North Country TransitNorth Country Transit31 Pleasant St. Suite 10031 Pleasant St. Suite 100

Berlin NH 03570Berlin NH 03570Tri County CAP Inc.,Tri County CAP Inc.,

“We Take You Places”“We Take You Places”

North Country TransitNorth Country Transit North Country Transit is a program under North Country Transit is a program under

Tri County Community Action. We are Tri County Community Action. We are located Berlin New Hampshire, in the located Berlin New Hampshire, in the heart of the White Mountains.heart of the White Mountains.

North Country TransitNorth Country Transit

Provide transportation services to the Provide transportation services to the elderly, disabled, and general public.elderly, disabled, and general public.

Public Access RoutesPublic Access Routes Demand Response/Door to Door ServiceDemand Response/Door to Door Service Signature Senior TripsSignature Senior Trips Non Emergency/Long Distance MedicalNon Emergency/Long Distance Medical

North Country TransitNorth Country Transit

Serves all of Coos CountyServes all of Coos County And parts of Grafton CountyAnd parts of Grafton County Currently working to implement a Currently working to implement a

public system in Carroll Countypublic system in Carroll County

Presentation FocusPresentation Focus

3 projects I have undertaken to implement 3 projects I have undertaken to implement and/or improve transit in rural New and/or improve transit in rural New Hampshire Hampshire

Working with “grassroots committees” on Working with “grassroots committees” on the projectsthe projects

Project similaritiesProject similarities

North Country TransitNorth Country Transit

Tri-Town Public Transit RouteTri-Town Public Transit Route

Tri Town Public Transit SystemTri Town Public Transit System

The Planning for this system began in The Planning for this system began in 20002000

It was planned as a Flexible Route System It was planned as a Flexible Route System connecting three rural townsconnecting three rural towns

Federal funding was a primary source for Federal funding was a primary source for operations through the Jobs Access and operations through the Jobs Access and Reverse Commute (JARC)Reverse Commute (JARC)

System operations began in 2006.System operations began in 2006. Rideship has tripled since inception.Rideship has tripled since inception.

FTA PILOT PARTICIPATION FTA PILOT PARTICIPATION PROGRAMPROGRAM

NCT received funding for 1 out of 7 grants NCT received funding for 1 out of 7 grants awarded nationallyawarded nationally

Focus was on putting together an Focus was on putting together an educational program on coordination of educational program on coordination of services in rural areas for productivity and services in rural areas for productivity and financial efficiency.financial efficiency.

Goals of the program are to resolve Goals of the program are to resolve territorial concerns, vehicle sharing territorial concerns, vehicle sharing restrictions, program funding issues for restrictions, program funding issues for transportation services to clients, and transportation services to clients, and various other concerns.various other concerns.

Other goals: Other goals: – merging maintenance and repairs merging maintenance and repairs – bulk purchasing of supplies for cost savingsbulk purchasing of supplies for cost savings– consistency in staff and driver trainingconsistency in staff and driver training– quality service provisionquality service provision– better data managementbetter data management– easier resource for riders to access easier resource for riders to access

services through a one call center.services through a one call center.

Provide a more productive and efficient Provide a more productive and efficient serviceservice

The public meetings from this project were The public meetings from this project were instrumental in beginning transit summits to instrumental in beginning transit summits to promote transportation coordination promote transportation coordination throughout New Hampshire.throughout New Hampshire.

The project is recognized in Washington by The project is recognized in Washington by the Federal Transit Administration. the Federal Transit Administration.

Carroll County Public Transit Carroll County Public Transit Implementation ProjectImplementation Project

Awarded a feasibility study from USDA Awarded a feasibility study from USDA through an application submitted to CTAAthrough an application submitted to CTAA

Development of a Transit Advisory Development of a Transit Advisory Committee Committee

Began raising funds to purchase capitalBegan raising funds to purchase capital Awarded a 1 year grant to fund a Project Awarded a 1 year grant to fund a Project

Manager positionManager position Working to implement a system in the Working to implement a system in the

county by 2010county by 2010

Project SimilaritiesProject Similarities

They all started from scratch because of They all started from scratch because of needneed

They all need positive leadershipThey all need positive leadership They all need support (committee & They all need support (committee &

financial)financial)

Key to success is supportKey to success is support

Recruit committee membersRecruit committee members– Research the potential service area to find Research the potential service area to find

out out whowho needsneeds the service. the service.– Research the internet for Research the internet for service service

providersproviders in your area. in your area.– Look into how local government works in Look into how local government works in

your town and counties and ask to your town and counties and ask to present your idea. Invite those present your idea. Invite those officialsofficials to to you meetingsyou meetings

– Contact Contact employment agenciesemployment agencies. Do they . Do they have potential clientele that could work if have potential clientele that could work if they had transportation?they had transportation?

– Join Join resource groupsresource groups who provide who provide services to clients. Their clients may be services to clients. Their clients may be your passengers!your passengers!

– Invite representatives from the Invite representatives from the DOT, DOT, DHHS, hospitals, human service DHHS, hospitals, human service agencies, social service organizations, agencies, social service organizations, volunteer groups, general public, other volunteer groups, general public, other transit providerstransit providers (public and private). (public and private).

Key to Recruiting and Retaining Key to Recruiting and Retaining Committee MembersCommittee Members

Need a Project ManagerNeed a Project Manager Begin with Press Releases, Radio Begin with Press Releases, Radio

Announcements, and Local Television and Announcements, and Local Television and keep it ongoingkeep it ongoing

Plan a kick off event and invite your Plan a kick off event and invite your potential supporterspotential supporters– Make the event bigMake the event big– Send out invitationsSend out invitations– Provide RefreshmentsProvide Refreshments– Call and remind people of the event a week Call and remind people of the event a week

beforebefore

Key to Acquiring FundingKey to Acquiring Funding Contact businesses. Your service may be Contact businesses. Your service may be

the solution they need to get employees to the solution they need to get employees to and from work.and from work.

Contact possible funding sources DOT, Contact possible funding sources DOT, HHS, and other possible funders. They will HHS, and other possible funders. They will know what funds are available.know what funds are available.

Put an article in the local papers Put an article in the local papers explaining the project and how you would explaining the project and how you would welcome people to participate. Really welcome people to participate. Really highlight the need and the groups of highlight the need and the groups of people who will benefit from the service. people who will benefit from the service.

Put together a newsletter and keep people Put together a newsletter and keep people updated. Include every positive aspect of updated. Include every positive aspect of the project as it progresses.the project as it progresses.

Get written statements from people or Get written statements from people or interview those who need the service and interview those who need the service and include them in newspaper articles and include them in newspaper articles and newsletters.newsletters.

Ask those wanting the service to attend Ask those wanting the service to attend meetings/presentations and ask them to meetings/presentations and ask them to speak. Their support will be needed to get speak. Their support will be needed to get local fundslocal funds..

Moving forward:Moving forward:

Need to continue recruiting members and Need to continue recruiting members and supporterssupporters

Need to continually represent your service Need to continually represent your service at meetingsat meetings

Need to keep the media informedNeed to keep the media informed Need to remain positiveNeed to remain positive And…..And…..

Finally….Finally….

All of these things come from believing that All of these things come from believing that what you are doing will make a difference to what you are doing will make a difference to society in a positive way and because you society in a positive way and because you

care! care!

Thank Thank

YouYou