Stark County Mobility Coordination Committee

 

Organizing History

On October 26, 2006, the Board of the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) approved a resolution designating SARTA as the recipient for funding allocated by SAFETEA-LU for projects allowable under JARC, New Freedom and 5310 federal funds. On November 27, 2006, the Stark County Area Transportation Study (SCATS) policy committee had approved a resolution designating SARTA to receive the funds under these same programs.

On January 9, 2007, a notice of public meeting was sent to 342 area agencies, transportation providers, and other interested parties that a committee was forming to develop a coordinated plan for the county. A public notice was also placed in the Canton Repository. On January 23, 2007, an informational meeting was held to give an overview of the funding and requests for volunteers to assist in developing the plan were sought. Surveys were collected from the mailing that went with the notice, and an invitation to the first meeting, attempting to identify needs, gaps and overlaps in transportation services.

Subsequent to this meeting, on March 30, 2007, the first meeting of the volunteer committee met. The survey results were reviewed and discussed, and needs and gaps were discussed. Meeting dates were also established for future meetings of the committee.

On April 27, 2007, the committee established a sub-committee to develop criteria for projects and applications, as well as a rating system for such projects to be eligible for the above noted funding programs. Karl Lucas, of the Stark County Area Transportation Study (SCATS), headed this committee.

The committee has developed a list of transportation needs in the county, listed hereafter, and incorporated herein; has accepted a standard for the call for projects, attached to this plan as Addendum A; and accepted SARTA’s plan for management of funds and projects awarded under this plan, and this plan is attached as Addendum B.

Meeting Dates

The Stark County Mobility Coordination Committee meets on the third Thursday of every month at 11:00 am.  Meetings are located in the board room at SARTA, 1600 Gateway Blvd., SE, Canton. 

Program Overviews

The Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) grant program assists in developing new or expanded transportation services that connect welfare recipients and other low income persons to jobs and other employment related services. Job Access projects are targeted at developing new or expanded transportation services such as shuttles, vanpools, new bus routes, connector services to mass transit, and guaranteed ride home programs for welfare recipients and low income persons. Reverse Commute projects provide transportation services to suburban employment centers from urban, rural and other suburban locations for all populations.

The New Freedom formula grant program aims to provide additional tools to overcome existing barriers facing Americans with disabilities seeking integration into the work force and full participation in society. Lack of adequate transportation is a primary barrier to work for individuals with disabilities. The 2000 Census showed that only 60 percent of people between the ages of 16 and 64 with disabilities are employed. The New Freedom formula grant program seeks to reduce barriers to transportation services and expand the transportation mobility options available to people with disabilities beyond the requirements of the ADA of 1990.

 

Designated Grant Recipient and Eligible Sub-recipients

 

The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) is the designated recipient of funds in Stark County for the JARC and New Freedom grant programs. As the designated recipient, SARTA is required to conduct a competitive selection process that is open and transparent and results in a fair and equitable distribution of funds. This process will be done in coordination with the local Stark County Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan Committee (Coordination Committee) and the local metropolitan planning organization, the Stark County Area Transportation Study (SCATS). This application is intended to assist in the evaluation of proposed projects.  Applicants should be aware that additional information will be required in order to meet Federal requirements if their project is selected for funding.  SARTA, as the designated recipient of funds, will assist awardees in meeting these requirements and in the administration of the grants.

 

Eligible sub-recipients for JARC and New Freedom funds include:

 

1. Private non-profit organizations;

2. State or local governmental authorities; and

3. Operators of public transportation services including private operators of public transportation services.

Eligible JARC Projects, as listed in Federal regulations, may include, but are not limited to capital, planning, and operating assistance to support activities such as:

 

1. Late-night and weekend service;
2. Guaranteed ride home service;
3. Shuttle service;
4. Expanding fixed-route public transit routes;
5. Demand-responsive van service;
6. Ridesharing and carpooling activities;
7. Transit-related aspects of bicycling (such as adding bicycle racks to vehicles to support individuals that bicycle a portion of their commute or providing bicycle storage at transit stations);
8. Local car loan programs that assist individuals in purchasing and maintaining vehicles for shared rides;
9. Promotion, through marketing efforts, of the:

                         1)   use of transit by workers with non-traditional work

                               schedules;

                         2)   use of transit voucher programs by appropriate agencies

                               for welfare recipients and other low-income individuals;

                         3)   development of employer-provided transportation such

                               as shuttles, ridesharing, carpooling; or

                         4)   use of transit pass programs and benefits under Section

                               132 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

10. Supporting the administration and expenses related to voucher programs. This activity is intended to supplement existing transportation services by expanding the number of providers available or the number of passengers receiving transportation services. Vouchers can be used as an administrative mechanism for payment to providers of alternative transportation services. The JARC program can provide vouchers to low-income individuals to purchase rides, including: (1) mileage reimbursement as part of a volunteer driver program; (2) a taxi trip; or (3) trips provided by a human service agency. Providers of transportation can then submit the voucher to the JARC project administering agency for payment based on pre-determined rates or contractual arrangements. Transit passes for use on fixed route or Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) complementary Paratransit service are not eligible. Vouchers are an operational expense which requires a 50/50 (Federal/local) match;
11. Acquiring Geographic Information System (GIS) tools;
12. Implementing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), including customer trip information technology;
13. Integrating automated regional public transit and human service transportation information, scheduling and dispatch functions;
14. Deploying vehicle position-monitoring systems;
15. Subsidizing the costs associated with adding reverse commute bus, train, carpool van routes or service from urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas to suburban work places;
16. Subsidizing the purchase or lease by a non-profit organization or public agency of a van or bus dedicated to shuttling employees from their residences to a suburban workplace;
17. Otherwise facilitating the provision of public transportation services to suburban employment opportunities;
18. Supporting new mobility management and coordination programs among public transportation providers and other human service agencies providing transportation. Mobility management is an eligible capital cost. Mobility management techniques may enhance transportation access for populations beyond those served by one agency or organization within a community. For example, a non-profit agency could receive JARC funding to support the administrative costs of sharing services it provides to its own clientele with other low-income individuals and coordinate usage of vehicles with other non-profits, but not the operating costs of the service. Mobility management is intended to build coordination among existing public transportation providers and other transportation service providers with the result of expanding the availability of service. Mobility management activities may include:

                    1)   The promotion, enhancement, and facilitation of access to

                          transportation services, including the integration and

                          coordination of services for individuals with disabilities, older

                          adults, and low-income individuals;

                    2)   Support for short term management activities to plan and

                          implement coordinated services;

                    3)   The support of State and local coordination policy bodies

                          and councils;

                    4)   The operation of transportation brokerages to coordinate

                           providers, funding agencies and customers;

                    5)   The provision of coordination services, including employer

                          -oriented Transportation Management Organizations’ and

                          Human Service Organizations’ customer-oriented travel

                          navigator systems and neighborhood travel coordination

                          activities such as coordinating individualized travel training

                          and trip planning activities for customers;

                     6)   The development and operation of one-stop transportation

                           traveler call centers to coordinate transportation information

                           on all travel modes and to manage eligibility requirements

                           and arrangements for customers among supporting

                           programs; and

                     7)   Operational planning for the acquisition of intelligent

                           transportation technologies to help plan and operate

                           coordinated systems inclusive of Geographic Information

                           Systems (GIS) mapping, Global Positioning System

                           technology, coordinated vehicle scheduling, dispatching

                           and monitoring technologies as well as technologies to

                           track costs and billing in a coordinated system and single

                           smart customer payment systems (acquisition of

                           technology is also eligible as a stand alone capital

                           expense).

 

Eligible New Freedom Projects, as listed in Federal regulations, may include, but are not limited to the following types of projects, which are listed for illustrative purposes. Recipients are encouraged to develop innovative solutions to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities in their communities, and operating assistance to support activities such as:

 

A.   New Public Transportation Services Beyond the ADA. The following activities are examples of eligible projects meeting the definition of new public transportation.

           1)   Enhancing Paratransit beyond minimum requirements of the ADA. ADA complementary Paratransit services can be eligible under New Freedom in several ways as long as the services provided meet the definition of “new:”

                         i.    Expansion of Paratransit service parameters beyond the

                               three-fourths mile required by the ADA;

                         ii.    Expansion of current hours of operation for ADA

                                Paratransit services that are beyond those provided on

                                the fixed-route services;

                         iii.    The incremental cost of providing same day

                                 service;

                         iv.    The incremental cost of making door-to-door

                                service available to all eligible ADA 

                                 Paratransit riders, but not as a reasonable

                                 modification for individual riders in an

                                 otherwise curb-to-curb system;

                        v.    Enhancement of the level of service by

                               providing escorts or assisting riders through

                               the door of their destination;

                        vi.    Acquisition of vehicles and equipment designed to

                               accommodate mobility aids that exceed the dimensions

                               and weight ratings established for common wheelchairs

                               under the ADA and labor costs of aides to help drivers

                               assist passengers with over-sized wheelchairs. This

                               would permit the acquisition of lifts with a larger

                               capacity, as well as modifications to lifts with a 600 lb.

                               design load, and the acquisition of heavier-duty vehicles

                                for Paratransit and/or demand-response service; and

                        vii.    Installation of additional securement locations in public

                                buses beyond what is required by the ADA.

          2)   Feeder services. New “feeder” service (transit service that provides access) to commuter rail, commuter bus, intercity rail, and intercity bus stations, for which complementary Paratransit service is not required under the ADA.

           3)   Making accessibility improvements to transit and intermodal stations not designated as key stations. Improvements for accessibility at existing transportation facilities that are not designated as key stations established under 49 CFR 37.47, 37.51, or 37.53, and that are not required under 49 CFR 37.43 as part of an alteration or renovation to an existing station, so long as the projects are clearly intended to remove barriers that would otherwise have remained. New Freedom funds are eligible to be used for new accessibility enhancements that remove barriers to individuals with disabilities so they may access greater portions of public transportation systems, such as fixed-route bus service, commuter rail, light rail and rapid rail. This may include:

                         i.    Building an accessible path to a bus stop that is

                               currently inaccessible, including curb-cuts, sidewalks,

                               accessible pedestrian signals or other accessible

                               features,

                         ii.    Adding an elevator or ramps, detectable warnings, or

                               other accessibility improvements to a non-key station

                                that are not otherwise required under the ADA,

                         iii.    Improving signage, or way-finding technology, or

                         iv.    Implementation of other technology improvements that

                                enhance accessibility for people with disabilities

                                including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

         4)   Travel training. New training programs for individual users on awareness, knowledge, and skills of public and alternative transportation options available in their communities. This includes travel instruction and travel training services

B. New Public Transportation Alternatives Beyond the ADA. The following activities are examples of projects that are eligible as new public transportation alternatives beyond the ADA under the New Freedom Program:

             1)   Purchasing vehicles to support new accessible taxi, ride sharing, and/or vanpooling programs. New Freedom funds can be used to purchase and operate accessible vehicles for use in taxi, ridesharing and/or van pool programs provided that the vehicle has the capacity to accommodate a passenger who uses a “common wheelchair” as defined under 49 CFR 37.3, at a minimum, while remaining in his/her personal mobility device inside the vehicle, and meeting the same requirements for lifts, ramps and securement systems specified in 49 CFR part 38, subpart B.

             2)   Supporting the administration and expenses related to new voucher programs for transportation services offered by human service providers. This activity is intended to support and supplement existing transportation services by expanding the number of providers available or the number of passengers receiving transportation services. Only new voucher programs or expansion of existing programs are eligible under the New Freedom Program. Vouchers can be used as an administrative mechanism for payment of alternative transportation services to supplement available public transportation. The New Freedom Program can provide vouchers to individuals with disabilities to purchase rides, including: (a) mileage reimbursement as part of a volunteer driver program; (b) a taxi trip; or (c) trips provided by a human service agency. Providers of transportation can then submit the voucher for reimbursement to the recipient for payment based on pre-determined rates or contractual arrangements. Transit passes for use on existing fixed route or ADA complementary Paratransit service are not eligible. Vouchers are an operational expense which requires a 50/50 (Federal/local) match.

          3)   Supporting new volunteer driver and aide programs. New volunteer driver programs are eligible and include support for costs associated with the administration, management of driver recruitment, safety, background checks, scheduling, coordination with passengers, and other related support functions, mileage reimbursement, and insurance associated with volunteer driver programs. The costs of new enhancements to increase capacity of existing volunteer driver programs are also eligible. FTA notes that any volunteer program supported by New Freedom must meet the requirements of both “new” and “beyond the ADA.” FTA encourages communities to offer consideration for utilizing all available funding resources as an integrated part of the design and delivery of any volunteer driver/aide program.

            4)   Supporting new mobility management and coordination programs among public transportation providers and other human service agencies providing transportation. Mobility management is an eligible capital cost. Mobility management techniques may enhance transportation access for populations beyond those served by one agency or organization within a community. For example, a non-profit agency could receive New Freedom funding to support the administrative costs of sharing services it provides to its own clientele with other individuals with disabilities and coordinate usage of vehicles with other non-profits, but not the operating costs of the service. Mobility management is intended to build coordination among existing public transportation providers and other transportation service providers with the result of expanding the availability of service. Mobility management activities may include:

1. The promotion, enhancement, and facilitation of access to transportation services, including the integration and coordination of services for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and low-income individuals;
2. Support for short term management activities to plan and implement coordinated services;
3. The support of State and local coordination policy bodies and councils;
4. The operation of transportation brokerages to coordinate providers, funding agencies and customers;
5. The provision of coordination services, including employer-oriented Transportation Management Organizations’ and Human Service Organizations’ customer-oriented travel navigator systems and neighborhood travel coordination activities such as coordinating individualized travel training and trip planning activities for customers;
6. The development and operation of one-stop transportation traveler call centers to coordinate transportation information on all travel modes and to manage eligibility requirements and arrangements for customers among supporting programs; and
7. Operational planning for the acquisition of intelligent transportation technologies to help plan and operate coordinated systems inclusive of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping, Global Positioning System Technology, coordinated vehicle scheduling, dispatching and monitoring technologies as well as technologies to track costs and billing in a coordinated system and single smart customer payment systems (acquisition of technology is also eligible as a stand alone capital expense)

 

Application Process

If you are interested in applying for these funds, download the grant application here.  All applications must be turned in by March 15, 2012 to Katherine Manning at SARTA.  Katherine's email is kmanning@sartaonline.com or you can mail applications to her attention at SARTA, 1600 Gateway Blvd. SE, Canton, OH 44707.