DRPT Initiatives on Transportation Services For Older Adults, People With Disabilities and People With Lower Incomes In Virginia www.drpt.virginia.gov

Neil Sherman Specialized Program Manager

Community Integration Commission 1

Today’s Agenda

   DRPT overview ADA responsibilities Federal programs administered by DRPT    2008 grant awards Funding program changes Universal Access Program Community Integration Commission 2

Who is DRPT?

  40 employees, three offices Work with over 100 public and private partners to provide project management services, planning support, technical expertise, financial support and program advocacy Community Integration Commission 3

DRPT Three Main Areas of Activity

• • •

Funding Support Advocacy Planning an technical support



Rail

– Freight rail – Passenger rail 

Transit

– Public transit systems and services – Special needs transportation 

Congestion Management

– Ridesharing: carpools, vanpools – Incentive programs for employers – Telework Community Integration Commission 4

DRPT’s ADA Responsibilities

 Technical assistance/planning  Site reviews  Training  State vehicle procurement Community Integration Commission 5

Transportation Related Concerns should be reported to:

1.

Local operator 2.

3.

Logisticare (if Medicaid funded) DMAS (if Medicaid funded) 4.

5.

VA Office of Protection and Advocacy DRPT 6.

Federal Transportation Administration Community Integration Commission 6

Federal SAFETEA-LU Programs Administered by DRPT for Special Needs:

   5310 program: Provides capital funding for transportation services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

New Freedom Program: Provides new program funding for transportation services that go beyond the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC): Provides funds for transportation services for low income workers.

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Section 5310 program

 An impetus for improvements in transportation options for elderly and people with disabilities since 1983  Funds are distributed, in part, based on size of population  Federal share 80 percent; Applicant 20 percent  Eligible applicants include: – Non-profit corporations/associations – Approved public bodies – Public bodies where no non-profit is available – Application period: November 1 to February 1 Community Integration Commission 8

New Freedom Program

 Program designed to support and enhance transportation for people with disabilities beyond the ADA  Operating match 50-50 percent  Capital/Planning match 80-20 percent  May be used to expand demand-response services and travel training  2008 Application period: November 1 to February 1 Community Integration Commission 9

Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC)

 Targeted for individuals with lower incomes  Access to and from employment/related activities    Operating match 50-50 percent Capital/Planning match 80-20 percent Application Period: November 1- to February 1 Community Integration Commission 10

2008 Section 5310 Awards

 47 applications were submitted to DRPT this year for a total of $5,336,000 in requests.

 In FY09, DRTP is awarding 43 recipients 77 vehicles in the amount of $3,134,000.

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2008 New Freedom Awards

 Seven Projects funded ($690,000 awarded): – Bay Transit ($65,600)-Mobility Manager to coordinate transportation for people with disabilities across counties. – District Three Public Transit ($151,020)-to provide transit services in Mount Rogers PDC to regional health care facilities (I-81 and I-77).

– JAUNT ($66,488)-work with human service agencies in the Thomas Jefferson PDC to use resources more effectively. Community Integration Commission 12

2008 New Freedom Awards Cont’d

– Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission($66,625)-for a one-stop transportation center for Culpeper Connector and all human service agencies.

– Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging (95,200)-to schedule and direct trips for people with disabilities in Caroline County to multiple providers.

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2008 New Freedom Awards Cont’d

– Shenandoah Agency on Aging ($95,200)-New door-to-door services for people with disabilities for multiple counties. – Unified Human Services Transportation System ($150,000) to expand the hours of service for Roanoke County’s CORTRAN demand response service and give more door to door assistance.

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Funding Program Changes

 New federal requirements  Additional New Freedom Grant opportunity Community Integration Commission 15

New Federal SAFETEA-LU Requirements

 Any region interested in accessing the federal transportation programs administered by DRPT must have a “locally developed coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan.”  Also requires a State Plan Community Integration Commission 16

Coordinated Human Service Plans

 DRPT provided technical assistance to 20 rural and small urban areas to develop Coordinated Human Service Mobility Plans.  Utilized a bottom up approach (i.e., All plans developed by local “representatives of public, private and non-profit transportation and human service providers and participation by members of the public).” Community Integration Commission 17

Human Service Transportation Workshops

 Spring 2007, 11 workshops to educate on new federal requirements and to assist in regional needs and gaps assessment.

 Fall 2007, 13 workshops to develop region specific strategies to address gaps (20 plans drafted).

 May/June 2008, 14 regional sessions to obtain final approval on the plans before promulgation to public/state/local entities – 20 local plans finalized - see http://www.kfhgroup.com/drpt chsmplans.htm

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Coordinated State Plan

 DRPT’s efforts to meet Coordinated State Plan Requirements include: – State Agency Coordination Council – Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Secretaries of Transportation and Health and Human Resources – Agency by Agency analyses of transportation polices, rules and regulations and committed resources – State Agency Council recommendations for Final Coordinated State Plan (August 2008) Community Integration Commission 19

New Freedom Grant Opportunity

 Summer 2008 – Five percent local match required – $2 million in federal and state funds available – Application period from June 16 to August 15 Community Integration Commission 20

Universal Access Program

 The 2007 Virginia General Assembly directed DRPT to develop a universal access program for public paratransit riders by June 30, 2008.

 Achieves a desired outcome for the Olmstead/Community Integration Commission. Community Integration Commission 21

Universal Access Program

 Currently, eligible persons have to qualify for each local system.  Effective June 30, 2008, DRPT will transfer eligibility to all Virginia transit systems.

 Senior Navigator Community Integration Commission 22

Summary of Upcoming Milestones

  New Freedom Applications Accepted: Summer 08  Regional Coordinated Human Service Plans Drafted: June 08 Universal Access Program Implemented: June 08  Coordinated State Plan Completed: August 08 Community Integration Commission 23

For more information, contact:

 Neil I. Sherman Specialized Program Manager Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (804) 786-1154 [email protected]

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