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

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

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

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

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.

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 In 2005, SAFETEA-LU, the trans. Reauthorization bill was passed In addition to more funds for rural transit, there was a new program and two revisions to programs. In order to participate in these three programs, they had to be “included” in what was being called the Locally Developed Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan

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 Here are the three programs JARC New Freedom (the new one) And the Section 5310 AKA Specialized Transportation (in Ohio); The program for Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities (Federal name) and in the past known as the Section 16 program

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

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)

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 To clarify: For Large urban areas (over 200,000 in population) the designated recipients must be determined by local entities and then the Governor must make the designation using the Section 5307 process. For small urban areas (50,000 to 199,999) and Rural (under 50,000) the state is automatically the designated recipient.

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

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

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)

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 Same as JARC for designated recipients

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

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

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

Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program Funding Administered by the State (ODOT) Capital only - 80/20 (Federal/Local) All of this program is administered by the state with much assistance from most of the Metropolitan Planning organizatins in urban areas.

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

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”.

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

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

Tools and Strategies Community Planning Session Self Assessment Tool –Framework For Action Focus Groups Survey Detailed Study and Analysis Community may choose to conduct a lcoal planning session or sessions with a diverse group of stakeholders. This session would identify needs based on personal and professional experiences, identify strategies to address the needs and set priorities based on time, resources and feasibility for implementation. Helpful to have a facilitator. Could be conducted in conjunction with applicable mpo process. FFA also has a facilitators guide to move the group through the planning process after the assessments are completed and compiled Focus group could be used but must assure folks are including the broad cross section of stakeholders in the community and going through the entire assessment and identification process required. Survey design would also need to be sent to the broader group representative of the groups that are supposed to be involved. Accessibility would have to be taken into consideration when designing and disseminating the survey Local resources and inventories could be done through a thorough study of GIS mapping, through interviews and other research strategies. Time and funding are a consideration in doing this type of plan.

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 Passengers and advocates would include transportation advisory commitees and other representatives from advocacy groups that work on behalf of a targeted group Human service partners could include agencies that administer health programs, social service programs, employment one stops programs, medicaid, community action agencies, agencies on aging, DD councils, community service boards, etc. Others that could be identified would include security and emergency management agencies; economic development agencies; faith based and community based orgs, business reps like chambers of commerce, school districts, elected officials and policy analysts.

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

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.

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.

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

Questions????????