Steering Committee Meeting
United We Ride Plan Update
Coordinated
Public Transit / Human Services
Transportation Planning
In Collaboration with:
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2011
Today’s Agenda
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
• Welcome and Project Purposes
• Presentations
– Report of Findings from Agency Survey, including Themes
from two prior meetings
– Preliminary Findings of Outreach
– Overview of RVTD ‘s Tiered Service Improvements
• Steering Group Discussion
– Prioritizing Transportation Gaps/Needs of Three Target Groups
• Identifying strategies to meet needs
– Projects and Partners
2012 United We Ride
Coordinated Plan
 Study area - Jackson County
 Considers region – given regional trips and twocounty impacts, given RVCOG two-county focus
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Working and not working?
Unmet mobility needs of 3 target groups?
What coordinated transportation exists ?
What strategies and projects can meet needs?
Shelf-ready project list….prioritized
for future funding opportunities
3
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Themes from:
Prior Steering Group Meetings
and
UWR Plan Existing Conditions
Drawn From Secondary Sources
Themes
 Overall population growth –
 12% over past decade; more growth anticipated
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Region clearly impacted by Great Recession –
 Jackson Co. – 21,000 persons/ 150% poverty level
 Increased poverty levels for:
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Children
Working and non-working adults
Hispanic persons
Persons with disabilities
Older persons
 Additional target group – veterans
 Older vets aging in place/ caregiver needs too
 Interest in rural areas for newly returning vets
5
Themes
 Trip type needs –
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Medical trips, for those on Medicaid - covered
 Work trips and job seeking trips - needed
• Living wage employment
– Sundays
– New Saturday service a boon
– Before 5 or 6 a.m. and after 8 p.m.?
 Trip needs outside RVTD district boundaries:
– Shady Cove, Upper Rogue
– Gold Hill, Rogue River
– Grants Pass
 Trip needs within district; not on existing RVTD
service footprint or beyond Valley Lift ¾ mile
 Individualized trips – trip chaining ,door thru door
6
Themes
 Other areas of need –
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Affordability of transit
 Information tools
- 2-1-1 Centralized Information
- Agency staff limited transit understanding
- Travel training opportunities
 Other connections
 Opportunities –
 TransLink and URCC brokered service
 RSVP volunteer driver program
 Living Opportunities vehicle loaner program
7
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Highlights of Agency Survey
Agency Survey –
Respondents
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Survey distributed July and August
54 total agencies (49 unduplicated)
Reporting total caseload almost 70,000
Agency Survey – Respondents
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
CHILDREN, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS
SENIORS
Family Nurturing Center
Magdalene Home
CASA of Jackson County
Boys & Girls Club of the Rogue Valley
Maslow Project
Mediation Works
Southern Oregon Child & Family Council
Headstart
Rogue Retreat
Rogue Valley Family YMCA
United Way of Jackson County
AARP
Central Point Senior Center
RVCOG – Senior & Disability Services
Medford Senior Center
Food & Friends, RVCOG
Ridgeview Assisted Living
Rogue Valley Manor Community Services
Wynwood Rogue Valley
Upper Rogue Community Center
Human Services
DISABILITIES
Transportation
DSAC
Easter Seals Oregon
Jackson County DD Services
Living Opportunities, Inc.
Phoenix Counseling
RVCOG – Senior & Disability Services
Rogue Retreat
Southern Oregon GOODWILL
The ARC Jackson County
Planning
VETERANS
Veterans Administration
VA SORCC – Voc Rehabilitation Program
Veterans Administration/ DAV
VA SORCC CNH Program
LOW-INCOME
Ashland Emergency Food Bank
Community Works
Hearts with a Mission
Housing Authority of Jackson County
Salvation Army
Agency Survey - Clientele
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Varying clientele groups well-represented
Agency Survey –
Transportation Role
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Multiple roles - 28 respondents reporting
some transportation function
Agency Survey –
Transportation Role
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Transportation information/ arranging role
most common
Agency Survey –
Transportation Role
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Respondents are spending $s on transportation
– operating or contracting
Agency Survey – Role by Type
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Providers split between public and non-profits 15
more non-profit, non-provider agencies
Agency Survey - Providers
Services directly operated –
# of
Vehicles
Agency:
City:
Department of Veterans Affairs
White City
Family Nurturing Center - Outreach/Intake
Medford
2
Hearts With A Mission
Medford
1
Josephine Community Transit - JCT
Grants Pass
Living Opportunities, Inc
Medford
17
Salvation Army Hope House
Medford
2
Human Services
Southern Oregon Child and Family Council Head Start
Central Point
Transportation
Southern Oregon Goodwill
Medford
5
Upper Rogue Community Center
Shady Cove
6
Veteran's Administration
White City
Veterans Administration - DAV
White City
6
Wynwood Rogue Valley
Medford
1
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Planning
12 Agencies directly operating; significant
reliance upon volunteers
Agency Survey - Providers
Subsidizing bus passes –
UNITED WE
Agency:
City:
Community Works
Medford
DD Services
Medford
Family Nurturing Center - Outreach/Intake
Medford
Jackson County DDS
Medford
Living Opportunities, Inc
Medford
Human Services
Maslow Project
Medford
Transportation
Southern Oregon Goodwill
Medford
VHA-White City, OR SORCC
White City
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Planning
# of
Vehicles
2
17
5
In addition to RVTD’s bus pass program with
United Way and ACCESS, 8 other agencies
are distributing RVTD bus pass or tokens.
Agency Survey - Providers
Contracting for transportation –
UNITED WE
Agency:
City:
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley
Grants Pass
Community Works
Medford
Department of Veterans Affairs
White City
Jackson County DDS
Medford
Rogue Retreat
Medford
Human Services
Rogue Valley Family YMCA
Medford
Transportation
RVCOG - Senior and Disability Services
Central Point
Upper Rogue Community Center
Shady Cove
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Planning
8 organizations procuring needed
transportation via contract.
# of
Vehicles
1
1
6
Agency Survey – Themes in
Unmet Needs
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Breadth of unmet needs reported.
Agency Survey – Themes in
Unmet Needs
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Top-rated needs are individualized or beyond
existing RVTD network.
Agency Survey – Themes in
Unmet Needs
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Reported needs differ somewhat by
transportation role
Agency Survey – Themes in
Unmet Needs
• Other reported needs –
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
• Sunday service in White City and for vets in
residence at SCORCC (325)
• Appointments and groups ending after 8 p.m.
• Some dialysis trips
• Route to Amy’s Kitchen and at shift changes
• Consistent service to east end of Ashland
• Groceries: twice monthly to Winco & Food 4 Less
• Regional trips: Josephine County, Cave City, Gold
Hill, Grants Pass and Upper Rogue
Agency Survey –
Barriers to Mobility
• For Vets
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
• At VA, no lift-equipped vehicles
• Not all can get to DAV pick-up points
• Other Barriers
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
• Affordability – costs to riders; agencies limited
budgets for tokens & passes
• Physical infrastructure and pedestrian safety in
getting to bus – crossing 4+ lanes of traffic
• Inconvenience – time traveling, waiting for bus,
Valley Lift window of 15/30/45 minutes
• RVTD schedules – early a.m., eves, Sundays
Agency Survey –
Coordination Interests
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Bus passes & information needs highest rated
Agency Survey –
Coordination Interests
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Second tier interests are also opportunities.
Agency Survey –
Coordination Interests
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
• Collaborative county
– Multiple informal relationships and
arrangements around transportation
– Several formal contracts
Agency Survey - Budgets
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Almost $300,000 in
transportation funds
reported by 10 agencies
Planning
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UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Stakeholder Outreach Effort
Who We’ve Talked To
Stakeholders
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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United Way
RSVP
La Clinica
STEPS
Ashland Food Bank
VASORCC
Housing Authority
Rogue Community
College
 ACCESS
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Metro Medical
RV Medical Center
Harry and David
Goodwill
Ashland Senior Center
Call a Ride Program
Maslow Program
Who We’ve Talked To
Focus Groups of Constituents
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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La Clinica Clients
Veterans
DASIL Consumers
WIC Program Participants (Mothers)*
Medford Senior Center*
Key Themes from Interviews
and Focus Groups
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Key Themes: What is Working
 RVTD providing excellent quality service during
the times when they operate
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Much appreciation for new Saturday and later evening
service
 High marks for bus operators, vehicles and reliability
 Non-emergency medical transportation
 TransLInk
 Call a Ride - RSVP
 DAV
 Services for Developmentally Disabled programs
 Highly collaborative social service community
working to meet many needs
 211 Program is now live
Key Themes: What is Needed
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Specific trip segments to increase transit
access to employment and education
opportunities
 TIME:
• Early morning (e.g. Harry & David)
• Evening (retail, restaurant, Industrial)
• Sundays (retail)
 PLACE:
• Amy’s Kitchen, and other industrial work sites
• Eagle Point
• Grant’s Pass
• Table Rock Campus
Key Themes: What is Needed
 New services to north portion of RVTD
District
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Connect Central Point – White City – Eagle Point
 Growing affordable housing (New Housing
Authority Complex in White City)
 RCC Table Rock Campus
 Amy’s Kitchen/Industrial Areas
 Central Point La Clinica (Hammerick Rd)
 Wal-Mart in Eagle Point
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
35
Key Themes: What is Needed
 Eagle Point
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Wal-Mart
 Growing low income community
 Need to get to RCC campuses - Table Rock and
Medford
 STEPS program
Key Themes: What is Needed
 Other unserved destinations within Medford
area
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
 East Medford (Spring Street/Springbrook
Extension area)
 Maple Terrace Housing Authority Complex
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
37
Key Themes: What is Needed
 Ashland
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Improved access to food bank in Ashland
 Mountain Meadows and other retirement
communities north-east of freeway
 Hospital
 East Main and north of there
 Better distribution of bus tokens purchased by
City of Ashland, availability of free passes
provided by RVTD
Key Themes: What’s Needed
 Unserved Pockets in rural areas
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Gold Hill
 Shady Cove
 Applegate area
Key Themes: What’s Needed
 Regional Trips
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Grant’s Pass for Jobs, Courts and RCC
 Lack of information about what is currently
available (Greyhound, Amtrak Thruway, other
private carriers)
 Affordability issues
Key Themes: What is Needed
 Recreational Trips
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
 Veterans – Saturday evenings, Sundays and
Holidays
 Disability Population – after 8 pm
 Older Adults - Churches, Community Concerts
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
41
Themes: What’s Needed
 Enhanced Communications
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Stakeholders not fully aware of services available
(e.g. Saturday service)
 Eligibility for specialized services not always well
understood
 Google Transit not well known
Key Themes: What’s Needed
 Transit Affordability
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Transit is a better value for lower income families
than owning/maintaining a vehicle.
 Lowest income populations struggle to pay fares
and often run out of money before end of month.
 Free ride program is very appreciated
• 22 rides over 3 months is limiting.
• Equity of free pass distribution – Medford
only.
 New one-transfer policy disliked by some riders.
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Key Themes: What’s Needed
 Built Environment
 Better Pedestrian/Bicycle Access
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
• Built environment is highly auto oriented
• Not pedestrian friendly
 Locating of human service and educational
destinations relevant to transit
• Social Services
• Housing Authority
• RCC
Key Themes
 Jobs Access – critical trip segments
 Time and Place
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Central Point-White City-Eagle Point Connection
Eagle Point
Unserved pockets (within Medford)
Ashland (unserved areas)
Unserved Pockets (rural areas)
Regional Trips
Recreational Trips
Enhanced Communications
Transit Affordability
Built Environment
45
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
RVTD
Services and
Tiered Strategic Planning
Direction
RVTD Transit Services
 RVTD Fixed Route
 General public riders
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 RVTD Valley Lift
 Persons certified as ADA eligible for
complementary paratransit
 Trips within ¾ mile of fixed-route
 RVTD PLUS
 Non-medical trips for DHS eligible riders; 1 ½ mile
 RVTD DD53 (new program)
 Workshop/ employment trips for eligible riders
 Way To Go promoting alternatives to driving
47
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
48
RVTD’s Tiered Strategic Plan
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
49
Available Public Transit
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
Other Area Public Transit or
Specialized Transportation
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Josephine Community Transit – Fixed Route
and Dial-a-Ride
 Klamath Shuttle & Southwest Point
 STF-Funded Programs
 Upper Rogue Community Center (URCC)
 Living Opportunities, Ashland – Grants Pass
 RSVP Call A Ride mileage reimbursement
 TransLINK
 OBSS [Oregon Brokerage System Software]
 Greyhound and Amtrak Thruway
51
Discussion: Prioritize Needs
 Jobs Access – critical trip segments
 Time and Place
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Unserved Times – Sunday, early, evening
Central Point-White City-Eagle Point Connection
Eagle Point
Unserved pockets (within Medford)
Ashland (unserved areas)
Unserved Pockets (rural areas)
Regional Trips
Recreational Trips
Enhanced Communications
Transit Affordability
Built Environment
52
Coordination
Opportunities
53
Opportunities
 Coordinated Dispatching – Upper Rogue
Community Center
UNITED WE
 Has increased utilization of transit resources
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
54
Opportunities
 Opening of integrated HHS office downtown
Medford
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Distribution of free/subsidized bus passes
 Easy access from Front Street station
 Day Care opportunity?
Opportunities
 Before/After Hours Work Access
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Specialized Vanpool/Shuttle
Drive Less Connect - ridesharing
Shared Ride Subsidized Taxi
Employer Participation
Opportunities
 Information
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Travel Training
Stakeholder Training
Google Transit
Customized Information
Mobility Manager for outreach
Opportunities
 How to Service Unique Trips
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Mileage Reimbursement to Volunteer Drivers
• Outside RVTD Service Area
• Individual/Unique Trips/Trip Chaining
 Living Opportunities Vehicle Loan Program
Opportunities
 Increase bicycle infrastructure
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Larger bike racks on buses
Bike lockers at bus stops
Bike lanes and bikeways
Bike share or bike donation programs
• Maslow
• Veterans Admin
Specific Coordination Opportunity
 Opportunity to connect Vets with jobs and
training
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
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Housing Authority Development in White City
VA Rehab Program
Employers (Harry and David)
RCC Table Rock Campus Shuttle
Discussion
of Opportunities
61
Potential Partners
Providers
(3+ vehicles)
Volunteer
Providers
RVTD
Call a Ride
UNITED WE
Living Opportunities
RIDE Plan
Upper Rogue Community
Coordinated
Center
Public Transit/
Southern
Oregon Goodwill
Passes/
Reimbursement
Community Works
DAV
DD Services
Family Nurturing Center Outreach/Intake
Human Services
Jackson County DDS
Transportation
Living Opportunities
VASORCC
7+ organizations
with 1-2
Planning
vehicles used for specialized
client base
Maslow Project
Southern Oregon Goodwill
VASORCC
Major Employers
Schedule Overview
 August and September
UNITED WE
RIDE Plan
Coordinated
Public Transit/
Human Services
Transportation
Planning
 Agency Survey
 Conducting September interviews (9/17 to 9/21)
 September 20th Workshop, Steering Committee
 Results of Community Input
 Strategies and Solutions
 January
 Review Draft Plan
 Additional Public Input
 April
 Adopt Final Coordination Plan
63