Fueled by Technology – Powered by People

Review of Project Approach

• Who We Are

• What We’re Doing

• How We’re Doing it

Who We Are: Team Hodgson

• Mark Risch, hodgsonConsulting

Project Manager

• Russ Holt, Access Information, Inc.• Greg Snider, CTC• Carol Walsh, hodgsonConsulting • Heather Wolsey, CTC

What We’re Doing: Project MissionProvide a comprehensive study encompassing

needs analysis, use case scenarios, the potential for organizational coordination/alliances, and technical requirements gathering that will result in a document that can be used as the basis for a solicitation to build a transportation clearinghouse website.

How We’re Doing It

• Needs Assessment

• Regional Analysis

• Functional Requirements

Needs Analysis

• Study existing clearinghouse models.• Gather and analyze input from MWCOG

transportation and technology staff and working group members.

• Identify user characteristics.• Determine administrative requirements of the

site.• Determine essential vs. nice to have content and

features for the site.

Regional Coordination

• Determine potential roles for other organizations in the region in promoting the clearinghouse’s viability.

• Identify benefits and challenges of joining existing data from current organizations.

• Assess the possibility of partnering with current organizations including building on existing websites.

• Recommend a partnership strategy.

• Create a site information architecture.• Create use case scenarios.• Identify system requirements including technical

platform, database, maintenance administration, and integration.

• Recommend a strategy for data maintenance.• Provide an estimated budget for annual data

maintenance and site operation.

Functional Requirements

Questions

Essential Items Discussion

• User Criteria: End Users– Low Income– People with Disabilities– Aging Population

• Administrative Criteria– Service Providers

User Characteristics

– General characteristics– Transportation needs and challenges– Access to technology– Specific site design and content criteria– Search options most useful to this population

Low Income: Characteristics

• Literacy at 6th grade reading level.

• Population often in areas not served well by fixed route systems.

• High incidence of non-native English speakers.

Low Income: Transportation Challenges• Often work non-traditional work schedules.

• Homes and work often located significant distances apart.

• Need for trip chaining.

Low Income: Access to Technology• Fairly good access and familiarity with

technology through libraries, service providers, etc.

• Internet access and computer quality on the lower end of the spectrum.

Low Income: Most Useful Search Criteria • Hours of Service• Trip Chaining• Cost

• • • • •

Aging: Characteristics

• Largest growing segment of the US population.

• Trend toward aging in place means more seniors located in suburban areas.

• Outlive their ability to drive by an average of 10 years. Sixty percent rely on family or friends for transportation.

Aging: Transportation Challenges

• Often live in areas not served well by fixed route service.

• Often require assistance while traveling.

• More than 50% of non-drivers age 65 and older stay home on any given day because they lack transportation.

Aging: Access to Technology

• Fastest growing group of internet users. Becoming adept at researching on web.

• Little formal training on computers, not familiar with standard internet protocol.

• Wide range of internet access and computer quality across population segment.

Aging: Most Useful Search Criteria • Hours of Service• Accommodations/Accessibility• Reliability

• • • • •

People with Disabilities: Characteristics• Diverse population with wide range of

characteristics and needs.

• Organizations that serve people with disabilities including voc-rehab centers and independent living are often outside public transportation options.

People with Disabilities: Trans. Challenges• Nearly one-third report having inadequate

access to transportation, yet accessible transportation predictor of employment, and quality of life.

• Often require specific accessibility and accommodation options not universally available.

People with Disabilities: Tech. Access

• Wide range of internet access and computer quality across population segment.

• Wide variety of specific needs relating to usability criteria.

People with Disabilities: Search Criteria • Hours of service• Accessibility/available accommodations• Cost

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Thank You!