Transcript North Country Transit Tri County CAP. Inc.,

North Country Transit
31 Pleasant St. Suite 100
Berlin NH 03570
Tri County CAP Inc.,
“We Take You Places”
North Country Transit
 North Country Transit is a program under
Tri County Community Action. We are
located Berlin New Hampshire, in the
heart of the White Mountains.
North Country Transit
 Provide transportation services to the
elderly, disabled, and general public.
 Public Access Routes
 Demand Response/Door to Door Service
 Signature Senior Trips
 Non Emergency/Long Distance Medical
North Country Transit
 Serves all of Coos County
 And parts of Grafton County
 Currently working to implement a
public system in Carroll County
Presentation Focus
 3 projects I have undertaken to implement
and/or improve transit in rural New
Hampshire
 Working with “grassroots committees” on
the projects
 Project similarities
North Country Transit
 Tri-Town Public Transit Route
Tri Town Public Transit System
 The Planning for this system began in
2000
 It was planned as a Flexible Route System
connecting three rural towns
 Federal funding was a primary source for
operations through the Jobs Access and
Reverse Commute (JARC)
 System operations began in 2006.
 Rideship has tripled since inception.
FTA PILOT PARTICIPATION
PROGRAM
 NCT received funding for 1 out of 7 grants
awarded nationally
 Focus was on putting together an
educational program on coordination of
services in rural areas for productivity and
financial efficiency.
 Goals of the program are to resolve
territorial concerns, vehicle sharing
restrictions, program funding issues for
transportation services to clients, and
various other concerns.
 Other goals:
– merging maintenance and repairs
– bulk purchasing of supplies for cost
savings
– consistency in staff and driver training
– quality service provision
– better data management
– easier resource for riders to access
services through a one call center.
 Provide a more productive and efficient
service
 The public meetings from this project were
instrumental in beginning transit summits to
promote transportation coordination
throughout New Hampshire.
 The project is recognized in Washington by
the Federal Transit Administration.
Carroll County Public Transit
Implementation Project
 Awarded a feasibility study from USDA
through an application submitted to CTAA
 Development of a Transit Advisory
Committee
 Began raising funds to purchase capital
 Awarded a 1 year grant to fund a Project
Manager position
 Working to implement a system in the
county by 2010
Project Similarities
 They all started from scratch because of
need
 They all need positive leadership
 They all need support (committee &
financial)
Key to success is support
 Recruit committee members
– Research the potential service area to find
out who needs the service.
– Research the internet for service
providers in your area.
– Look into how local government works in
your town and counties and ask to
present your idea. Invite those officials to
you meetings
– Contact employment agencies. Do they
have potential clientele that could work if
they had transportation?
– Join resource groups who provide
services to clients. Their clients may be
your passengers!
– Invite representatives from the DOT,
DHHS, hospitals, human service
agencies, social service organizations,
volunteer groups, general public, other
transit providers (public and private).
Key to Recruiting and Retaining
Committee Members
 Need a Project Manager
 Begin with Press Releases, Radio
Announcements, and Local Television and
keep it ongoing
 Plan a kick off event and invite your
potential supporters
– Make the event big
– Send out invitations
– Provide Refreshments
– Call and remind people of the event a week
before
Key to Acquiring Funding
 Contact businesses. Your service may be
the solution they need to get employees to
and from work.
 Contact possible funding sources DOT,
HHS, and other possible funders. They will
know what funds are available.
 Put an article in the local papers
explaining the project and how you would
welcome people to participate. Really
highlight the need and the groups of
people who will benefit from the service.
 Put together a newsletter and keep people
updated. Include every positive aspect of
the project as it progresses.
 Get written statements from people or
interview those who need the service and
include them in newspaper articles and
newsletters.
 Ask those wanting the service to attend
meetings/presentations and ask them to
speak. Their support will be needed to get
local funds.
Moving forward:
 Need to continue recruiting members and
supporters
 Need to continually represent your service
at meetings
 Need to keep the media informed
 Need to remain positive
 And…..
Finally….
All of these things come from believing that
what you are doing will make a difference to
society in a positive way and because you
care!
Thank
You