Work Plan
Goal
Increase mobility and accessibility for the transportation disadvantaged and
the general public, and achieve more efficient use of federal human service transportation
funding resources through technology integration and service coordination.
Background
There are 62 federal programs that fund transportation services for the
transportation disadvantaged. The February 2004 Presidential Executive Order
on Human Service Transportation Coordination (Executive Order 13330) requested
the establishment of the Federal Interagency Transportation Coordinating
Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) to enhance accessibility and mobility
for persons who are transportation disadvantaged, especially individuals
with low-incomes, people with disabilities, and older Americans. This Council
is chaired by the Secretary of Transportation with representation from 11
executive departments or agencies of the Federal government.
Currently, due to inefficiencies, limited resources, and a lack of coordination,
delivery of human services transportation is challenging. In many locations,
human services transportation is fragmented, resulting in service area gaps
(geographical areas where service is not provided) or limited service area
size due to an absence in trip transfers between transportation providers.
Often, customers have to contact multiple case workers for multiple funding
programs, trip requests have to be made well in advance, scheduled trip times
are inconvenient, pick-up wait times are long and difficult to estimate,
trip travel times are long, and accessibility to transit for seniors and
persons with disabilities is limited.
New capabilities and opportunities are being created in both the transportation
and health and human services communities through the use of emerging technologies
and innovative services. However, the two communities are often unaware of
the research, new approaches, and advances that each is making, and neither
may have direct communication with the transportation disadvantaged community
at large.
The USDOT ITS Joint Program Office launches the MSAA initiative as a way
to bring all communities together to provide a coordinated effort and apply
technological solutions to the barriers to accessibility and mobility for
the transportation disadvantaged.
Building Blocks
This initiative builds upon and collaborates with several past and current
USDOT-led activities, including:
- United We Ride (UWR): UWR is an USDOT priority initiative
launched in the summer of 2003, and administered by Federal Interagency
Transportation Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).
This initiative has effectively engaged all 11 federal departmental
partners related to human service transportation delivery. It addresses
policy implications and solutions of coordinated human service transportation
systems from both technical and non-technical perspectives. The MSAA
and UWR initiatives enter a joint demonstration program to develop
feasible models of enhanced human service transportation delivery
system. The two initiatives also work together to develop a comprehensive
- Presidential Executive Order Workgroups: In response
to the Presidential Executive Order 013330 issued on February 24,
2004, six inter-agency workgroups were established to tackle issues
related to human service transportation delivery, including technology
and policy subjects. The MSAA initiative participates and plays an
active role in all six working groups.
- ITS Applications for Coordinating and Improving Human Services
Transportation Cross-Cutting Study. The Oakridge National
Laboratory leads this cross-cutting study to investigate the usage
of ITS technologies for coordinating human services transportation
operations. The project produces a final report documenting study
findings as well as two pamphlets for public outreach. These two
pamphlets aim to promote the awareness of ITS applications and
benefits among transportation service providers and the general
public.
- ITS Transit Case Studies: Making a Case for Coordination of
Community Transportation Services Using ITS. This study provides
a detailed view the experiences of three organizations as they
planned, implemented, and operated intelligent system (ITS) to
meet the mobility needs of the communities they serve through improved
coordination. They are: Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional
Transportation (SMART) in Michigan; Reach Your Destination Easily
(R.Y.D.E.) in Nebraska; and NDinfo.org in North Dakota. These three
organizations represent three distinctively different environmental
settings and challenges facing urban/suburban, small urban and
rural/frontier users and service providers.
- International Workshop on Mobility, Accessibility and Technology. This
is a workshop in San Francisco hosted by American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) in July 2004. The workshop supports a platform
for information sharing and provides an international perspective
on the delivery of human service transportation.
- Transportation and HHS Agency Coordination Operational Tests. This
is a phased program that allocates over $3 million to 13 operational
tests for coordination, technology deployment and innovative practices
of human service transportation. Many of these operational tests
focus on improving operational efficiencies from the transportation
providers’ perspective
- Transportation and HHS Regional Coordination Workshops: The
USDOT hosted 10 regional workshops (by the 10 FTA regions) from March
2003 through December 2004. These workshops aimed to solicit input
from the states’ perspective and assist states in developing
their coordination action plans.
- Coordinated Mobility: A Unified Transportation Management
Solution. Based on stakeholders’ input and needs assessment,
the USDOT funds the National Transit Institute to develop this
course. This course discusses creative approaches to overcoming
coordination barriers and thus bringing fragmented systems into
a more seamless network with a customer-focused mindset.
Approach
Embracing the notions of inter-agency coordination and cooperation and
technology integration, this initiative adopts a five-phase approach with
two embedded go/no-go decision points to advance the quality and efficiency
of human service transportation (HST) delivery. These five phases are:
Phase 1: Coalition building
Phase 2: Foundation research
Phase 3: Planning and design of ITS-enhanced
HST models
Phase 4: Deployment and evaluation of ITS-enhanced HST
models
Phase 5: Documentation and outreach
Phase 1: Coalition Building
One of the major goals of the Mobility Services for All Americans initiative
is creating a bridge between the transportation and ITS and human services
communities in order to create new solutions that combine the efforts and
knowledge of both. Coalition building to facilitate inter-agency coordination
and cooperation will be a key element in the success of this initiative.
To promote optimal allocation of resources and deployment of technologies
to enhance the mobility and accessibility for the transportation disadvantaged,
this initiative introduces three levels of coalition building to perform
various functions ranging from day-to-day program operations and management
to technical support, advisory and oversight. The first level (core group)
is a USDOT intermodal program management team that involves key personnel
from three modal administrations, including FTA, FHWA and FMCSA. This core
group performs essential program planning, management and decision-making
functions, monitors the course, and is ultimately responsible for program
outcomes. The second level is an inter-agency coalition that initially includes
representatives from four federal agencies: Departments of Health and Human
Services, Labor, Education and Transportation. These four agencies collectively
administer 52 of the 62 federal programs, identified in the GAO report, that
provide human services transportation to the transportation disadvantaged.
As the program progresses, the inter-agency coalition may be expanded to
involve representations from all ten agencies, with the additions of Agriculture,
Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, and Social Security Administration,
as defined in the presidential executive order. The third level of coalition
building reaches out to the stakeholder groups beyond public agencies. Stakeholders
may include grass-roots, community/advocacy groups, industry organizations,
transportation service providers, trade associations, and private businesses.
These organizations/individuals have a wide range of interests, expertise,
and/or roles in human services transportation and may participate in various
capacities, including providing guidance/assistance in coordination, outreach
and technology deployment and advising program management and operations.
Additionally, expert panels on specific subjects may be formed as needed
throughout the course of the program.
All three levels of coalition will remain in active participation throughout
the entire program period.
Phase 2: Foundation Research
The primary purposes of foundation research include:
- Integrate knowledge from the transportation and human services
communities on needs, gaps, barriers, past and current innovations
and emerging opportunities, so that program resources can be allocated
to focus on the “right” targets
- Establish the “baseline” so that measurable performance
can be defined and gauged
- Develop the information inventory so that subsequent program activities
can build upon existing knowledge and systems
- Identify concurrent activities and initiatives by public sectors
so that related efforts can be effectively integrated and/or coordinated
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), the contractor selected
to perform the foundation research actively collects, reviews, analyzes and
compiles information from at least the following four input sources: 1) coalition
inputs, 2) federal activities, 3) state/local initiatives, 4) general review
and research. First, SAIC establishes the mechanism and regularly obtain
inputs from the coalitions developed in Phase 1. Second, SAIC inventories
past and existing human service transportation-related projects initiated
by not only USDOT, but also across all federal government agencies. Third,
SAIC collects information and catalogs note-worthy state and local business
models and practices on human services transportation planning and delivery.
Special attention is given to those states and local communities where service
coordination and/or innovative techniques are emphasized. Last, SAIC integrates
knowledge from empirical studies and tests and conducts a state-of-the-art
research on linking technologies with human services transportation coordination
and accessibility enhancement.
At the end of this phase, SAIC provides deliverables that address the following
issues:
Identify needs and gaps in current transportation practice experienced
by transportation disadvantaged populations
Identify barriers experienced by the transportation disadvantaged, transportation
service providers and program administrators/agencies that lead to gaps and
unmet needs in accessibility and mobility
Develop inventories of: state-of-the-practice, past and ongoing projects,
and available information/references that are related to using advanced technologies
to improve accessibility and mobility of the transportation disadvantaged
Assess and prioritize the potential technologies (or “packages”)
and their applications based upon their ability to address the needs/gaps
and their readiness for widespread application
The foundation research final report is completed and available for viewing
and download from the ITS Joint Program Office website at www.its.dot.gov
Phase 3: Planning and Design of ITS-enhanced HST Models
Building upon existing knowledge, stakeholder inputs and information produced
through Phase 2: Foundation Research, the MSAA initiative launches a demonstration
program to demonstrate the technical and institutional feasibility of a coordinated
human service transportation system with enhanced accessibility features.
The MSAA initiative collaborates with the United We Ride initiative, both
in terms of funding and management, to plan and implement this demonstration
program.
The demonstration program will take place in two stages. The first stage
involves model system planning and design, while the second stage calls for
model system deployment and evaluation. This Phase – Phase 3: Planning
and Design of ITS-enhanced HST Models corresponds to the first stage. The
philosophy of conducting the demonstration in two stages is to broaden public/private
participation, foster collaboration and competition while reduce the government’s
overall investment risks. The scope of the demonstration considers all technologies,
including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Assistive Technologies
(AT), and other technologies and innovations, to improve the availability
and accessibility of public transportation services to transportation-disadvantaged
persons, including three areas of potential technology applications:
Technologies and services for improving the access, egress, and ease of
use of conventional fixed route transit and other non-private auto transportation
for the transportation disadvantaged
Technologies and services for the provision of accessible demand response
transit, paratransit, and other mobility options to transportation-disadvantaged
persons
Technologies and services for coordination of all transportation services
to provide fully accessible door-to-door mobility equivalent to that provided
to the general public.
The expected result from Phase 1 will be up to 10 “deployment-ready,” replicable
and scalable system detailed designs for models of travel management coordination
centers (TMCC) that deliver enhanced human service transportation across
a variety of operational environments and scenarios.
The USDOT selects up to 10 demonstration planning and design sites based
on criteria advertised in the request for proposals (RFPs), including:
- Type of operations environment
- Clarity and specificity of proposal
- Current state of human service transportation delivery system
- Current level of ITS Infrastructure in place
- Scope of human service transportation programs participation
- Strong public-private partnership and commitment
- Integration with other technology and/or systems change initiatives
- Cost, timeframe and qualification
The USDOT also establishes an independent and interdisciplinary technical
and management assistance (TMA) team as a resource to provide general technical
assistance to and exchange information across the project sites as needed.
The TMA team also provides direct oversight and project management support
to the USDOT to promote the quality of deliverables received from the individual
project locations.
The expected results from Phase 3 are up to 10 “deployment-ready,” replicable
and scalable system detailed designs for models of travel management coordination
centers (TMCC) that deliver enhanced human service transportation across
a variety of operational environments and scenarios. Based on these outcomes,
the MSAA program enters another ITS Management Council (IMC) go/no-go decision
point before moving into Phase 4: Deployment and Evaluation of ITS-enhanced
Human Service Transportation Models.
Eight sites have been selected to participate in this phase - www.its.dot.gov/msaa_activities.htm
Phase 4: Deployment and Evaluation of ITS-enhanced HST Models
Near the end of the period of performance of Phase 3 and subject to IMC
approval for continuation, the USDOT intends to launch the second half of
the demonstration program. That is, to select two or more local communities
to deploy and evaluate ITS-enhanced HST models as locally planned and designed
in Phase 3. Only those project sites involved in Phase 3 (i.e., model planning
an design) are eligible to apply for the Phase 4 (model deployment and evaluation)
funding of this initiative.
The end product of this demonstration program is the creation of replicable/scalable
models of travel management coordination center (TMCC) that not only provides
single point of access, unified, customer-based travel support services,
but also supports coordination of human services transportation management
and operations across various social welfare programs and service providers,
modes and geographic areas. The TMCC deploys a collection of technologies
that are tested and proven, and have demonstrated significant benefits and
return on investment based on empirical evidence, including results from
the 13 ongoing rural ITS transit operational tests. The concept of replicability
and scalability is essential to the system design and specification of TMCC
in order to promote widespread deployment (i.e. minimal customization required
from one deployment to another) across the country from both technical (e.g.,
ITS) and non-technical (e.g., policies and regulations) perspectives.
The MSAA program currently plans to fund two local communities for TMCC
model deployment and evaluation. The two sites represent distinctively different
service characteristics and challenges facing urban/suburban and rural/frontier
public transportation operations – a key finding resulting from the
MSAA foundation research. The number of demonstration sites may increase
upon availability of additional funds from other federal partners and/or
programs. The ability and commitment to maintenance and operate the TMCC
beyond the MSAA program funding once it is built is a key criterion for demonstration
site selection. In addition to a self-evaluation to be performed by the local
demonstration communities, the MSAA program also selects an independent contractor(s)
to conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine the returns on investment
and measure the overall success of the respective TMCC in achieving program
goals.
Phase 5: Technology Transfer, Customer Outreach and Professional
Capacity Building
While the key product of the MSAA program is the demonstration of replicable
and scalable models of TMCC at two or more local communities (i.e., Phase
4), the ultimate success of the program is dependent on the level of nationwide
deployment to enhance the quality of mobility services for all Americans.
To this end, the MSAA program fully recognizes the importance of technology
transfer, customer outreach and professional capacity building (PCB). In
Phase 5, the program builds on the success of TMCC demonstration to promote
a widespread practice of human services transportation coordination through
well designed and articulated technology transfer, customer outreach and
professional capacity building activities so that more of the transportation
disadvantaged population can enjoy the benefits of increased access and mobility
through service coordination and technology integration. An outreach and
PCB plan ensures that all program activities are carried out with the potential
implications of technology transfer, customer outreach and PCB in mind. The
plan takes into account any professional outreach opportunities and initiatives
that are not operated by the government, such as Easter Seals Project ACTION
mobility management seminars. To continue the spirit of inter-agency collaboration,
the development and delivery of technology transfer, customer outreach and
professional capacity building activities utilize coalition networks built
at the beginning and throughout the program period.
Planned outreach activities and materials will focus on the following four
areas:
- To increase the general public and policy-makers’ awareness
of the concept and benefits of human services transportation coordination
- To promote the general public and policy-makers’ awareness
of the concept and benefits of innovative technologies for accessibility
and mobility solutions
- To inform and educate the transportation disadvantaged about turning
available transportation resources into enhanced accessibility and
mobility
- To educate transportation service providers about applicable ITS
technologies, their respective strength and weakness, technical implications
and empirical lessons learned.
- To outreach and educate human services program administrators
and transportation service providers about the opportunities and
potential return on investment (economic and others) presented by
integrating technologies and coordinate services.
The program proposes to take advantage of existing mechanisms established
through the USDOT ITS and other departmental agencies’ programs for
delivery. These mechanisms may include the following:
- Provide technical assistance to human services transportation
providers and program planners and implementers
- Develop and distribute technical and/or implementation guides
that contain technical details and step-by-step instructions on how
to plan, design and implement a successful program
- Develop and deliver training courses
- Continue ITS peer-to-peer support program
- Continue ITS Transit Showcase-in-a-Box or similar innovative program
- Continue ITS Transit technical assistance program
- Produce papers for professional journals, newsletters, and publications
as appropriate
- Make presentations at conferences and workshops
Phase 5 commences upon the completion of Phase 2: Foundation Research.
Milestones
Establishment of Inter-agency coalition
building and stakeholder steering groups |
September 2004 |
Delivery of foundation research
reports |
April 2005 |
Selection of demonstration planning
and design sites |
April 2006 |
Completion of demonstration planning
and design |
April 2007 |
Selection of TMCC deployment sites |
May 2007 |
Operational TMCC |
December 2007 |
Delivery of TMCC evaluation reports |
August 2008 |
Delivery of final program reports |
September 2008 |
PCB/Outreach activities/materials |
September 2008 |
Funding
This initiative requires $8M over four years. In fiscal year 2005, a
federal funding estimate of $1 million is needed to launch this initiative,
including program development and management, coalition building (Phase 1),
foundation research (Phase 2). In fiscal year 2006, $3 million is needed to
carry out demonstration planning and design, and provide technical and management
assistance to the selected local communities (Phase 3). In fiscal year 2007,
additional $3 million is needed to implement the replicable/scalable traveler
management coordination center demonstration program and conduct in-depth evaluations
to determine return on investment, measure system impacts, and document lessons
learned (Phase 4). In fiscal year 2008, $1 million is needed to complete the
TMCC demonstration, produce a final program report to assess the overall level
of the program success, and conduct PCB/outreach activities (Phase 5).
Updated
October 9, 2008 4:11 PM
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