employment training programs

9. JARC-Section 5316 • Funding • Directly to large urbanized areas (over 200,000 in population) • From Discretionary to Formula; based on low income population in UZA • Operating 50/50 (Federal/Local) • Capital 80/20 (Federal/Local)

10. JARC-Section 5316 • Program Requirements • Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan” • Projects must be competitively selected by designated recipient or their designee

11. JARC-Section 5316 • Who Can Apply • Private non-profit organizations • Governmental authorities • City • County • MPO • Operators of public transit service • Private operators of public transit service

12. New Freedom-Section 5317 • New Program - Beyond ADA Requirements • Targeted toward people with disabilities • Program intent: • Improve public transit service • Provide transportation alternatives • Remove barriers

13. New Freedom-Section 5317 • Funding • Directly to large urban areas (over 200,000 in population) • Operating 50/50 (Federal/Local) • Capital 80/20 (Federal/Local)

14. New Freedom-Section 5317 • Program Requirements • Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan” • Projects must be competitively selected by the designated recipient or their designee

15. New Freedom-Section 5317 • Who Can Apply • Private non-profit organizations • Governmental authorities • City • County • MPO • Operators of public transit service • Private operators of public transit service

16. Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program • Existing Program • Elderly and people with disabilities: • Vehicle Acquisition • Equipment

17. Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program • Program Requirements • Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan” • Federal Program • Projects must be competitively selected

18. Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program • Funding • Administered by the State (ODOT) • Capital only - 80/20 (Federal/Local)

19. Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program • Who Can Apply for funding in Ohio • Private non-profit organizations • Public entities in areas: • Without non-profit organizations available to provide service • Lead in Ohio Coordination Program project

20. Federal Requirements • Section 5310, 5316 & 5317 applications “derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan”. • Designated Recipients will have to certify that the plan was “developed through a process that includes representatives of public, private and nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public”.

21. What are the REQUIRED elements of the Plan? • There are four outlined in the federal circular • Assessment of available services that identifies current transportation providers • Assessment of current transportation needs for persons with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes

22. What are the REQUIRED elements of the Plan? (Con’t) • Strategies, activities, and/or projects to address the identified gaps between current services and needs, as well as opportunities to improve efficiencies in service delivery • Priorities for implementation based on resources

23. Tools and Strategies • Community Planning Session • Self Assessment Tool –Framework For Action • Focus Groups • Survey • Detailed Study and Analysis

24. Who are the Transportation Stakeholders? • Area transportation planning agencies • Public transportation providers • Private transportation providers • Non profit transportation providers • Past or current organizations funded under the JARC or Section 5310 program • Passengers and advocates • Human service partners • Others

25. How Can Potential Partners Participate? • Large Urban Areas, contact your Metropolitan Planning Organization or your Urban Public Transit System. • Small Urban Areas, contact your small urban Metropolitan Planning Organization • Rural Areas, contact your county commissioners, your local public transit system or your Ohio Coordination Program lead agency. • Contact ODOT staff • Contact information for all of the above is on the ODOT website: www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans

26. Why Participate? • Advantages • You represent your customer base, public transit or human service provider, in their quest for mobility choices • Will assure that JARC, New Freedom and 5310 funds are used for meeting the particular and unique needs of the residents of your community. • Resources are limited for everyone and increasing efficiency through coordination makes sense.

27. Other Information • For Rural Counties, if the county commissioners are unaware and there is no local transit system or Ohio Coordination Project – contact ODOT • Some Rural Counties are either in an MPO urbanized area or are being included for the purposes of this plan.

28. Resources • www.dot.fta.gov • www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans • www.unitedweride.gov • www.ctaa.org

29. Questions????????