1. Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Transit
Locally Develop Plan Development Workshop
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Purpose of today’s workshop is to introduce the Locally Developed Coordinated Public Transit-Human services transportation plan, starting with a history of why is exists, then an overview of the three FTA programs that require the plan for funding eligibility and then a review of the requirements of the plan.

2. SAFETEA-LU The Transportation Reauthorization Bill passed in 2005
Added New Federal Transit Administration Programs
Revised some existing programs
Final FTA Circular issued May 1, 2007
9070.1F-
History
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.
SAFETEA-LU is the reauthorization bill that was passed in 2005.
As a result, in order to participate in three programs in SAFETEA-LU, projects had to be derived from the Locally Developed Coordinated Public Transit Human Services Transportation Plan.
Final guidance issue in May 2007 allowed us to proceed with the new programs, but we started earlier on the plan and made available one time planning dollars.

3. 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
A.K.A.-Section 16 or 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 and New Freedom were rolled out yesterday.
Section 5310 or the Specialized Transportation Program is being reviewed now and the final awards should be announced in April. The next round of applications should be this fall. There may be changes to this program to includes other eligible activities as provided by the Federal Transit Administration. This is, still, primarily a capital program, but FTA allows some other activities to be defined as capital projects such as hiring of Mobility Managers and some purchased transportation service. ODOT has traditionally limited this program to just the purchase of vehicles and equipment directly associated with the vehicles such as radios and computers for scheduling/dispatching.

4. JARC-Section 5316 Connect Welfare recipients and low income to:
Existing Program-Job Access
Connect Welfare recipients and low income to:
Jobs
Employment related training including education programs and pre-employment training programs
Intent is to provide job and job related transportation to welfare recipients and low income individuals.
Job related transportation can include training, post secondary educations, Adult Basic ed programs, licensing activities, job search activities – anything that will help someone get and keep a job.

5. JARC-Section 5316
Funding
Directly to large urbanized areas (over 200,000 in population)
To ODOT for Rural and Small Urban Areas (under 200,000 in population)
From Discretionary to Formula; based on low income population in UZA
Large urbanized areas have their own allocation
Small Urban and rural allocation goes to the state O.R.C. designates ODOT
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.

6. JARC-Section 5316… Operating 50/50 (Federal/Local)
Capital 80/20 (Federal/Local)
Planning 80/20 (Federal/Local)
This is the match requirements. Project specific planning is an eligible cost for a JARC program.

7. JARC-Section 5316 Federal Requirements
Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan”
Procurement
Drug & Alcohol Testing
Department Of Labor
Reporting
We will spend more time on the plan later in the presentation since the primary intent is to discuss the plan and answer questions about getting a plan done.
I am listing the information on they types of federal requirments associated with the JARC program but they are not something to be concerned about unless you expect to have a plan completed and adopted by April 30, 2008 which is the deadline for applications for this program.

8. Ohio JARC-Section 5316 Who Can Apply
Public Entities providing Public Transit service
Private non-profit designated by public to provide Public Transit service
Public entities who are recipients of Ohio Coordination Program
Mention that this is how the OHIO program for small urban and rural areas is configured

9. 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

10. New Freedom-Section 5317 Funding
Directly to large urban areas (over 200,000 in population)
To ODOT for Rural and Small Urban Areas (under 200,000 in population)
Operating 50/50 (Federal/Local)
Capital 80/20 (Federal/Local)

11. New Freedom-Section 5317 Federal Requirements
Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan”
Procurement
Drug & Alcohol Testing
Reporting
Same as JARC for designated recipients

12. Specialized Transportation Program- Section 5310
Existing Program to provide services to:
Elderly and people with disabilities:
Vehicle Acquisition
Equipment
There may be some changes to this program for next year including additional eligible activities.

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

14. Specialized Transportation Program- Section 5310
Funding
Administered by the State (ODOT)
Capital only - 80/20 (Federal/Local)
Currently Exploring Revisions to the Program to allow more Flexibility
All of this program is administered by the state with much assistance from most of the Metropolitan Planning organizations in urban areas.

15. 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

16. 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”.

17. 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

18. 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

19. What are the REQUIRED elements of the Plan? (Con’t)
“Plans must be developed in good faith in coordination with appropriate planning partners and with opportunities for public participation.” (Page V-2, FTA C F, 5/1/2007)
“The lead agency, in consultation with participants, should identify the process for adoption of the plan.” (Page V-7, FTA C F, 5/1/2007)
The plan should be updated through a regular update cycle, as identified in the Plan.

20. 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.

21. 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-Anyone interested in Transportation for Target Populations
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.

22. How Can You Develop a Plan?
Rural Areas, contact your county commissioners to be designated as the lead agency.
Contact ODOT staff for specific assistance and technical assistance
ODOT will assist with Plan Kickoff Presentations
Contact information for all of the above is on the ODOT website:

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. Resources www.dot.fta.gov www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans
Other resources also available on the hand out.

26. Questions