Transportation Coordination & Federal Transportation Administration Programs

Marianne Freed, MSW/LSWOffice of Transit

Ohio Department of TransportationThursday, May 17, 2007

Ohio Job & Family Services Directors Conference

Ohio Statewide Transportation Coordination Task Force

Officially began in 1996 after a Federal Transit Administration meeting in Chicago

Membership includes upper and mid managers from various state departments and commissions

Additional member represents Metropolitan Planning Organization/Small Urban Transit System and Ohio Coordination Program project

Current Membership of the Task Force Ohio Department of Transportation Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Ohio Department of Aging Ohio Department of Mental Health Ohio Department of MR/DD Rehabilitation Services Commission Governors Council for People with Disabilities Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

Mission Provide leadership that facilitates citizen

mobility through the coordination of transportation resources and effect pro-coordination policy and communication at all levels.

Task Force Action Plan

Current Action Plan being implemented includes: Outreach/educational activities Exploration of Technological possibilities

to assist with coordination efforts Assessment of all current transportation

programs used by the state departments and their associated regulations, rules, reports, etc.

SAFETEA-LU and the Locally Developed Plan The Transportation Reauthorization Bill

passed in 2005 Includes additional funds for rural

transportation program (5311) that is administered by the state

Added new programs Revised some existing programs Final Guidance for new & revised programs

(with ties to the Locally Developed Plan) issued March 29, 2007

Programs administered at the federal level by the Federal Transit Administration-USDOT

New and Revised Federal Transit Administration Programs Job Access/Reverse Commute

(JARC)New Freedom Section 5310 (has many names)

Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities

Specialized Transportation ProgramSection 16 Section 16(B)2

JARC-Section 5316

Existing Program-Job Access

Connect low income to:

Jobs

Employment related training including education programs and pre-employment training programs

JARC-Section 5316

Funding Directly to large urbanized areas (over

200,000 in population)

From Discretionary to Formula; based on low income population in UZA

Operating 50/50 (Federal/Local)

Capital 80/20 (Federal/Local)

JARC-Section 5316 Program Requirements

Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan”

Projects must be competitively selected by designated recipient or their designee

JARC-Section 5316 Who Can Apply

Private non-profit organizations Governmental authorities

City County MPO

Operators of public transit service Private operators of public transit

service

New Freedom-Section 5317

New Program -

Beyond ADA Requirements Targeted toward people with

disabilities Program intent:

Improve public transit service Provide transportation alternatives Remove barriers

New Freedom-Section 5317

Funding

Directly to large urban areas (over 200,000 in population)

Operating 50/50 (Federal/Local)

Capital 80/20 (Federal/Local)

New Freedom-Section 5317

Program Requirements

Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan”

Projects must be competitively selected by the designated recipient or their designee

New Freedom-Section 5317

Who Can Apply Private non-profit organizations Governmental authorities

City County MPO

Operators of public transit service Private operators of public transit

service

Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program Existing Program

Elderly and people with disabilities: Vehicle Acquisition Equipment

Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program Program Requirements

Projects must be derived from a “Locally Developed Coordinated Plan”

Federal Program

Projects must be competitively selected

Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program Funding

Administered by the State (ODOT)

Capital only - 80/20 (Federal/Local)

Section 5310 – Specialized Transportation Program Who Can Apply for funding in Ohio

Private non-profit organizations

Public entities in areas: Without non-profit organizations

available to provide service Lead in Ohio Coordination Program

project

Federal Requirements

Section 5310, 5316 & 5317 applications “derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services transportation plan”.

Designated Recipients will have to certify that the plan was “developed through a process that includes representatives of public, private and nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public”.

What are the REQUIRED elements of the Plan?

There are four outlined in the federal circularAssessment of available services that

identifies current transportation providers

Assessment of current transportation needs for persons with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes

What are the REQUIRED elements of the Plan? (Con’t)

Strategies, activities, and/or projects to address the identified gaps between current services and needs, as well as opportunities to improve efficiencies in service delivery

Priorities for implementation based on resources

Tools and Strategies

Community Planning SessionSelf Assessment Tool –

Framework For ActionFocus GroupsSurveyDetailed Study and Analysis

Who are the Transportation Stakeholders? Area transportation planning agencies Public transportation providers Private transportation providers Non profit transportation providers Past or current organizations funded under

the JARC or Section 5310 program Passengers and advocates Human service partners Others

How Can Potential Partners Participate?

Large Urban Areas, contact your Metropolitan Planning Organization or your Urban Public Transit System.

Small Urban Areas, contact your small urban Metropolitan Planning Organization

Rural Areas, contact your county commissioners, your local public transit system or your Ohio Coordination Program lead agency.

Contact ODOT staff Contact information for all of the above is on the

ODOT website: www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans

Why Participate? Advantages

You represent your customer base, public transit or human service provider, in their quest for mobility choices

Will assure that JARC, New Freedom and 5310 funds are used for meeting the particular and unique needs of the residents of your community.

Resources are limited for everyone and increasing efficiency through coordination makes sense.

Other Information For Rural Counties, if the county

commissioners are unaware and there is no local transit system or Ohio Coordination Project – contact ODOT

Some Rural Counties are either in an MPO urbanized area or are being included for the purposes of this plan.

Resources www.dot.fta.gov

www.dot.state.oh.us/ptrans

www.unitedweride.gov

www.ctaa.org

Questions????????