Public Shared-RideTransportation for Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities and Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

Richard H. FarrExecutive DirectorYork Adams TransportationAuthority

July 19, 2012

Agenda

• Defining Shared-Ride• Understanding the Infrastructure Behind the Scenes• Human Services Transportation (HST or Shared-

Ride) Trends• Adapting to Changes• Expectations• Conclusion

Defining Shared-Ride

Why Does it Exist?• Help people with no other means to travel to critical life-

sustaining destinations (doctors, grocery, jobs)• Alternatives are too expensive or the traveler is incapable of

traveling unassisted• Allow seniors to age in place

Who Uses it?• Senior citizens• Pregnant mothers• Adults & children with disabilities• MH/MR workshops• Medicaid recipients• All riders receiving discount trips must be pre-

screened for eligibility

Defining Shared-Ride

What Does It Do?• Provides

consolidated trips (shared ride) between origins and destinations that are not well-served by fixed-route transit service

• Operates during limited hours, 6 am to 6 pm, with prior day reservations required

What Doesn’t it Do?Provide “taxi” service (prior day reservation required)Provide one-person, non-stop ride (too costly) Provide Emergency Medical Transportation

PA Shared Ride Overview

Commonwealth History

• State Lottery – 1972

• Free Transit Program for Senior Citizens – Fixed Route - 1973

• Shared-Ride Program for Senior Citizens – Demand Responsive –

1981

• Welfare to Work - 1997

• Persons with Disabilities Transportation Program – 2001

• Human Service Transportation Study

• Act 44 of 2007

• Delivered to the Governor July 2009

Federal Medicaid Non-Emergency Medical Transportation

(NEMT) (50% State + 50% Federal Funding) Administered by DPW

There are many programs each with its own Requirements, Funding Sources and Strict Reporting Standards

Supporting Infrastructure

• Key Staff• Vehicle Dispatchers• Drivers• Mechanics• Administrative Support• Customer Service

Representatives• Client Eligibility Experts• Call Takers

• Key Cost Drivers• Fuel/Insurance• Employee Benefits• Tires/Parts• Missed Trips (NS/CX)

• Subcontractor Costs

Key Cost Drivers

$-

$500,000

$1,000,000

$1,500,000

$2,000,000

$2,500,000

$3,000,000

$3,500,000

Historical Cost of Non-Wage Compensa-tion

(Health Insurance, FICA, Unemployment Tax, Etc.)

Fiscal Year

$-

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

$1,600,000

$1,800,000

$2,000,000

Historical Cost of Fuel Expense

Trends

Cost Trends• Fuel and Insurance Costs Escalating Much Faster than Inflation• Labor Costs Increasing Slower than Rate of Inflation

Demand• Population Aging “In Place”• Housing Spreading Out (Sprawl)• Destinations Spreading Out (Sprawl)• More “one-on-one” transportation• More complexities requiring greater

skilled skills/management• Medical providers who accept Medicaid• Increased demand for independence

Trends

Technology• GPS and Automatic Vehicle Location Provide More

Accurate “Real Time” Information for Customers and Management

• Computing Power Allows for More Complex Route / Trip Optimization, BUT Requires Local Customization & Calibration

Private Sector• Assuming Roles where it Makes Financial Sense• Incurring Sizable Cost Increases as Well

Trends

Trends

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 $6.00

$7.00

$8.00

$9.00

$10.00

$11.00

$12.00

Actual Fare

Inflationary

Trends

Trends

Observations• Fares can not keep up with the Cost of Inflation• Private Sector Costs are Much Higher to the Consumer

than the Cost of Providing Shared-Ride Service• Less Subcontractors - Unable to

perform service at fare structure• Most Needy Clients are Very

Sensitive to Out-of-Pocket Costs

• HS Programs struggle to fund transportation

• Today’s Economy isn’t Helping the Situation

State Budget Cuts on Human

Services 2013

Sequestration?

Expectations

What Are The Expectations of These Programs?• Provide Low-Cost Trips to the Most Needy in Society• Provide a Good, Safe, “Reasonable” Trip to Critical

Destinations Such As:• Persons With Disabilities (PwD) Traveling to Work• Senior Citizen to a Senior Center For Meals and Social

Interaction• Low-Income Pregnant Mother Traveling to A Doctor’s Office• Child of Low Income Parent Traveling to a Dentist’s Office

• Be Fully Funded Between Operating Subsidies and Passenger Fares

• Meet all State and Federal Reporting Requirements

Improving Efficiency

Providers Are Improving Service Efficiency By:• Continuing to Improve, Evolve and Invest In Cutting

Edge Technology• Improving Service Coordination

• Other Regional Providers• Resource Sharing• Working with HS Providers to Better

Coordinate Program Times

Service Efficiencies are Needed Due To: • Declining Public Funding • Customer Base Distributed More Geographically

Expectations

What Are YOUR Expectations of These Programs?

Always Consider

HST Serves as the “Provider of Last Resort” when Other Options are not Available or are too Expensive

• Family• Fixed-Route Transit Service• Carpooling Subsidies• Taxi or Volunteer Driver Programs

What Can’t Get Lost• Traveler’s Self-Respect• Maintaining Health and Quality of Life• Independent Living For Seniors and Disabled Populations• Access to Jobs• Safe Transportation

HST Service Reductions have a Direct Impact on Other Public Assistance Programs (e.g. PwD can not get to work/Centers’ Funding)

Next Steps …

To Maintain Current Service Levels:• Providers Continue to Seek Greater Efficiencies to Maintain

Similar Service Levels• Travelers Will Need to Maintain Flexibility as Providers

Continue to Search for New Ways to Improve Efficiency• Continue to Foster Coordination – at all levels• Elected Officials Will Need to Find Creative Ways to Finance

What is A Critical Piece of The Commonwealth’s Transportation Infrastructure in an Era of Declining Revenues

Service Reduction:Is an Expensive Option for the State, Federal and Local Government (increased dependence on Emergency Medical Care, Job Loss, Expanding Welfare Roles, etc.) and to the Health, Safety and Welfare of Citizens

Questions