PRESENTATION TO TRANSIT OPERATORS GROUP MAY 15, 2020 BILL SCHWARTZ, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PRESENTATION TO TRANSIT OPERATORS GROUP MAY 15, 2020 BILL SCHWARTZ, NELSON\NYGAARD CONSULTING ASSOCIATES

HUMAN SERVICES DEMAND RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION STUDY QUICK RECAP

• Coordinated Human Services Transportation

Plan (CHSTP)

• Required by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to

receive funding under Section 5310

• Atlanta Regional HST Plan adopted by ARC board

in March 2017

• Key Goal
• Develop a menu of local and regional tactics that

will work in a coordinated manner to improve mobility in the Atlanta region

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BACKGROUND

Targeted Improvements

• Enhance education and awareness of HST options
• Improve the ADA application process
• Implement a common fare structure and procurement protocol
• Develop service agreements to assist with streamlined service provision
• Develop common legal frameworks and reporting mechanisms
• Embrace regional technology applications
• Evaluate and monitor

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BACKGROUND

Task Overview

• Building on HST plan, focus on complementary paratransit (ADA) and

county-run demand response transportation

• Inform future models of regional coordination, particularly new mobility

paradigms to improve efficiency and the enhance the user experience

• Compile data and review current policies
• Undertake best practices research to recommend implementation

strategies

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CURRENT HST DEMAND RESPONSE STUDY

Tasks Underway/Completed

Interviews Data gathering – demand response providers Transit needs analysis Inventory of ADA policies

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DATA GATHERING

Interviews

• Fixed route providers

(MARTA, Gwinnett, Cobb, Cherokee, Douglas)

• County services and senior services staff

(Cobb, Coweta, Douglas, Gwinnett, Hall, Paulding)

• Others

(CPACS, Georgia DOT, The ATL, Central Atlanta Progress, ARC staff)

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DATA GATHERING

Key Themes Identified to Date

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INTERVIEWS AND DATA GATHERING

• Demand is growing – capacity and funding not keeping pace and

requests for service cannot be fully accommodated

• Data to support these trends not readily available regionally but

needed

• Strong interest in microtransit and TNC partnerships to fill gaps
• Regional solutions around fares, technology, peer exchanges, and

funding are of interest

ADA PARATRANSIT COORDINATION STRATEGIES

ADA Paratransit Policies

• Eligibility requirements and processes
• Applications, releases, in-person vs. paper
• Recertification process and visitor policies
• Appeal policies
• No show/late cancel and suspensions
• Integration with fixed route
• Coordination where service overlaps

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ADA TOPIC AREAS

Topic Areas for Comparison – Table in Development

Agency MARTA GCT CobbLinc Douglas Cherokee ADA Circular Application Part A Application Part B Interview and assessment process Both None None Interview None Discussion Conditional eligibility determinations Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Trip-by-trip eligibility Recertification (frequency-years) 3 2 4 ? 3 Appeal process Visitors Reciprocity

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ADA PARATRANSIT ELIGIBILITY

Discussion

• Are these the right categories?
• Nuances and challenges
• Opportunities

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ADA PARATRANSIT ELIGIBILITY

Topic Areas for Comparison – Table in Development

Agency MARTA GCT CobbLinc Douglas Cherokee ADA Circular No Show/Late Cancel Sample policy Suspensions (and Appeals) Sample policy Companion Travel Fares Fixed route fares (ADA eligible) $1 Half Free No No Encourage Transfers Complaint process

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ADA RIDER POLICIES

Discussion

• Are these the right categories?
• Nuances and challenges
• Opportunities

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ADA RIDER POLICIES

Strategies and Next Steps

• Confirm top priorities
• Document strategies
• Ensure regular paratransit

coordination at future TOG meetings

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ROLE OF ADA GOING FORWARD

THANK YOU!

857.305.8012 bschwartz@nelsonnygaard.com

Bill Schwartz