HSTP PLAN DEVELOPMENT Skagit-Island Human Services Transportation Plan July 10, 2014

HOW ARE HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLANS (HSTP) DEVELOPED?

CURRENT ISLAND-SKAGIT HSTP (2010) Outline: Documentation of Existing Service Demographic Profile Stakeholder Involvement Service Gaps Assessment Coordination Initiatives Policies Programs Projects

Skagit and Island Transit Fixed route Paratrasit and demand responsive Vanpool Seniors Client Based Medical Veteran Tribal Private Provider WSF Long-distance Basic inventory of the wide variety of transportation service available: DOCUMENTATION OF EXISTING SERVICE UPDATE

Highlight important population characteristics pertinent to this plan DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE Older adults Persons with disabilities Low-income persons REVISE Using this data a ‘Need Index’ will be developed to help identify areas with the greatest need for transportation services.

Advisory committees bring many benefits. Committees bring a spectrum of stakeholders together to identify, prioritize and solve problems. Committees are also key in engaging special needs users due to their close relationship with many of the target users. The Committee will be key for getting the word out. Committee STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT To engage with special needs populations two listening sessions (one in each county) will be held, ideally in concert with an event where special needs populations are already present. Additionally, an online and print survey will be developed to gather feedback from those with special needs. Listening Session and Survey To have direct contact with system users and operators in the field a “ride along” will be conducted with the project team and potentially some committee members. Observations from the ride along will provide valuable context. Ride AlongREVISE Other Based on SCOG resources, additional stakeholder involvement may be conducted

Access to information and customer perception of the service is essential for users to access services. Ensuring information about service is available at key touch points like through “one- stop” shops like 411, case managers, medical institutions, community- based services or volunteer programs are important. Awareness SERVICE GAPS ASSESSMENT Operational needs are those challenges faced by service providers. Fleet maintenance and funding for operations are the predominant need but mobility management and coordination of service with other entities is also an important concern for operators. OperationsREVISE Customer needs and gaps are those that the users of human services transportation directly feel. They include unserved or underserved geographic areas, cross- jurisdictional travel, access to the system, service capacity, safety and general service expansion. Customer

“Policy recommendations can serve as a ‘game plan’ for transit operators and municipalities to pursue greater incorporation of human services transportation needs into local or regional policies…” Example: Organize an information clearinghouse Policies (Goals) COORDINATION INITIATIVES “Programs are intended to help break down institutional barriers that the federal government and advocates as a primary contributor to transportation system characterized as disjointed.” Example: Maintain current levels of service. Programs (Objectives) “ Projects are typically defined as capital or operations within the context of a transportation service provider… whereby projects are an out- growth of certain programmatic initiatives.” Example: Build facilities to transition paratransit riders to fixed route transit Projects (Measures)UPDATE

ADDITIONAL ITEMS Funding sources both local, regional, state and federal are key for maintaining and growing human services transportation. An update on funding sources and the greater importance of performance measures will be discussed. FundingUPDATE The statewide HSTP identified that few regional HSTPs discussed previously implemented or funded projects. This made it difficult to assess if projects delivered on their goals an objectives and missed out on an opportunity to share lessons learned. Review of Past Projects Another gap in HSTP planning identified by the statewide plan was a lack of a clear project prioritization process. All plans presented a project list but very few identified the process in which those projects were prioritized. Clearly identifying this process add clarity to why high- priority projects were selected. Clear Prioritization Process

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