Stacy Clauson, WSDOT Community LiaisonMay 2, 2018

Coordinated Public Transportation -Human Services Transportation PlanningH u m a n S e r v i c e s Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n n i n g ( H S T P ) C o m m i t t e e

Transportation: Quality of Life

Mobility Challenges

Getting from A to B…

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Geography

Coverage

Schedules

Information

ServiceConnections

Jurisdictional Boundaries

Infrastructure

Local Rural Mobility ChallengesSenior Population – High Proportion of Population in Central Whidbey

Limited Services are Reachable in 60 minutes by Public Transportation

Other Local Mobility ChallengesLow Income – High Proportion of Population in North Whidbey

Even in more populous area, travel can be challenging

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Goal of Planning Effort

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How does it connect to funding?

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FTA Section 5310 funds must be contained in a locally developed coordination plan

Use to determine local funding priorities and support applications for funding under WA State Consolidated Grant Program

What does it involve?

Understand existing network of

transportation providers

Understand where people need to travel to

and from Identify unmet needs and service gaps for target populations

Identify range of strategies, activities and services that are

needed to meet unmet needs and service

gaps

Prioritize implementation

strategies based on locally-based criteria

and with representation from special

transportation needs population

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Who is involved?

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WSDOT: • Technical Assistance• Support RTPO coordination activities• Grantor for Consolidated Grants Program• Collect and Integrate Local Plans into Statewide Plan

Island County: • Coordinate involvement of organizations, agencies,

institutions and transportation service providers• Collect data (existing services, common origins/destinations,

demographics)• Guide prioritization process• Prepare final plan

Users and representatives of special transportation needs population: • Provide first-hand knowledge of existing services, unmet

needs and gaps• Develop strategies to meet public transportation needs• Rank the preferred projects• Sponsor a project

Draft IRTPO Regional Transportation VisionIsland Region’s transportation system provides a full range of efficient, reliable, well-connected travel choices for residents and visitors, and supports the mobility needs of the region’s businesses. Transportation enhances overall quality of life, public health, rural sense of place, and economic wellbeing for the Island Region today and for generations to come.

Draft IRTPO Regional Transportation Equity GoalPromote expanded options and innovative solutions that enable all people to have access to their daily needs and maintain mobility independence.

How does it connect to Regional Planning?

Island County Community Health Improvement Plan (2017-2020)• Strengthening Access to

Health Care is one of 4 core priorities

• Lack of transportation options to existing services was identified as a common barrier throughout process.

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Opportunity Council’s 2015 Prosperity Report• Transportation costs of fuel, car

repairs, insurance price of ferry fares are significant problems for nearly half of respondents.

• Households with the lowest income are much more likely to rely on transit services.

• Limited bus routes, operating time, and access due to disability create bus use barriers for many respondents.

How does it connect to Regional Planning?

Coordinated Public Transportation -Human Services Transportation Planning• What’s New?

– Greater emphasis on meaningful outreach and coordination• Ensure representation from seniors; individuals with disabilities; public,

private, and nonprofit transportation and human service providers; and others with special transportation needs in:

– Discussing the community needs, and – Developing and prioritizing projects for WSDOT’s 2019-2021

Consolidated Grant program.– Greater emphasis on Emergency Management Coordination– Integration of technology-based solutions into state and regional Intelligent

Transportation Systems (ITS).

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WSDOT Consolidated Grant Process

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Who can apply?

• * Minimum Federal Match Share:– Operating: 50%– Capital: 20%– Mobility Management: 20%– Planning: 20%

• * Match from local sources: Min. 5% for new projects, 10% for sustaining projects

FTA 5310*

FTA 5311*

FTA5339*

Special Needs

Rural Mobility

Urban Public Transit X X X

Rural Public Transit X X X X

Nonprofit Organizations X X X X X

Tribal Governments X X X X X

Other General or Local Governments

X X X X X

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WSDOT Consolidated Grant Process

The following four project proposals from the Region’s 2016 HSTP Plan were partially funded by WSDOT for the 2017-2019 biennium:• Island Transit - Sustain Island County Connector services (Operations)• Island Transit - Establish Mobility Management Specialist position for outreach

program (Mobility Management)• Island Transit - Replace seven medium-duty, truck-chassis-built cutaway buses

(Capital)• Island Transit - Replace five light-duty, van-chassis-built cutaway buses (Capital)• Island Transit - Replace two heavy-duty, 30-foot buses (Capital)

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Examples from other regions – Nonprofit Operations

Coastal Community Action Program in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties operates the Driven to Opportunity program:• Provides rides for qualified low income, TANF

recipients and individuals with special needs who are unable to access the public transit system due to route and schedule limitations.

• The clients are connected to work-related sites, including job sites, child care, job training, and job interviews.

Mount Si Senior Center in King County operates the Snoqualmie Valley Transportation program:• Provides ADA accessible demand response

services for the elderly, persons with special needs and low-income population that live outside of ¾ mile of fixed route service.

• Transportation to doctor appointments, food bank, grocery stores, jobs, schools, and social activities.

• Operate in North Bend, Snoqualmie, Fall City, and Preston.

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Examples from other regions – Non-Profit Capital

Arc of Tri-Cities purchased two (2) expansion raised-roof, ADA-accessible vans to expand existing demand response for persons with special needs in Benton and Franklin Counties.• Serve individuals with developmental disabilities.• Operates as subcontractor to Ben Franklin Transit,

operating service when traditional paratransit is not available.

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Mount Si Senior Center in King County operates the Snoqualmie Valley Transportation program:• Replaced four light-duty cutaway buses for

demand response services.

Examples from other regions - Partnerships

TOGETHER! And Thurston Regional Council sustains transportation service to people in rural and tribal areas and communities.• Deviated fixed-route and dial-a-

ride transportation service for the general public within Southern and Eastern Thurston County, including destinations in Lewis, Mason, and Pierce Counties.

• Partnership between non-profit and RTPO.

• Services are contracted out.

Puget Sound Educational Service District in Pierce County operates the Key Peninsula School Bus Connects program:• Provides route-deviated service to serve persons

with special needs in the Key Peninsula. • Pierce Transit does not operate on the Peninsula.• Uses off-duty school buses and drivers from the

school district• Partners with non-profit (Mustard Seed) and School

District• Connects with Piece and Kitsap Transit

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Thurston Regional Planning Council operates Here to There website. Funding supported:• Update and enhancement of website.• Work with community partners to implement

extensive public outreach to ensure that people with special needs, and the programs that support them, know their options

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United Way of Pierce County operates the South Sound 2-1-1 Transportation Resource Center • Provides customers with a single point of

contact to learn about available transportation resources.

Examples from other regions – Mobility Mgt./Technology

WSDOT Consolidated Grant Process

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July 9, 2018

• Consolidated NOFO

September 14, 2018

• Consolidated Application Due Date

October 1 –December 7,

2018

• Internal Review/Request for Changes

December 7, 2018

• Revised Application Due Date

December 2018

• Regional Rankings Submitted

January 7 –February 8,

2019

• External Panel Ranks Proposals

WSDOT Consolidated Grant Process• What’s New?

– Updated statewide allocation of regional ranking spots • No change for Island County (3 As, 3 Bs, 3 Cs)• Total number of ranking spots across State increased to 244 spots

– Sustaining operations and mobility management projects may apply for up to 4 years of funding*

• What is a sustaining project?• Island County will be involved in determining the rank of a project

– During 2019-2021 application review, and– Prior to 2021-2023 biennium.– If project is approved for 4 years of funding, the region dedicates the

ranking spot (A, B, C) for two biennia (19/21 and 21/23).

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WSDOT Consolidated Grant Process

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Thank you!!!More information:CPT-HSTP resources: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Transit/Grants/human-services-transportation-plan.htmConsolidated Grant Program: https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Transit/Grants/grants.htm

Please feel to contact me with any questions!Stacy ClausonCommunity LiaisonWSDOT | Public Transportation Division | Northwest RegionP: (360) 788-7413 (office) E: Clausos@wsdot.wa.gov

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