2018-2021 coordinated plan amended 12.07.17 mpo 2018... · mr. greg prichett ms. janet james ms....

2018-2021COORDINATED PUBLIC TRANSIT -

HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization1 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.Room 316 - Civic Center Complex

Evansville, IN 47708

Phone: 812.436.7833www.evansvillempo.com

Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan

for the Evansville-Henderson Urbanized Area

This project was partially funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations.

Adopted July 6, 2017Amended December 7, 2017

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RESOLUTION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

EVANSVILLE MPO POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Mr. Jack Corn, Jr. Mr. Russell SightsMr. Lloyd WinneckeMr. Bruce UngethiemDr. H. Dan Adams Ms. Angela Koehler Lindsey Ms. Christy Powell Mr. Dan Saylor Mr. William Hubiak Mr. Joe Kiefer II Mr. Todd M. RobertsonMr. Rusty Fowler Mr. Wade Clements Mr. Joe McGuinness Ms. Mayela Sosa Mr. Antonio Johnson Mr. Shawn Seals Ms. Marisol Simon Ms. Susan Weber Mr. Thomas Nelson, Jr. Ms. Bernadette Dupont Mr. Greg Thomas Mr. John Moore Ms. Leslie Poff

Chairperson, Evansville City Council Appointment Vice Chairperson, City Manager, City of Henderson AppointmentMayor, City of EvansvilleCommissioner, Vanderburgh County CommissionCouncilman, Evansville City CouncilCouncilwoman, Vanderburgh County CouncilTown Manager, Town of Newburgh AppointmentCommissioner, Warrick County CommissionCounty Engineer, Henderson County AppointmentVanderburgh County Commission AppointmentTransportation and Services Director, City of Evansville Mayoral AppointmentIndiana Department of TransportationKentucky Transportation CabinetIndiana Department of Transportation (NV)Indiana Federal Highway Administration (NV)Indiana Federal Highway Administration (NV)Indiana Department of Environmental Management (NV)Federal Transit Administration Region V (NV)Federal Transit Administration Region V (NV)Kentucky Federal Highway Administration (NV)Kentucky Federal Highway Administration (NV)Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (NV)Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (NV) Kentucky Division of Air Quality (NV)

(NV) = Non-voting

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSEVANSVILLE MPO TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Chairperson, Vanderburgh County EngineerVice-Chairperson, Evansville-Vanderburgh Area Plan Commission Executive Director

American Medical ResponseCarver Community OrganizationCSX TransportationEaster Seals Rehabilitation CenterEconomic Development Coalition of Southwest IndianaEnviroKinetics, Inc.Evansville ARCEvansville Bicycle ClubEvansville Board of Public SafetyEvansville Chamber of CommerceEvansville City EngineerEvansville Department of Metropolitan DevelopmentEvansville Department of Transportation and ServicesEvansville Department of Urban ForestryEvansville Environmental Protection AgencyEvansville Parks and Recreation DepartmentEvansville Police DepartmentEvansville Regional AirportEvansville-Vanderburgh Area Plan CommissionEvansville Water and Sewer DepartmentFederal Highway Administration (Indiana)Federal Highway Administration (Kentucky)Federal Transit Administration (Region V)Green River Area Development DistrictHenderson Area Rapid TransitHenderson City EngineerAssistant Henderson City Manager

Mr. John StollMr. Ron London

Henderson County EngineerHenderson County RiverportHenderson-Henderson County Chamber of CommerceHenderson-Henderson County Plan CommissionHenderson Judge ExecutiveIndiana Department of Environmental Management (Indianapolis)Indiana Department of Transportation (Indianapolis)Indiana Department of Transportation (Vincennes)Indiana Southern RailroadKentucky Transportation Cabinet (Frankfort)Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (Madisonville)Lochmueller GroupMetropolitan Evansville Transit SystemPort of Indiana-Mount VernonPosey County Chamber of CommerceQk4, Inc.River City TaxiSt. Mary’s Trauma HospitalSIRS, Inc.University of EvansvilleVanderburgh County Emergency Management AgencyVanderburgh County EngineerWarrick County Economic DevelopmentWarrick County Plan CommissionWarrick County School CorporationWestside Improvement Association

The following organizations are represented on the Technical Committee:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mr. Seyed ShokouhzadehMs. Pamela DrachMs. Erin SchrieferMr. Craig LuebkeMs. Laura LambMr. Vishu LingalaMr. Matt Schriefer, AICPMs. Kari AkinMr. Jeff Okes

EVANSVILLE MPO STAFFExecutive DirectorDeputy DirectorSenior Transportation Planner: Non-motorized/MTPTransportation Planner: TIP/Public Outreach/RuralTransportation Engineer: GIS/Freight/Land Use/Smart GrowthTransportation Planner: Travel Demand Modeling/GISTransportation Planner: Public Transportation/TransitFinance Offi cerTransportation Technician

SkanskaHOLAWelborn Baptist FoundationEaster Seals Rehabilitation CenterYoung Professionals NetworkDowntown HendersonSouthwestern Indiana Builders AssociationHenderson Chamber of CommerceNew Urban HomeCity of HendersonEastview Neighborhood AssociationDavid Matthews and AssociatesHuman Relation CommissionLamsco Neighborhood AssociationWestside Improvement AssociationHenderson County RiverportPoplar Grove Neighborhood AssociationCitizenHenderson Police DepartmentGrow Southwest Indiana WorkforceCAJE, WATSVanderburgh County Solid WasteMorley and AssociatesCitizenWesselman Nature SocietyEvansville Museum of Arts, History & ScienceWelborn Baptist FoundationUniversity of Southern IndianaCHAIN Neighborhood AssociationEvansville Vanderburgh Public LibraryWelborn Baptist FoundationCitizenJunior AchievementCitizen

Mr. A.C. BraunMr. Abraham BrownMs. Andrea HaysMs. Angie HigginsMr. Ben WillsMs. Beth StrawnMr. Bill PedtkeMr. Brad SchneiderMr. Brian Murphy Mr. Buzzy NewmanMr. Christopher CookeMr. David MatthewsMs. Diane Clements Mr. Fred Mulfi ngerMr. Fred PadgetMr. Greg PrichettMs. Janet JamesMs. Jennie DowneyMs. Jennifer RichmondMr. Jim HeckMr. Jim WilsbacherMr. Joe BallardMr. John DiDomizioMr. John KuhnMr. John Scott FosterMr. Josh GilmoreMr. Kevin BainMs. Linda CleekMs. Linda JonesMs. Marcia Learned-AuMs. Mardi FileMr. Mark AllenMr. Martin RowlandMr. Mike O'Daniel

Evansville Regional AirportVaughn InsuranceCity of BoonvillePorts of IndianaEvansville-area Trails CoalitionMulzer Stone/Keep Evansville BeautifulVanderburgh Community FoundationGrowth Alliance for a Greater EvansvilleEastland MallWarrick County Chamber of CommerceVanderburgh Soil and Water Conservation DistrictOak Hill Neighborhood AssociationBoonville NOW

Mr. Nate HahnMr. Nibby PriestMs. Pam HendricksonMr. Phil WilzbacherMs. Roberta HeimanMr. Russ WoosleyMr. Scott WylieMr. Shance SizemoreMr. Shawn HaydenMs. Shari ShermanMr. Steve HelfrichMr. and Ms. Steve and Susan HarpMr. Terry Phillippe

CITIZEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MTP 2040)

TABLE OF CONTENTSCHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1FAST Act .................................................................................................................................................................... 2Evansville-Henderson Coordinated Plan ................................................................................................................. 3

CHAPTER 2: SECTION 5310 FUNDING ........................................................................................... 7Available Funding ...................................................................................................................................................... 8Funded Projects ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

CHAPTER 3: REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS .................................................................................... 11Total Population ....................................................................................................................................................... 12Age and Gender ...................................................................................................................................................... 14Group Quarters ........................................................................................................................................................ 15Race and Ethnicity .................................................................................................................................................. 16Language ................................................................................................................................................................. 17Means of Transportation to Work .......................................................................................................................... 18Commute Time ........................................................................................................................................................ 19Vehicle Availability ................................................................................................................................................... 20Individuals with a Disability .................................................................................................................................... 21Household Income .................................................................................................................................................. 22Poverty .................................................................................................................................................................. 23Employment ............................................................................................................................................................. 24Potentially Disadvantage Areas .............................................................................................................................. 25

CHAPTER 4: TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS ................................................................................ 31Municipal Public Transportation ............................................................................................................................ 32Rural Public Transportation .................................................................................................................................... 39Non-Profi t Transportation Providers ....................................................................................................................... 42Other Regional Transportation Providers .............................................................................................................. 44

CHAPTER 5: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................................ 45Non-Profi t Organizations ......................................................................................................................................... 46Public Survey ........................................................................................................................................................... 46Questionnaire and Open Houses ........................................................................................................................... 47Draft Plan Open House ........................................................................................................................................... 48

TABLE OF CONTENTSCHAPTER 6: BARRIERS, GAPS AND NEEDS ................................................................................. 49Barriers and Gaps Comments ................................................................................................................................ 50Needs Comments ................................................................................................................................................... 50

CHAPTER 7: IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................................... 53Fixed Route Recommendations ............................................................................................................................. 54On Demand/Paratransit Services Recommendations ......................................................................................... 55Capital Project Implementation.............................................................................................................................. 55

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS .....................................................................................A-1APPENDIX B: TRANSIT AGENCY/NON-PROFIT PROVIDERS ..........................................................B-1APPENDIX C: PUBLIC COMMENTS .............................................................................................C-1

FIGURESFigure 1: Evansville Metropolitan Planning Area .................................................................................................... 4Figure 2: Potentially Disadvantaged Areas ............................................................................................................ 27Figure 3: Individuals Below Poverty ....................................................................................................................... 27Figure 4: Individuals Age 65 and Older ................................................................................................................. 28Figure 5: Minority (non-Hispanic) Population ........................................................................................................ 28Figure 6: Hispanic Population ................................................................................................................................ 29Figure 7: Individuals with Limited English Profi ciency (speak English “less than very well”) ............................ 29Figure 8: Individuals with a Disability .................................................................................................................... 30Figure 9: Households with No Vehicles ................................................................................................................. 30Figure 10: METS Fixed Routes ............................................................................................................................... 33Figure 11: METS Sunday Service Routes .............................................................................................................. 34Figure 12: HART Ride Guide Map .......................................................................................................................... 37Figure 13: HART Ride Guide ................................................................................................................................... 38Figure 14: WATS Route Map ................................................................................................................................... 40Figure 15: WATS Bus Stop List ............................................................................................................................... 41

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLESTable 1: Section 5310 Available Funds (2013-2016) ............................................................................................. 9Table 2: Funded Projects (2007-2015) ................................................................................................................... 9Table 3: Section 5316 and Section 5317 Funded Projects ................................................................................. 10Table 4: Total Population ........................................................................................................................................ 13Table 5: Age and Gender ........................................................................................................................................ 14Table 6: Group Quarters Population ...................................................................................................................... 15Table 7: Race and Ethnicity .................................................................................................................................... 16Table 8: Language ................................................................................................................................................... 17Table 9: Means of Transportation to Work ............................................................................................................ 18Table 10: Commute Time by Means of Transportation to Work ........................................................................... 19Table 11: Vehicle Availability of Households ......................................................................................................... 20Table 12: Individuals with a Disability ................................................................................................................... 21Table 13: Household Income ................................................................................................................................. 22Table 14: U.S. Poverty Thresholds for 2014 .......................................................................................................... 23Table 15: Employment ............................................................................................................................................ 24Table 16: Potentially Disadvantages Thresholds .................................................................................................. 25Table 17: METS Route Details ................................................................................................................................ 35Table 18: Planned Capital Projects ........................................................................................................................ 55

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CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION

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coordinated public transit/human services tranportation plan

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The FAST Act did not make any signifi cant changes to the Section 5310 program or the Coordinated Plan requirement. In particular, the project eligibility defi ned under MAP-21 is still a part of the FAST Act. Eligible activities under the FAST Act include:

• Traditional Section 5310: At least 55% of program funds must be used on capital or “traditional” 5310 projects. Examples include:

• Buses and vans; wheelchair lifts, ramps, and securement devices; transit-related information technology systems including scheduling/ routing/ on-call systems; and mobility management programs.

• Acquisition of transportation services under a contract, lease, or other arrangement. Both capital and operating costs associated with contracted service are eligible capital expenses. User-side subsidies are considered one form of eligible arrangement. Funds may be requested for contracted services covering a time period of more than one year. The capital eligibility of acquisition of services as authorized in 49 U.S.C. 5310(b)(4) is limited to the Section 5310 program.

FAST ACTThe Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan) fulfi lls the federal requirements for coordinated transportation planning under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The FAST Act was signed into law by President Obama on December 4, 2015. The Act requires that all transportation projects funded through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Section 5310: Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program be included in a locally developed Coordinated Plan. Guidance from the FTA states that the plan should be developed and approved through a process that includes participation by seniors, individuals with disabilities, representatives of public, private, and non-profi t transportation and human service providers, and other members of the public. The plan should include an assessment of the barriers, needs, and gaps in transportation for individuals with disabilities, seniors, and people with low incomes and implementation strategies to meet those needs.

The FAST Act supersedes the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Effi cient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). MAP-21 became law on July 6, 2012 and replaced SAFETEA-LU which was passed on August 10, 2005.

SAFETEA-LU was the fi rst Transportation Bill requiring the development of a Coordinated Plan in order to be eligible for Section 5310 (Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program), Section 5316 (Jobs Access and Reverse Commute Program), or Section 5317 (New Freedom Program) funding from the FTA. The passing of MAP-21 eliminated the Section 5316 and Section 5317 programs. Projects previously eligible for Section 5316 funding became eligible under the Section 5307 Program; and projects previously eligible for Section 5317 funding became eligible under Section 5310.

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service. The Coordinated Plan aids in directing Section 5310 funding to projects that improve transportation options and prevent overlapping services.

The term public transportation, as used throughout this plan, refers to all forms of transportation that are not personal vehicles owned by an individual or corporation. Public transportation includes fi xed route public transit (METS and HART), paratransit service provided by public transit agencies, transportation service provided by non-profi t organizations, and taxi services. The focus of this plan is access to these services for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

The Coordinated Plan covers the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA), which consists of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties in Indiana and Henderson County in Kentucky. Within this Planning Area is the Evansville, IN-KY Urbanized Area (sometimes referred to as the Evansville-Henderson Urbanized Area). An Urbanized Area as defi ned by the U.S. Census Bureau is a densely developed region encompassing residential, commercial, and other non-residential urban land uses with over 50,000 people. Funding and eligibility for some federal programs are based on these boundaries. Figure 1 shows the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Area and Urbanized Area.

The Coordinated Plan is divided into seven chapters as follows:

Chapter 1: IntroductionA summary of the FAST Act, the Section 5310 Program, and the development of the Evansville-Henderson Coordinated Plan.

Chapter 2: Section 5310 FundingA listing of past and current Section 5310 funding available to the Evansville-Henderson Urbanized Area and projects that have been funded with this program.

• Non-Traditional Section 5310: The remaining 45% is for other “nontraditional” projects. Under MAP-21, the program was modifi ed to include projects eligible under the former 5317 New Freedom program, described as: Capital and operating expenses for new public transportation services and alternatives beyond those required by the ADA, designed to assist individuals with disabilities and seniors. Examples include:

• Travel training; volunteer driver programs; building an accessible path to a bus stop including curb-cuts, sidewalks, accessible pedestrian signals or other accessible features; improving signage, or way-fi nding technology; incremental cost of providing same day service or door-to-door service; purchasing vehicles to support new accessible taxi, rides sharing and/or vanpooling programs; and mobility management.

EVANSVILLE-HENDERSON COORDINATED PLANThe Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan for the Evansville - Henderson Urbanized Area (Evansville-Henderson Coordinated Plan) is developed by the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The Coordinated Plan allows for the Evansville Urbanized Area to be eligible for Section 5310 funding. The MPO amends the Coordinated Plan as changes occur in transportation serving the elderly and individuals with disabilities. Full updates are completed periodically. The last full update was completed in 2007.

The primary goal of the Coordinated Plan, in addition to Section 5310 eligibility, is to create a collaborative network of transportation services that improve mobility for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low income individuals. For many people, public transportation is the only means for accessing medical care, social services, government offi ces, and other essential

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Audubon PkwyPennyrile P

kwy

£¤60

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VANDERBURGHCOUNTY

WARRICK COUNTY

HENDERSON COUNTY

InterstateState RoadLocal Road

EMPO Metropolitan Planning Area

Evansville Urbanized Area

Figure 1: Evansville Metropolitan Planning Area

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Chapter 3: Regional DemographicsAn overview of the region’s demographics and mapping of concentrated areas of seniors and individuals with disabilities that may have the greatest need for public transportation.

Chapter 4: Transportation ProvidersA list of all public transportation providers in the Evansville MPA, including municipal and rural transit providers, non-profi t organizations, and for-profi t services.

Chapter 5: Public InvolvementA summary of the public involvement process and public meetings.

Chapter 6: Assessment of Barriers, Needs, and GapsAn assessment of the public transportation needs based on demographic data, existing services, and public input.

Chapter 7: ImplementationAn overview of strategies to remove barriers and address the needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities.

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CHAPTER 2:

SECTION 5310 FUNDING

8


CHAPTER 2: SECTION 5310 FUNDING

The program was unchanged by subsequent transportation bills, until MAP-21 was authorized in 2012. MAP-21 changed the formula from a statewide distribution to a three-tiered formula with 60% of the funds going directly to urbanized areas over 200,000, 20% allocated to states for urbanized areas under 200,000, and 20% to states for non-urbanized areas . The FAST Act maintained the distribution established by MAP-21.

Due to the changes made by MAP-21, the Evansville Urbanized Area has received Section 5310 funds directly from the FTA since

AVAILABLE FUNDINGThe Section 5310 program was created by the Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) of 1982. The program made funds available to each state based on the total population of older adults and people with disabilities in the state. These funds could only be used for transportation services for the elderly and individuals with a disability. INDOT administered this program for the State of Indiana. Non-profi ts throughout the State applied to INDOT for these funds. The application process was competitive, meaning funds were only provided to non-profi ts that presented the greatest need.

Appropriated Amount

Apportioned Amount

Oversight 0.5%Reapportioned

Funds

UZAs of at least 200K (60%)

States for UZAs of 50K-199K (20%)

States for non-UZAs (20%)

UZA Share (200K)=Seniors and the Disabled Population UZAs over 200K

Seniors and the Disabled Population of all UZAs over 200K

State Share=Seniors and the Disabled Population UZAs of state (50K-199K)

Seniors and the Disabled Population of all UZAs over 200K

State Share=Seniors and the Disabled Population Non-UZAs of state

Seniors and the Disabled Population Non-UZAs of all states

FAST ActSection 5310 Formula Grants for the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

UZA = Urbanized AreaNon-UZA = Portions of State outside of Urbanized Area

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FFY Agency/Organization Project

2007

Easterseals Rehabilitation Center

Small Transit Vehicle

Carver Community Organization

Medium Transit Vehicle

2008


Large Transit Vehicle

Southern Indiana Resource Solutions

2 Low Floor Minivans

The Arc of Evansville Small Transit Vehicle

Warrick County Council on Aging

Twelve Passenger Van

2009


Twelve Passenger Van



2010 The Arc of Evansville Small Transit Vehicle

2011Easterseals Rehabilitation Center


2012Easterseals Rehabilitation Center


2013


Small Transit Vehicle

The Arc of Evansville Modifi ed Van

Association for the Blind Modifi ed Van

2014 METS 2 Paratransit Vehicles

2015

METS 2 Paratransit Vehicles

HART Paratransit Vehicle

The Arc of Evansville Low Floor Minivan



2013. Each Federal Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30), the FTA announces the total amount of available Section 5310 funding for each urbanized area for that Federal Fiscal Year (FFY). METS, HART, and non-profi t organizations in Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson counties apply for these funds through the Evansville MPO. The MPO awards funds to applicants based on need and total amount available through the program. Funds can only be used for transportation services for seniors and individuals with a disability, which includes the paratransit services of METS and HART and special transportation services provided by area non-profi ts.

The table below shows the Section 5310 funds available to the Evansville Urbanized Area since 2013.

FFY Total Amount2013 $226,857

2014 $217,681

2015 $217,295

2016 $221,607

FUNDED PROJECTSThe Section 5310 program has funded multiple projects in the Evansville Urbanized Area. The majority of these projects were for transit vehicles for area non-profi ts. These organizations use the vehicles to transport seniors and individuals with disabilities to and from their home, organizational programs, medical appointments, employment opportunities, etc.

The table to the right shows all of the projects funded by the Section 5310 program since the adoption of the 2007 Coordinated Plan. Projects prior to 2013 were awarded by INDOT. Projects from 2013 and forward were awarded by the Evansville MPO.

Table 1: Section 5310 Available Funds (2013-2016)

Table 2: Funded Projects (2007-2015)

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The table below shows the projects funded by the Section 5316 (Jobs Access and Reverse Commute Program) and Section 5317 (New Freedom Program) programs since the 2007 Coordinated Plan. These programs were established by SAFETEA-LU and removed by MAP-21. These funds were only available to METS and HART.

FFY Program Agency Project

2008Section 5316 HART Fixed Route Bus

Section 5317 HART Paratransit Vehicle

2009Section 5316 METS Transit Vehicle

Section 5317 METS 2 Paratransit Vehicles

2010

Section 5316 METS Transit Vehicle & Operating

Section 5317 METS Paratransit Vehicle & Operating

2011

Section 5316 METS Operating Costs for East Connection


2012

Section 5316 METS Operating Costs for East Connection


Table 3: Section 5316 and Section 5317 Funded Projects

1111

CHAPTER 3:

REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS

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CHAPTER 3: REGIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS

TOTAL POPULATIONThe 2014 ACS shows the three county population for Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Henderson counties to be 287,809. The Urbanized Area includes a large portion of this population, at 230,729. (Note: A portion of the Evansville Urbanized Area reaches into a small area in Posey County.) Vanderburgh County makes up more than half of the regions total population.

A region’s demographics help determine the need for public transportation. It also provides insight to the type of public transportation necessary. In order for a transit system to be effective, it must provide service to the areas with the greatest need. For some people, a normal fi xed route system is not an option due to a disability or obstacles that prevent them from accessing bus stops. This group requires other forms of public transportation. METS and HART can provide this need with their paratransit services. Non-profi t organizations can help fi ll the gaps as well, especially for the individuals that utilize their programs.

The following sections provide an overview of the demographics for the Evansville, IN-KY Urbanized Area, Vanderburgh County, Warrick County, and Henderson County. The Evansville Urbanized Area (sometimes referred to as the Evansville-Henderson Urbanized Area) includes the connected urban-suburban region covering the City of Evansville, the City of Henderson, the Town of Newburgh, the Town of Chandler, and the developed areas just beyond and between these communities. A map of the Evansville Urbanized Area is included in Chapter 1.

The U.S. Census website was used to gather the demographic data. The American Community Survey (ACS) was used for 2014 and most of the 2010 data. The ACS data is released annually as either a 1-year estimate, 3-year estimate, or 5-year estimate. The 5-year estimates were used for this document as they provide a more accurate estimate. The most current ACS data is for the year 2014.

In some cases, the Decennial Census was used as the data source. The Decennial Census is released every 10 years, with the last being 2010. The Decennial Census provides more accurate information than the ACS data, but is available for fewer demographic topics than the ACS data. The 2010 Decennial Census was used for population specifi c data, including total population, age and gender, group quarters population, and race and ethnicity. The 2000 Decennial Census was also used for total population.

HendersonCounty

WarrickCounty

VanderburghCounty

EvansvilleUrbanized Area

Vanderburgh,Warrick,

Henderson

2014 Regional Population

The Region and Urbanized Area have seen slow, but steady growth between 2000 and 2014. The data shows that people moved away from Evansville between 2000 and 2010, but have come back to the city between 2010 and 2014.

The majority of the Urbanized Area population is served by public transportation. METS provides fi xed route and paratransit service in the City of Evansville and portions of Vanderburgh County. HART provides fi xed route and paratransit service in the City of Henderson. WATS provides service in Newburgh, Chandler, Boonville, and areas in between, connecting to METS at ITT Tech at the county borders.

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2000 2010 2014

Urbanized Area 211,989 229,351 230,729

Henderson County 44,829 46,250 46,394

City of Corydon 744 720 748

City of Henderson 27,373 28,757 28,840

City of Robards 564 515 555

Vanderburgh County 171,922 179,703 180,877

Town of Darmstadt 1,313 1,407 1,468

City of Evansville 121,582 117,429 120,220

Warrick County 52,383 59,689 60,538

City of Boonville 6,834 6,246 6,200

Town of Chandler 3,094 2,887 3,236

Town of Elberfeld 636 625 691

Town of Lynnville 781 888 1,011

Town of Newburgh 3,088 3,325 3,312

Town of Tennyson 290 279 323

Total Population (3 counties) 269,134 285,642 287,809Source: 2000 Census, 2010 Census, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 4: Total Population

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AGE AND GENDERAge is one factor in determining the type of public transportation needed. Children and some young adults do not have a driver’s license and must rely on their friends or families for a ride. Some may utilize public transportation to get them around the city. This is particularly true for college students who do not have a vehicle available on campus.

Older adults also often rely on public transportation. Some may be unable to drive for health reasons, some may have never received a driver’s license, and other may just choose not to have a vehicle. These seniors rely on public transportation to get them to and from medical appointments, to grocery stores and other shopping, to visit family, etc. Some also take advantage of programs offered by area non-profi ts who provide their transportation for them.

Preschool(0-4)

School(5-17)

College(18-24)

Adult(25-64)

Senior(65+)

2014 Age & Gender

2010 2014

Vanderburgh Warrick Henderson Urbanized Vanderburgh Warrick Henderson Urbanized

Preschool (0-4)

M 5,893 1,966 1,558 7,833 5,982 1,911 1,547 7,931

F 5,746 1,855 1,556 7,631 5,366 1,834 1,436 7,573

School (5-17)

M 14,460 6,101 3,934 19,244 14,407 6,040 3,978 19,009

F 13,797 5,509 3,822 18,300 13,842 5,445 3,893 18,572

College(18-24)

M 9,930 2,070 1,826 11,788 9,520 2,219 1,871 11,392

F 11,259 1,975 1,835 13,257 10,673 2,132 1,816 12,678

Adult(25-64)

M 45,837 15,754 12,220 58,277 46,604 15,641 12,108 58,838

F 46,885 16,501 12,948 60,803 47,600 16,336 12,842 61,521

Senior(65+)

M 10,551 3,511 2,779 13,017 10,942 3,959 2,944 13,602

F 15,345 4,447 3,772 19,201 15,674 5,021 3,959 19,613

Median Age M 36.1 38.7 38.7 35.8 36.2 38.7 38.9 35.8

F 38.9 40.9 40.8 38.8 39.3 41.8 40.6 38.9

B 37.5 39.7 39.8 37.3 37.6 40.4 39.8 37.3Source: 2010 Census, 2010-2014 ACSNote: M=Male; F=Female; B-Both

Table 5: Age and Gender

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GROUP QUARTERSThe group quarters population includes all people not living in a household, whether they live in an institutionalized or non-institutionalized facility. Institutionalized facilities include correctional facilities, group homes and treatment centers, nursing facilities, and mental health facilities. Non-institutionalized facilities include university student housing, shelters for the homeless, residential treatment centers, group homes, temporary housing, and Job Corps centers.

Institutionalized individuals have little, if any use for public transportation as they are confi ned to the facility unless accompanied by another person. Many non-institutionalized individuals rely solely on public transportation. The largest group of non-institutionalized individuals in the urbanized area is college students.

HendersonCounty

WarrickCounty

VanderburghCounty

EvansvilleUrbanized Area

Vanderburgh,Warrick,

Henderson

2014 Population in Group Quarters

2010

2014Institutionalized Non-InstitutionalizedCorrectional Nursing Other

Urbanized Area 1,288 2,193 165 5,430 8,726

Henderson County 544 262 0 359 1,191

Vanderburgh County 744 1,497 165 5,125 7,164

Warrick County 67 598 0 61 758Source: 2010 Census, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 6: Group Quarters Population

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RACE AND ETHNICITYTitle VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects all people in the United States from discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal fi nancial assistance. Almost every public transportation provider in the U.S. receives fi nancial assistance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The FTA requires all recipients of FTA funds to complete a Title VI plan and ensure that no person is excluded from the participation in, denied the benefi ts of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity of those recipients.

The Evansville-Henderson Urbanized Area is more diverse than the region as a whole and surrounding counties. Vanderburgh County has the highest non-white population of the three counties in total number and as a percentage of the total county population. All three counties have had an increase in non-white population between 2010 and 2014.

Hispanic orLatino

Other

Asian

Black

White

2014 Race and Ethnicity

2010

Total Population

Non-Hispanic Hispanic or Latino

White Black Asian Other

Urbanized Area 229,351 195,509 20,111 2,920 5,670 5,141

Henderson County 46,250 40,773 3,568 193 858 858

Vanderburgh County 179,703 153,080 16,228 1,986 4,536 3,873

Warrick County 59,689 56,095 780 957 911 946

2014

Urbanized Area 230,729 195,284 20,434 2,873 6,727 5,411

Henderson County 46,394 40,436 3,298 153 1,533 974

Vanderburgh County 180,877 153,323 16,454 1,819 5,017 4,264

Warrick County 60,538 56,684 895 1,060 892 1,007Source: 2010 Census, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 7: Race and Ethnicity

17



LANGUAGETitle VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also protects people from discrimination based on language. The Supreme Court decided in 1974 (Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563, 569 (1974)) that denying someone of a program or activity receiving federal fi nancial assistance based on the individual’s inability to or diffi culty in speaking English violated Title VI. Public Transportation providers must make all possible efforts to accommodate non-English speaking people. This typically means having Spanish translations of notices and/or providing accommodations necessary to make information available to non-English speaking people.

In the Evansville Urbanized Area, there are nearly 9,000 individuals that speak a language other than English. The majority of them, more than 6,000 people, speak English “very well”. Nearly 3,000 people speak English “less than very well”.

Speak onlySpeak onlyEnglishEnglish95.9%

Speak EnglishSpeak English"very well"very well

68.4%

Speak EnglishSpeak Englishless than less than

"very well"very well31.6%

Speak SpeakAnother AAnother

LanguageeLanguage4.1%

2014 Language Spoken

2010

Total 5+ y/o Population Speak only English Speaks other Language Speaks English “very well”

Speaks English “less than very well”

Urbanized Area 202,264 95.8% 4.2% 62.4% 37.6%

Henderson County 42,848 96.8% 3.2% 72.2% 27.8%

Vanderburgh County 166,739 96.0% 4.0% 57.8% 42.2%

Warrick County 54,592 96.0% 4.0% 83.3% 16.7%

2014Urbanized Area 215,225 95.9% 4.1% 68.4% 31.6%

Henderson County 43,411 97.2% 2.8% 64.8% 35.2%

Vanderburgh County 169,262 96.1% 3.9% 68.4% 31.6%

Warrick County 56,793 96.4% 3.6% 72.4% 27.6%Source: 2010 Census, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 8: Language

18



MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORKThe personal vehicle is the most common means of transportation to work for the Evansville Urbanized Area. In total, 93% of the workers in the urbanized area drove to work in their personal vehicle. That includes almost 85% that drove alone and over 8% that carpooled. Only 1.3% of the urbanized area population takes public transportation to work based on the 2014 ACS. However, this is an increase over the year 2010 when only 1.1% of the population took public transportation. Drove AloneDrove Alone

90,560

CarpooledCarpooled8,911

PublicPublicTransportationnsportati

1,408

WalkedWalked1,983

OtherOther1,512

WorkedWorkedat Homeat Home

2,550

2014 Means of Transportation to Work

2010

Total Drove Alone CarpooledPublic

TransportationWalked Other

Worked at Home

Urbanized Area 101,889 85,738 9,491 1,128 2,227 1,207 2,098

Henderson County 20,778 17,908 1,993 90 210 216 361

Vanderburgh County 85,667 71,315 8,183 1,101 2,114 1,045 1,909

Warrick County 28,303 24,911 2,113 29 193 243 814

2014Urbanized Area 106,924 90,560 8,911 1,408 1,983 1,512 2,550

Henderson County 19,982 17,123 1,902 74 216 160 507

Vanderburgh County 84,903 71,182 6,933 1,370 1,769 1,291 2,358

Warrick County 29,221 26,018 1,881 19 193 330 780Source: 2006-2010 ACS, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 9: Means of Transportation to Work

19



COMMUTE TIMEThe average commute time to work increased for all commuters in the Urbanized Area between 2010 and 2014. In 2010, the average commute time was 18.5 minutes. In 2014, the average increased to 19.2 minutes.

Commute time to work is longest for workers taking public transportation. Seventy-three percent of public transportation commuters spend more than 30 minutes to get to work, while only 16% of those that drove alone in their personal vehicle spend more than 30 minutes to get to work.

36%

72%

3%

32%

36%

49%

18%

24%

46%

47%

11%

6%

30%

12%

11%

1%

3%

17%

7%

2%

3%

1%

26%

3%

3%

Other

Walked

PublicTransportation

Carpooled

DroveAlone

2014 Commute Time< 15 mins 15-29 mins 30-44 mins 45-59 mins 60+ mins

2010

Drove Alone CarpooledPublic

TransportationWalked Other

<15 mins 38% 31% 13% 73% 26%

15-29 mins 46% 46% 20% 15% 55%

30-44 mins 11% 15% 33% 10% 9%

45-59 mins 2% 5% 15% 1% 2%

60+ mins 3% 4% 19% 1% 7%

2014<15 mins 36% 32% 3% 72% 36%

15-29 mins 47% 46% 24% 18% 49%

30-44 mins 11% 12% 30% 6% 11%

45-59 mins 2% 7% 17% 3% 1%

60+ mins 3% 3% 26% 1% 3%Source: 2006-2010 ACS, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 10: Commute Time by Means of Transportation to Work

20



VEHICLE AVAILABILITYVehicle availability is a key factor in determining the amount of need for public transportation. Households without a vehicle rely on public transportation, taxis, walking, or biking to get to get to work, go to the grocery store, etc. Households with only one vehicle may also rely on public transportation when multiple people from the same household have different destinations at the same time.

More than 8% of the Urbanized Area households have no vehicle and 37% have only one vehicle. According to the 2014 ACS, Henderson County has the highest rate of no vehicle availability with 9% of households having no vehicles. Almost 93% of the households in the three counties that do not have a vehicle, are within the Urbanized Area.

0 VehiclesVehicle8% 1 Vehicle1 Vehicle

37%

2 VehiclesVehicle38%

3 VehiclesVehicle13%

4+ VehiclesVehicl5%

2014 Vehicles Available per Household

2010

Urbanized Area Henderson County

Vanderburgh County

Warrick County

No Vehicle 7,980 1,433 6,777 589

1 Vehicle 32,906 6,223 26,843 4,692

2 Vehicle 33,389 7,138 26,728 10,302

3 Vehicle 11,434 2,830 9,651 4,331

4+ Vehicles 4,062 875 3,974 2,179

2014

No Vehicle 7,949 1,730 6,160 670

1 Vehicle 34,704 6,406 27,469 5,415

2 Vehicle 35,505 6,868 27,561 10,034

3 Vehicle 11,796 2,972 9,554 4,496

4+ Vehicles 4,262 899 3,621 2,060Source: 2006-2010 ACS, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 11: Vehicle Availability of Households

21



INDIVIDUALS WITH A DISABILITYThe number of individuals with a disability is a key factor in determining the amount of paratransit services needed. Depending on the severity of the disability, these individuals may rely solely on someone else to drive them everywhere they need to go. In some cases, the need for door-to-door paratransit service could change from day to day.

Fourteen percent of the Urbanized Area’s population had some type of disability at the time of the 2014 ACS. This includes 5% of children under 18, 12% of adults age 18-64, and 38% of seniors age 65 and over. While the number of seniors with a disability decreased between 2010 and 2014, the number of adults and children with a disability increased by more than 10%.

Children(0-17)

Adults(18-64)

Seniors(65+)

2010 & 2014 Individuals with Disabilities

2010

Urbanized Area Henderson County Vanderburgh County Warrick County

Children (0-17) 4.9% 6.1% 5.0% 3.7%

Adults (18-64) 11.5% 15.7% 10.3% 8.3%

Seniors (65+) 39.9% 43.9% 38.7% 35.3%

Total 13.9% 17.3% 13.0% 10.5%

2014

Children (0-17) 5.3% 9.2% 4.7% 3.3%

Adults (18-64) 12.2% 17.1% 11.7% 8.4%

Seniors (65+) 37.8% 38.2% 37.6% 34.1%

Total 14.1% 18.3% 13.8% 10.7%Source: 2006-2010 ACS, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 12: Individuals with a Disability

22



HOUSEHOLD INCOMEHousehold income often correlates to the number of vehicles owned by a household. A low-income household is less likely to have multiple vehicles than a higher income household. These households are more likely to use public transportation.

The 2014 median household income for the Urbanized Area was $43,424. This is similar to the Kentucky median household income of $43,342, and slightly lower than the Indiana median of $48,342. The U.S. Census sets income thresholds to determine poverty levels. In 2014, a household was considered in poverty if the total income was less than $12,071 for a one-person household, $15,379 for a two-person household, and $24,230 for a four-person household. More details about poverty are in the next section. Henderson

County

WarrickCounty

VanderburghCounty

EvansvilleUrbanized

Area

2014 Median Household Income

2014


Total Households 94,216 18,875 74,365 22,675

Less than $25,000 25,405 5,999 20,118 3,217

$25,000 to $49,999 27,521 4,947 21,789 5,704

$50,000 to $74,999 16,944 3,138 13,548 4,600

$75,000 to $99,999 10,616 2,399 8,322 3,577

$100,000 or more 13,730 2,392 10,588 5,577Source: 2010-2014 ACS

Table 13: Household Income

23



POVERTYHouseholds with extremely low incomes are considered to be in poverty. Nearly 16% of all households in the Urbanized Area are in poverty. Henderson County has the highest poverty rate of the three counties at 18%. The poverty rate in Warrick County is 8%. Poverty is determined based on national income thresholds that are developed by the U.S. Census. The table below shows the thresholds for 2014.

Individuals in poverty is defi ned as all of the people that live within a household in poverty. The more people living in a household, the higher the poverty threshold. A family of four must have an annual income greater than $24,230 to be considered above poverty, while a family of six must have an annual income greater than $32,473 to be considered above poverty.

HendersonCounty

WarrickCounty

VanderburghCounty

EvansvilleUrbanized

Area

2014 Individuals & Households Below Poverty

Size of Family Unit Weighted Average

Related children under 18 years

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8+

1 person $12,071

Under 65 $12,316

65 and over $11,354

2 people $15,379

HHer under 65 $15,934 15,853 16,317

HHer 65 and over $14,326 14,309 16256

3 people $18,850 18,518 19,055 19,073

4 people $24,230 24,418 24,817 24,008 24,091

5 people $28,695 29,447 29,875 28,960 28,252 27,820

6 people $32,473 33,869 34,004 33,303 32,631 31,633 31,041

7 people $36,927 38,971 39,214 38,375 37,791 36,701 35,431 34,036

8 people $40,968 43,586 43,970 43,179 42,485 41,501 40,252 38,953 38,622

9+ people $49,021 52,430 52,685 51,984 51,396 50,430 49,101 47,899 47,601 45,768Source: U.S Census BureauNote: HHer = Householder

Table 14: U.S. Poverty Thresholds for 2014

24



EMPLOYMENTThe total number of unemployed increased slightly between 2010 and 2014 in the Urbanized Area. Lack of transportation options is the reason some people cannot fi nd a job. Providing public transportation to areas of major employment could help decrease the regional unemployment rate.

Based on 2014 ACS data, the urbanized area unemployment rate was 7.4%. Henderson County had the highest unemployment rate at 9.3%. Warrick County had the lowest with 6.2%.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides more detailed unemployment statistics at more frequent intervals. According to BLS data, the annual unemployment rate in 2015 for Vanderburgh County was 4.2%, for Warrick County was 4.1%, and for Henderson County was 5.0%. Preliminary data for 2016 shows similar rates through June 2016.

Armed Forcesrmed Force0.11%

Employedmployed93%

Unemployedoemploememploymplo7%

Not inNot inLabor Forcebor Forc

36%

InInLabor Forcebor Forc

64%

2014 Employment

2010


In Armed Forces 238 39 234 0

Employed 104,096 21,315 87,315 28,952

Unemployed 7,357 1,778 5,885 1,754

Not in Labor Force 60,185 13,101 49,329 14,342

2014In Armed Forces 123 19 80 24

Employed 108,212 20,438 85,907 29,521

Unemployed 8,593 2,097 6,374 1,964

Not in Labor Force 65,917 14,111 52,610 15,422Source: 2006-2010 ACS, 2010-2014 ACS

Table 15: Employment

25



• Hispanic population;

• individuals with limited English profi ciency (speak English “less than very well”);

• individuals with a disability; and

• households with no vehicles.

For each one of these key demographic characteristics, a regional average combining all three counties was found using the ACS data. This average is considered to be the Potentially Disadvantaged Threshold. If a the percentage for a particular Census Tract exceeds this Threshold in more than one of these demographic categories, it is considered to be a Potentially Disadvantaged Area. Table 13 shows the Regional and County averages for each of the demographic characteristics.

POTENTIALLY DISADVANTAGE AREASWithin the Evansville MPO Public Participation Plan, Targeted Outreach Areas were identifi ed based on Census Tracts with concentrations of underserved and disadvantage populations. These Targeted Outreach Areas may receive additional outreach beyond the general public notices, depending on the type of project being completed by the MPO. These areas also have a higher potential of populations that rely on public transportation. They will be referred to as Potentially Disadvantaged Areas throughout this Coordinated Plan.

The Potentially Disadvantaged Areas were developed based on data from the 2010-2014 American Community Survey. The following data was gathered for all 71 Census Tracts in Henderson, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties:• individuals below poverty;

• individuals age 65 and older;

• minority (non-Hispanic) population;

County Averages Regional Average

Vanderburgh County

Warrick County Henderson County

Individuals Below Poverty 15.1% 16.2% 9.2% 18.5%

Individuals Age 65 and Older 14.7% 14.7% 14.8% 14.9%

Minority (non-Hispanic) Population 11.1% 13.2% 4.8% 11.0%

Hispanic Population 2.2% 2.4% 1.7% 2.1%

Individuals with Limited English Profi ciency 1.1% 1.2% 1.0% 1.0%

Individuals with a Disability 13.9% 13.8% 10.7% 18.3%

Households with No Vehicles 7.4% 8.3% 3.0% 9.2%Source: 2010-2014 ACS

Table 16: Potentially Disadvantages Thresholds

26



All of these demographic characteristics were added to a database of all 71 Census Tracts within the three counties. For each Census Tract, the total number of categories that exceeded the Potentially Disadvantaged Threshold was identifi ed. These Census Tracts were then labeled as one of three Potentially Disadvantaged Area Tiers depending on the number of categories that exceeded the Potentially Disadvantaged Threshold. Below are the Potentially Disadvantaged Area Tiers based on the number of categories that exceeded the threshold.

• Tier 1: Exceeds 6-7 Potentially Disadvantaged Thresholds



The Potentially Disadvantaged Areas are shown in Figure 2. Figures 3 through 9 show the individual maps for each disadvantaged population category.

27



Figure 2: Potentially Disadvantaged Areas Figure 3: Individuals Below Poverty

Exceeded 6-7 Potentially Disadvantaged Thresholds

Exceeded 4-5 Thresholds

Exceeded 2-3 Thresholds

Exceeded 0-1 ThresholdsGeneral Outreach

Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1 35.1% - 46.5%

25.1% - 35.0%

15.2% - 25.0%

0% - 15.1%Potentially Disadvantaged Threshold: 15.1%General Outreach

Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1

28



Figure 4: Individuals Age 65 and Older Figure 5: Minority (non-Hispanic) Population

25.1% - 31.2%

20.1% - 25.0%

14.8% - 20.0%


Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 150.1% - 70.0%

25.1% - 50.0%

11.2% - 25.0%


Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1

29



Figure 6: Hispanic PopulationFigure 7: Individuals with Limited English Profi ciency (speak English “less

than very well”)

6.1% - 8.8%

4.1% - 6.0%

2.3% - 4.0%


Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1 4.1% - 5.9%

2.1% - 4.0%

1.2% - 2.0%


Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1

30



Figure 8: Individuals with a Disability Figure 9: Households with No Vehicles

30.1% - 37.1%

20.1% - 30.0%

14.0% - 20.0%


Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1 30.1% - 41.9%

15.1% - 30.%

7.5% - 15.0%


Tier 3

Tier 2

Tier 1

313131

CHAPTER 4:

TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS

32


CHAPTER 4: TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS

Fare revenue covers a small portion of the METS’ operational and capital budget. Portions of their funding come from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the State of Indiana’s Public Mass Transportation Fund (PMTF). METS also receives funding from the City of Evansville General Fund and Riverboat Fund. They also bring in some additional funding from advertising on buses and at bus stops.

METS recently completed changes that took affect early in 2017. These changes included adding fi ve Sunday service routes, a new Lynch-Walnut evening route that combines two daytime routes, and a fare change that decreased the base fare, but eliminate free transfers. The fi ve Sunday service routes include Howell/Mary, First Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Covert Avenue, and the East Connection.

The Evansville MPO Planning Area is served by municipal and rural public transportation systems that are open to the general public, a non-profi t organization that provides job access transportation services to the area workforce, and specialized transportation services that address the mobility needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. Below is a list of major providers and their services.

MUNICIPAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS)

Fixed RoutesThe Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) is a municipal public transportation system operated by the City of Evansville through the Department of Transportation and Services. The system includes 23 fi xed routes that run Monday through Friday, 16 fi xed routes that run on Saturday, and fi ve fi xed routes that run on Sunday. Most of the routes are within the city limits, with the exception of the West Connection that extends beyond the city limits to connect University of Southern Indiana students to housing and retail on Evansville’s Westside, and the three routes that run on USI’s campus. Details for each route are shown in Table 14. Figure 10 shows the fi xed routes and Figure 11 shows Sunday Service routes.

METS runs its fi xed route service Monday through Friday from 5:45 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., Saturday from 6:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., and Sunday from 6:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Base fare for the general population is $0.75. Student fare for K-12 and college students is $0.50 with a valid student ID. Senior citizens, disabled individuals and Medicare card holders may ride for a reduced fare of $0.35. Monthly unlimited passes are also available in Room 321 of the Civic Center for $60.

33



Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, increment P Corp., NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, EsriChina (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS UserCommunity

METSOverall Route Map

1 - Washington2 - Riverside3 - Fulton4 - Stringtown

5 - Mary6 - Walnut7 - First Avenue8 - Lincoln9 - Covert

10 - Lynch12 - Howell-Mary13 - Downtown-North Main14 - Shoppers Shuttle

15 - East Connection16 - West Connection*18 - Stringtown-First19 - USI Shuttle*24 - Lynch-Walnut

* The West Connection and USI Shuttleroutes only operate when USI is in session.

Figure 10: METS Fixed Routes

34



Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, increment P Corp., NRCAN, Esri Japan, METI, EsriChina (Hong Kong), Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS UserCommunity

METSSunday Service Routes

7 - First Avenue8 - Lincoln9 - Covert

12 - Howell-Mary15 - East Connection

Figure 11: METS Sunday Service Routes

35



METS Mobility (Paratransit)In addition to the fi xed routes, METS also operates paratransit service referred to as METS Mobility. METS Mobility provides service to individuals 65 years and older or those with a documented disability that limits their use of the fi xed route system. The service operates within the city limits of Evansville, as well as that portion of Vanderburgh County within three-fourths of a mile of a fi xed route. METS Mobility service hours are the same as the fi xed routes, Monday through Friday from 5:45 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., Saturday from 6:15 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., and Sunday from 6:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Fare for METS Mobility is $1.50 per one-way trip.

Vanderburgh County currently sublets with METS to provide county service at a cost of $5 per one-way trip. County service operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

1 - Washington A

ROUTE

1 - Washington B

2 - Riverside A

2 - Riverside B

3 - Fulton

4 - Stringtown

MONDAY-FRIDAYDAY NIGHT

SUNDAY

5 - Howell-Mary

5 - Mary

6 - Walnut

7 - First Avenue

8 - Lincoln A

8 - Lincoln B

9 - Covert A

9 - Covert B

10 - Lynch

13 - Downtown-North Main

14 - Shopper Shuttle

15 - East Connection

16 - West Connection

18 - Stringtown-First

19 - USI Shuttle 1

19 - USI Shuttle 2

24 - Lynch-Walnut

SATURDAYDAY NIGHT

Table 17: METS Route Details

Day routes run from 6:15am-6:15pm, except B routes that run from 5:45am-5:45 pm.A routes do not run from 10:45am-12:45pm.Night routes run from 6:15pm-12:15am.Sunday routes run from 6:15am-6:15pm.USI 1 runs 7am-5pm; USI 2 runs 7:30am-9:15pm (stops at 5pm Fridays)West Connection runs 6:45am-9:15pm.USI and West Connection operate only during Fall and Spring USI semesters.

36



Regular fare for the general public is $0.50 with free transfers for a second bus on the same trip. Seniors, individuals with a disability, and K-12 students can ride at a reduced fare of $0.25. Multiple tokens can be purchased at a reduced price: 10 tokens for $4.50 for regular fare and 10 tokens for $2 for seniors, individuals with a disability, and K-12 students.

Fare revenue covers a small portion of the HART operational and capital budget. The FTA assists in funding fi xed route operations, ADA paratransit service, preventive maintenance, and other capital expenses. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) provides a 10% match of all capital expenses. All other expenses are paid with funding from the City of Henderson General Fund.

Paratransit ServiceIn addition to the fi xed routes, HART also operates ADA paratransit service to all seniors and individuals with a disability that are physically unable to use the fi xed route system. An application must be completed to be eligible for paratransit service. The service operates within the city limits of Henderson, Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Fare for paratransit service is $1.00 per one-way trip. Discounted ride cards can be purchased for $8.00 for 10 rides.

Henderson Area Rapid Transit (HART)

Fixed RoutesHenderson Area Rapid Transit (HART) is a municipal public transportation system operated by the City of Henderson within the Department of Public Works. The system includes fi ve fi xed routes served by three buses. The East Gate Route and East End Route are run as back-to-back 30 minute routes on a single bus. The Weaverton Route and North Route are also back-to-back 30 minute routes on a single bus. The Shopper Shuttle is a single route served by a single bus. All fi ve routes are located completely within the city limits of Henderson. All fi ve routes operate Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. HART also operates a College Shuttle that runs from the downtown terminal at Third and Main to Henderson Community College. It operates three times per day Monday through Friday, leaving the downtown terminal at 7:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Figure 12 shows the map from HART’s Ride Guide and Figure 13 shows the front side of the Guide.

37



This system map illustrates the many travel opportuni es available to you through HART. Pay close a en on to the color-coded route key, the Third Street and Main Street transfer point, the route summaries, major points of interest and their loca on, and the Central Business District (CBD) inset.

USING THE RIDE GUIDE MAP SHOPPING CENTERS12

Audubon VillageEast Gate Shopping CenterGardenside3

456

Ho man Plaza

Old Orchard Shopping Center

Rural King

SCHOOLS1 Henderson Community College

Henderson County High SchoolHoly Name ElementaryJe erson Elementary

North Middle SchoolSouth Heights Elementary

23456

South Middle School7

COMMUNITY1 City Police Sta on

Judicial CenterFire Department (main o ce)Henderson County Health DepartmentHenderson County Public LibraryHenderson Municipal Building

23456

Kentucky Employment Center9Post O ce10Social Services11Social Security12YMCA13Methodist Hospital14

The Gathering Place7 Housing Authority15

HART operates daily Monday through Saturday from 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Three buses serve ve routes and the College Shu le. Two routes are completed consecu vely by one bus. Bus service is not available on Sunday.

OPERATING HOURS

EAST GATE ROUTEWEAVERTON ROUTE• 30 minute routes.

• Leave transfer point at Third Street and Main Street at the top of every hour star ng at 6:00 AM.

• Last bus service leaves the transfer point at 5:00 PM.

EAST END ROUTENORTH ROUTE• 30 minute routes.

COLLEGE SHUTTLEThe Henderson Community College Shu le leaves the transfer point at Third Street and Main Street at 7:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

SHOPPER SHUTTLE

• 1 hour route.

• Leave transfer point at Third Street and Main Street at the bo om of every hour star ng at 6:30 AM.

• The last bus service leaves the transfer point at 4:30 PM.

Regular: 50 centsElderly and Disabled: 25 centsTransfers: Free

BUS FARES

For informa on, call HART at (270) 831-1249

B-12E-7F-8C-11

B-11B-1

B-1F-8C-6B-4D-4E-7

C-4

B-11CBDB-6E-8B-6CBD

B-10

CBDCBDC-7B-10E-8B-9

C-6

8 JFK Center C-5

/

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

21 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

NEWMAN PARK

COMMUNITYPARK

JOHN JAMESAUDUBON STATE PARK

ATKINSON PARKAND POOL

AUDUBON MILL PARK SUNSET PARK

CENTRAL PARK

KIMMELLPARK

HANDY PARK

OHIO RIVER

SHOPPER SHUTTLE

EAST GATE

WEAVERTON

EAST END

NORTH

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD)

Main Street

Elm Street

Second Street

Third Street

First Street

Fourth Street

Fifth Street

Water Street

1

2

4

5

3

6

1

To Henderson Community College

2

3

4

6

5

7

AUDUBON GOLF COURSE

MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE

REDBANKS PARK

1

3

SEE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BELOW

4

5 7

8

11

12

2

6

109

14

13

NORTH

41

41

41

AUDUBON MILL PARK

CENTRAL PARK

MLK Jr. Avenue

Powell Street

Center Street

2nd Street

Washington Street

TRANSFER POINTClay Street

Atkinson Street

Letcher Street

Clay Street

Comm

onwealth

Drive

Alves Street

Sand Lane

5th Street

Adams Street Kimsey Lane

12th Street

Main Street

Elm Street

Green StreetGreen Street

Main StreetGreen Street

60

Saddlebrook

Woodland Drive

2nd Street

Garden Mile Road

285

136 Airline Road

E.T. Breathett Parkway

Watson Lane

Sunset Lane

Elm Street

Green River Road

Wat

son L

ane

Barrett Boulevard

15

Market Street

Figure 12: HART Ride Guide Map

38



HENDERSON AREA RAPID TRANSIT

RIDE GUIDE

Phone: (270) 831-1249www.cityofhendersonky.org

P.O. Box 716Henderson, KY 42420

(270) 831-1249

HENDERSON AREA RAPID TRANSIT

BUS SHELTERS

! !

!

!

!

!

!

1

2

3

4

56

7

Covered bus shelters with benches are located throughout Henderson: Transfer Point - Third Street and Main Street 840 North Adams Street

The Gathering Place - North Elm Street Pleasant Point Apartments - Barre Boulevard

Walmart

Mar n Luther King Jr. Avenue and Fagan Street

Independent Living and Chapelwood Place - South Main Street

WELCOME ABOARD HART

Henderson Area Rapid Transit (HART) was created in 1957 as a publicly owned mass transit system, of which all ci zens who live in the City of Henderson are part owners. HART pledges to provide a ordable and e cient public transporta on to the ci zens of the City of Henderson.

HART con nues to make improvements to its vehicles and facili es. The transfer point located at Third Street and Main Street allows passengers to transfer buses conveniently. HART has acquired new accessible vehicles that meet the Americans with Disabili es Act requirements and HART will con nue to replace the eet with accessible vehicles as the current eet exceeds its useful life.

Our telephone informa on center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Just call (270) 831-1249. We are always willing to help you. When you call, be sure to state where you wish to board the bus, your des na on, and the me of day you wish to make your trip.

FARES AND HOURS

HART provides paratransit service for the elderly and persons with disabili es through the Demand Response program. This program provides paratransit service to persons who are unable to access the xed route system. Trip reserva ons are required a day in advance. Stopovers, en route, require prior approval and an addi onal charge.

DEMAND RESPONSE

MONDAY - SATURDAY6:00 AM - 5:30 PM

This HART Ride Guide was funded in part by the Federal Transit Administra on. Produced in coopera on with the Evansville Metropolitan Planning Organiza on.

$1 per ONE WAY TRIP$

The College Shu le originates at the transfer point at Third Street and Main Street and travels to Henderson Community College.

HENDERSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE

MONDAY - FRIDAY

7:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM$.50 per ONE WAY TRIP$

*Discounts are given when ride cards are purchased (10 rides for $8.00)

For addi onal informa on or to arrange HART Demand Response Transporta on, call: (270) 831-1249; TDD# (270) 831-1249

HART Shelter Central Park

TRANSFERSTransfers are free and are to be used ONLY for con nuing a trip on another route to and from the transfer point at Third Street and Main Street.

A transfer is good only on the date of issue and me.

A transfer must be used by the person to whom it was issued.

A transfer will be issued at the transfer point at Third Street and Main Street.

If you have problems with a transfer:1. Pay the fare,2. Ask the operator to sign and date your transfer,3. Contact the HART telephone informa on center

at (270) 831-1249.

RIDING HART IS EASY

For your convenience, HART stops at every intersec on along each route. As the bus approaches, make certain that the driver can see you. There may be other people at the intersec on who do not want to catch the bus, so be sure to signal to the bus as it approaches. Flagging eliminates unnecessary stops and guarantees you faster service.

WAVE, RIDE, AND ENJOY!

WHERE TO CATCH THE BUS

The signs on the top front and side of the bus indicate the route on which that par cular bus operates. The name of the route indicates the principal street or streets traveled or the des na on to which the bus is going. If a er checking the head sign you s ll have a ques on, please ask your HART driver.

WHICH BUS TO CATCH

MEET YOUR FRIENDLY HART DRIVER

Please have your exact fare ready when boarding the bus. HART drivers do not carry change or tokens. If you need to transfer, ask for a transfer slip at the transfer point at Third Street and Main Street. A transfer can only be used at the transfer point at Third Street and Main Street.

BOARDING THE BUS

A er paying your fare, please move to the rear of the bus. Make front seats available for elderly or disabled persons or people with small children. Whether you are standing or seated, please do not move un l the bus has stopped. Ea ng, drinking, or smoking is not allowed on the bus. In the winter, always check the front steps for snow or ice and hold on to the hand rail.

RIDING THE BUS

Please let your driver know your des na on or where you want to get o one block ahead by pulling the cord or touching the yellow “touch” tape above and between the windows. As you exit, do not cross the street in front of the bus. Wait un l the bus leaves to stop before you cross the street.

EXITING THE BUS

There are a few courtesies to other passengers that we ask you to observe:• No smoking allowed. It is the law.• Ea ng and drinking are not allowed on the bus.• Electronic devices are a nuisance and interfere with the

driver. Use earphones only.• Please volunteer your seat to an elderly person or a

person with disabili es if the opportunity arises. • Baby strollers, shopping carts, and other items must be

kept out of aisles.• Please limit packages to what you can carry.

ETIQUETTE

Henderson Area Rapid Transit appreciates your patronage. We welcome any sugges ons you have for the improvement of our services. Your sa sfac on is our primary goal. Please direct your comments to:

Transit Manager - HARTP.O. Box 716Henderson, KY 42420

COMMENTS WELCOME

Transfer Point at 3rd and Main

HART operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and na onal origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. To nd out more about our nondiscrimina on obliga ons or to le a complaint, please contact us at (270) 831-1249.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

KEEP IN MIND

Buses do not run on Sundays or the following holidays:• New Year’s Day• Mar n Luther King Day• Good Friday• Memorial Day• Fourth of July• Labor Day• Thanksgiving Day and day a er• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

HOLIDAY SERVICE

If you lost an item on a HART bus, please call (270) 831-1249 Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you nd an item, give it to your bus driver.

All items can be iden ed and claimed at the HART o ce at 401 N. Elm Street.

LOST AND FOUND

Want to nd out more about HART? Check out our website online at www.cityo endersonky.orgClick on “City Services” tab and then select “Mass Transit”.

ONLINE

The Henderson Riverwalk

Main StreetDowntown Informa onPlaying in Riverfront Fountain

Phone: (270) 831-1249

Sign along Bus Route

Henderson Depot Visitor Center

Your driver is an experienced professional who has thousands of miles of driving experience and a special understanding of the en re HART system. If you have any ques ons regarding routes or procedures, just ask your friendly HART driver.

DON’T FORGET...• Only service animals are allowed on the buses. • Always be alert and be aware of your surroundings and

those around you.• Keep valuable items out of sight. Most crimes are based

on opportunity.• Keep your personal items under your control at all mes.• Most una ended packages are harmless, but if you nd

a suspicious item or spilled substance, do not touch or move it.

• Report emergencies.• Keep children in their seats while bus is in mo on.• Do not put head or arms outside the windows.• Wait for bus to come to a complete stop before moving

to exit.• Never walk in front of a bus a er exi ng. Please wait

un l the bus drives away before crossing a street. Obey all pedestrian tra c ordinances.

• Do not talk to the operator while the bus is in mo on unless it is an emergency.

Redbanks Park

BUS TOKENS AND FARESAt 50 cents per ride, HART o ers a ordable public transporta on within the Henderson corporate limits.

BASE TOKENS: 1 token for 50 cents10 tokens for $4.50

ELDERLY AND DISABLED: 1 token for 25 cents10 tokens for $2.00

STUDENT: 1 token 25 cents10 tokens for $2.00

CHILDREN: Children age 5 and under ride free (limit of 3 children per adult) when accompanied by an adult. Children age 5 and under are not allowed to ride without adult supervision.

Individuals may purchase HART bus tokens by fare category at the following loca ons:• Field & Main Bank• T&T Drug Store• Henderson Municipal Center

Senior ci zens age 60 and over, Medicare card holders and/or disabled passengers may ride at a reduced fare of 25 cents. Proof of age may be required, i.e. senior ci zen’s card, Medicare card, driver’s license, elderly, or disabled card.

All students a ending school in the HART service area, ages 6 to 18, may purchase student fare ckets for 25 cents.

MONDAY - SATURDAY

6:00 AM - 5:30 PM

HART HOURS

HART Bus

Figure 13: HART Ride Guide

39



RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Warrick Area Transit System (WATS)/Ride Solution

In 2009 a group of Warrick County residents formed the Warrick County Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) with the goal of determining the feasibility of public transportation in Warrick County. The Warrick County TAC ultimately decided that a single fi xed route serving the Town of Newburgh and surrounding areas in Ohio Township was feasible. They also decided that the Newburgh route should connect with METS at the county line to allow Warrick County residents access to the Evansville bus system.

In 2010, the Warrick Area Transit System (WATS) was established and the fi rst Newburgh route began running in Ohio Township. Its initial success and popularity led to the addition of new routes in 2011. The Newburgh route was renamed the Newburgh West route with the addition of a second route named the Newburgh East route. The Chandler route and Boonville route were also added to serve those two communities. The Chandler route meets the Boonville route at the Boonville Walmart. The Chandler route and two Newburgh routes connect to each other and METS’ Shopper Shuttle route at the former ITT Technical Institute building on Stahl Road.

WATS is operated by Ride Solution, a transportation service provided by Four Rivers Resource Services. Four Rivers Resource Services provides a wide variety of services for disabled individuals throughout Southern Indiana. They formed Ride Solution to provide door-to-door service in Southwestern Indiana, not just for individuals with a disability, but all residents throughout their 10-county service area. Those 10 counties include Sullivan, Greene, Daviess, Martin, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Perry, Spencer and Warrick. Due to their presence in Warrick County, the Warrick County TAC determined that they would be the best option for operating WATS’ fi xed routes.

The four WATS routes run between 5:45 a.m. and 6:05 p.m. Newburgh East runs from 6:05 a.m. to 6:05 p.m., Newburgh West runs from 5:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Chandler runs from 6:15 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Boonville runs from 5:50 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Early in 2017, WATS made slight changes to its routes to allow for route deviations. If a rider has diffi culty getting to a bus stop location due to a disability or other issues, WATS will deviate from a route up to one-fourth of a mile to pick them up. The route deviation must be scheduled with WATS at least two business days prior to the needed deviation. Figure 14 shows WATS routes and Figure 15 shows the WATS bus stops and information.

40



62

JD Toomey Dr.

BoonvilleWal-Mart

62

Heim Rd.

McCool Rd.

State S

t.

Fuquay Rd. O

ld P

lank

Rd.

Epw

orth Rd.

61

62

62

62 Locust St.

Main St.

E. Walnut St.

E. Gough St.

E. Poplar St.

W. North St.

Moore St.

Parkview Dr.S

. 3rd St.

N. 2nd S

t.

9th St.

N. C

harlton Ave.

N. 4th

St.

S. 8th S

t.

Elm St.

S. 5th S

t.

Sycamore St.

261

662

66

66

Jeffe

rson

Ct.

3rd St.

Ken

woo

d D

r.

Sharon Rd.

High Point Dr.

Park Place Dr.

TRANSFER TO METS

Cyp

ress

Rd.

Gray St. Hill

cres

t Dr.

Sta

te S

t.

ITT

Bell Oaks Dr.Frame R

d.

Lloyd Expressway

Deaconess Gateway

Wellness Trail

Lincoln Ave.

Epw

orth Rd.

Pollack Ave.

Lincoln Ave.B

ell Rd.

Lenn Rd.

Pine D

r.

Casey R

d.

Newburgh Rd.

Lockwood Ln.

Covert Ave

Willow Pond Rd.

Grim

m R

d.

Ellerbusch R

d.

Frame R

d.

WAL-MART

Vann Rd. Co. Rd. 350 S

CHANDLER

NEWBURGH

BOONVILLE

12122016

261

Toll Free 1-877-369-8899

Fare - $1.00Exact change please

Riders 60 and over - 50¢Children 6 and under

ride free with a paid adult.

Deviation Fare - $2.00See guidelines on reverse

For Door-to-Door Serviceon a Ride Solution vehicle

call 1-877-369-8899Relay Indiana

1-800-743-3333

Ride Solution will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, origin, age or disability.

S O L U TI O NRideRide

Figure 14: WATS Route Map

41



Newburgh Wal-Mart

Newburgh Area Food Pantry

(circle campus with four stops, ending at Deaconess Gate- way Hospital main entrance) St. Mary’s Epworth Crossing

METS (Transfer)

Newburgh East RouteHours of Operation6:05 a.m. - 6:05 p.m.

Newburgh Wal-Mart

METS (Transfer)

campus with four stops, end-ing at Deaconess Gateway Hospital main entrance)

Newburgh Area Food Pantry

Preservation Hall

Center

Evansville Federal Dr.

Springview Apts.

Newburgh West RouteHours of Operation5:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Church

Boonville WATS (Transfer)

METS (Transfer)

Chandler RouteHours of Operation6:15 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Center

Chandler WATS (Transfer) (Connect to METS via Chandler Route)

Boonville RouteHours of Operation5:50 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Meeting the Transportation Needs of Warrick County with Clean, Comfortable,ADA Compliant Vehicles Connecting Boonville, Chandler and Newburgh with

Direct Tranfers to the Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS)via Chandler and Newburgh Routes.

Route DeviationWATS will deviate from the route up to 1/4 mile to pickup individuals who are unable to get to a

scheduled stop. To schedule this curbside service call Dispatch by 1:00 pm two business days before the ride is needed.

Operating Monday through Friday except for the following holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day,4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Friday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

HOURLY STOPS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

_:07_:11_:13_:14_:17_:21_:24_:27_:28_:31_:35

_:42_:43

_:55

_:45_:50_:55_:04

_:14_:16_:20_:25

_:29

_:31_:37

_:40

_:41_:42

_:20

_:22_:30

_:36_:43_:45_:55_:03

_:50_:52_:54_:55_:57_:59_:00_:04

_:11_:14_:16_:20_:23_:25_:30

Figure 15: WATS Bus Stop List

42



Fare for WATS’ fi xed routes is $1.00 per person. Riders 60 years of age and older can ride for a reduced fare of $0.50. Children six years of age and younger are free with a paid adult. Fare for route deviations scheduled in advance are $2.00.

Rides on a door-to-door Ride Solution bus in Warrick County is $2.00 for in-town rides, $4.00 for in-county rides, and $6.00 for county-to-county rides. Each additional stop requested is $1.00. Children between the ages of 7 and 12 can ride for a $1.00 with a paying adult. Children 6 and under are free with a paying adult.

Fare revenue covers a small portion of the WATS operational and capital budget. WATS can apply for fi nancial assistance in funding fi xed route operations and capital expenses from the FTA through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). The Evansville MPO can also assist with capital expense via Congesting Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds available to the Evansville Urbanized Area. All local shares and other expenses are paid for by Four Rivers Resource Services.

Link-N-Go

Southern Indiana Resource Solutions runs Link-N-Go, a Medicaid transportation service, in Warrick County. The service operates Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The service may operate earlier or later depending on the needs of the riders. In addition to Warrick County, Link-N-Go is available in Dubois, Spencer, and Perry counties. They will also provide rides outside of these counties to get residents to doctor’s appointments in other counties.

Link-N-Go also works closely with Ride Solution. If additional door-to-door rides are needed for the general population, and Ride Solution is not available at a time requested, Link-N-Go will provide the door-to-door ride. Fares for these rides are the same as a trip from Ride Solution.

NON-PROFIT TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS

Bridge Builders Transportation Services

Bridge Builders Transportation Services is a non-profi t transportation service owned and operated by the New Hope Community Development Corporation (CDC). The service was started in 2015 as a way to “fi ll the gap” for workers who had no transportation options to get to their place of employment. Rev. Rabon Turner, pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and president and executive director of the New Hope CDC, saw a need for a transportation service that reaches places not effectively served by public transportation, especially along the north US 41 corridor.

Today, Bridge Builders runs multiple routes to provide transportation for workers. They can pick up customers at their front door and deliver them to work, on time, if not 15 to 30 minutes early. The vans start running early in the morning to get people to their 6:00 a.m. shift and do not stop until after midnight when the last shift of the day is ending. They run six days a week and can run on Sundays if necessary. The operational budget comes from riders, New Hope CDC funds and assistance from the City of Evansville.

43



Non-Profi t Organizations

There are four non-profi t organizations that have utilized Section 5310 grant funding to purchase vehicles for their clients since 2009. These vehicles are typically a modifi ed van or a small bus. Any non-profi t organization that provides transportation to seniors or individuals with disabilities are eligible for Section 5310 funding.

Easterseals Rehabilitation CenterThe Easterseals Rehabilitation Center provides transportation services for 64 developmentally disabled residents of their group home and day program. Transportation is provided to and from Easterseals programs, as well as doctor appointments, outings, church and family visits. Easterseals currently has 6 buses and 3 vans. They have purchased a new bus each year over the past few years utilizing Section 5310 funding.

The Arc of EvansvilleThe Arc of Evansville provides transportation services for as many as 220 individuals with disabilities. Three programs provided by Arc, Connections For Life, Day Services For Adults and Residential Services, offer essential community-based programming which is essential for teaching individuals with disabilities the skills needed to improve their self-suffi ciency and independence. Some of the programming includes participation in volunteer opportunities and community activities, which require adequate transportation. The Arc of Evansville has 11 vehicles they use to transport clients. They have purchased a new van every two to three years utilizing Section 5310 funding.

44



Evansville Association for the BlindThe Evansville Association for the Blind provides transportation assistance to blind and visually impaired persons. This has typically included tokens and assistance for clients to ride METS fi xed route or mobility buses. In March 2017, the organization received a small bus to provide transportation to clients. They had applied for Section 5310 funding through the Evansville MPO and were awarded a grant to fund 80% of the bus. This is the fi rst vehicle the organization has had to transport clients.

OTHER REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERSThere are a variety of other for-profi t and non-profi t organizations who provide transportation for pay or for a limited number of clients on a limited basis. The lists below are intended only to provide a sampling of these organization and may not include all organizations that provide transportation.

Taxi Services• Dave’s Taxi

• Henderson Taxi

• River City Yellow Cab

• Unity Taxi/Ucabbi

Non-Profi t Organizations• Audubon Area Community Services

• Community Action Program of Evansville (CAPE)

• Carver Community Organization

• Goodwill Industries

• Green River Area Development District (GRADD)

• Henderson Community College Child Development Center

• SWIRCA & More

• Helping Hand

• YMCA

• YWCA

Wheelchair/Medical Services• American Medical Response

• Comaier Wheelchair Transportation

• Veterans Administration Evansville Clinic

Warrick County Council on AgingThe Warrick County Council on Aging provides transportation assistance to seniors and individuals with disabilities in Warrick County. Transportation is provided to medical offi ces, hospitals, pharmacies, grocery stores and other needed destinations using wheelchair accessible vans and passenger vans. The Council on Aging currently has two wheelchair accessible vans and a passenger van. They last received a Section 5310 grant through INDOT in 2009.

45454545

CHAPTER 5:

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

on METS and HART buses and at the Evansville Civic Center. The Mayor’s offi ce also posted the notice on their Facebook page and mentioned it during a Traveling City Hall meeting. WFIE ran a story during an early evening newscast and reran it the next morning during a morning newscast.

The survey was made available online through the MPO website or hardcopies could be picked up at the MPO offi ce, METS offi ce and HART offi ce. The surveys were also sent to the non-profi ts who completed the non-profi t survey to share with clients. The survey was open until the end of January 2017.

There were 97 public surveys completed when the survey was closed. Seventy-four surveys were entirely completed and 23 were partially completed, meaning some questions were skipped. The majority of the surveys were completed by Vanderburgh County residents. It was completed by people of all age groups and incomes. Complete survey results are included in Appendix A.

Highlights from the survey include:• How do you usually get around? (check all that apply)

• Personal vehicle: 76%

• Family/friends: 35%

• Bicycling/walking: 25%

• METS/HART/WATS: 23%

• Do you have a driver’s license? Do you own a vehicle?

• 80% had a driver’s license, but only 73% owned a vehicle.

• Do you have issues getting to work because of where you live?

• Yes: 19%

46


CHAPTER 5: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

In order to determine the regional transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities, the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan (Coordinated Plan) must include input from these individuals and the organizations that provide them assistance. The MPO provided multiple opportunities for input, including reaching out to area non-profi ts, a general public survey, and a public meeting.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONSThe MPO developed an online survey to receive input from non-profi t organizations that serve seniors and/or individuals with disabilities in Vanderburgh, Warrick and Henderson counties. Letters or email messages were sent to 13 area non-profi ts to encourage them to take the survey in November 2016. Follow up emails were sent after two weeks if there was no response. Six organizations completed the survey.

Out of the six organizations that completed the survey, four either had a vehicle already or were in the process of receiving one. Three of those four have received Section 5310 funding through the Evansville MPO to purchase vehicles. The two organizations that did not have a vehicle stated that they would either never have enough need for one or would not be able to operate it or hire a driver. All six organizations were invited to take the public survey, distribute the survey to clients, and attend public meetings.

PUBLIC SURVEYOn December 22, 2016, the Evansville MPO advertised the availability of a general public survey to help identify the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. The survey notice was published in the Evansville Courier and Press and the Henderson Gleaner. It was also posted on the Evansville MPO website and Facebook page. Flyers for the survey were placed

47



QUESTIONNAIRE AND OPEN HOUSESOn April 2, 2017, the Evansville MPO advertised the availability of a questionnaire to gather additional input from seniors (65+) and individuals with disabilities and three open house meetings where input could be provided. The questionnaire included open-ended questions regarding the barriers and gaps that made riding fi xed route or paratransit service diffi cult, and the needs that would help increased ridership for seniors and disabled individuals. The public notice was published in the Henderson Gleaner on April 2 and the Evansville Courier and Press on April 3. It was also posted on the Evansville MPO website and Facebook page. Flyers were placed on METS and HART buses, at the METS and HART terminals, and at the Evansville Civic Center.

The questionnaire was made available online through the MPO website or hardcopies could be picked up at the MPO offi ce, METS offi ce and HART offi ce. It was also sent to non-profi ts to share with clients. Three open house meetings were held in conjunction with the MPO’s TIP update on April 13 at Washington Square Mall, April 17 at the Evansville Central Library, and April 19 at the Henderson County Public Library. Attendees could complete surveys, ask questions, and make any other comments related to METS, HART and non-profi t transportation providers. Questionnaires were collected until April 21, 2017.

There were 12 questionnaires completed by April 21. Comments from these questionnaires and the general public survey were used to develop a list of barriers, gaps and needs related to public transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities.

• I would use public buses regularly/more often if:

• Wait time for pick-up was shorter.

○ Strongly Agree: 46%; Somewhat Agree: 25%

• It was easier to schedule a trip.


• I felt safe/secure on public buses and at bus stops.


• Bus arrival time was more reliable.


• I knew what was available.


• If public transportation was easier, I would use it/use it more to:

• Get to recreation, social events, shopping & other entertain.


• Get to work.


• Get to the grocery store or shopping for other essentials.


• Get to medical appointments.


48



DRAFT PLAN OPEN HOUSEA draft of the Coordinated Plan was completed May 23, 2017 and a public comment period ran from May 24 through June 23. An Open House was also hosted at the Evansville Central Library on June 13 for anyone that wished to make comments in person. Copies of the draft were located at the MPO offi ce, METS offi ce, HART offi ce, Henderson City Hall, Newburgh Town Hall, and Boonville City Hall for public review. Flyers were placed at each location explaining how to provide comments and the date and location for the Open House meeting. They were also placed at the METS and HART downtown terminals and on each of the buses.

One comment was received by email during the comment period. The comment suggested using additional sources for demographic information. Future updates to the Coordinated Plan may use additional resources to supplement the standard U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) demographic data. The full comment and response is included in Appendix C. There were no attendees at the Open House.

4949494949

CHAPTER 6:

BARRIERS, GAPS AND NEEDS

50


CHAPTER 6: BARRIERS, GAPS AND NEEDS

• Very few routes extend past the city limits (METS).

• No West Connection when USI is out (METS).

• Limited Sunday service routes (METS).

• College Shuttle trips reduced (HART).

• Schedules

• It is diffi cult to schedule a mobility ride due to a lack of open times, no one available to answer calls at certain times of the day, and the need to call well in advance.

• One-hour pick-up window for Mobility rides is too long, especially for planning activities and appointments for individuals with disabilities.

• Frequency

• Buses do not always follow the same schedule, causing riders to occasionally miss the bus (METS).

• One hour routes cause for long waits for buses, especially with unpredictable schedules.

• There is limited service available for third shift employees.

NEEDS COMMENTS

• Ease of Use

• Credit card or prepaid card fare boxes would be easier than carrying cash.

• More conveniently located bus stops.

• Better/easier to understand route maps (METS).

• Better defi ned schedules/timetables that are more predictable (METS).

• An updated website with clear information and more detail (METS).

Based on input from the public survey, residents of Vanderburgh, Warrick and Henderson counties would use the regional bus systems if they were easier to use and were more reliable. A questionnaire was also sent out to receive more detailed information from seniors and individuals with disabilities specifi cally. The questionnaire asked what are the barriers and gaps that make riding fi xed or paratransit buses diffi cult. It also asked what is needed to make it easier or more feasible to ride the bus systems. The survey comments and answers to the questionnaires established the following list of barriers, gaps, and needs.

BARRIERS AND GAPS COMMENTS

• Access

• It can be diffi cult to get assistance to secure wheelchairs.

• Ramps on METS fi xed route buses are narrow for large wheelchairs.

• Individuals with walkers have a diffi culty in getting on a fi xed route bus and fi nding a place to store the walker.

• Some bus stops are diffi cult to access due to sidewalks in disrepair, non-existent, or that do not connect to other sidewalks and other locations (businesses, parking lots, etc.).

• Snow gets piled up on sidewalks and at bus stops by snow plows.

• Limited number of stops on WATS.

• Routes and Fares

• Fixed routes are confusing and complicated to follow (METS).

• Route names are confusing (METS).

• The cost of the fare is too high.

• Getting from one side of Evansville to the other is time consuming and can involve 2-3 transfers.

51



• Better lighting and security at METS Downtown Terminal and Lawndale Transfer Station.

• Trash cans and signs are needed at Lawndale Transfer Station to prevent/deter littering.

• Better enforcement of no smoking at METS Downton Terminal.

• Some non-profi ts that currently do not utilize 5310 funding need buses/vans.

• An online route planning tool would be helpful.

• Schedules/timetables at bus stops.

• A list at bus stops of the route(s) served by that bus stop.

• Better Access

• Sidewalks at bus stops along many routes are needed or need repaired.

• Ramps/improved wheelchair access is needed at many stops.

• Bike routes that connect to bus stops would be benefi cial.

• Alternatives to calling METS, such as options for texting or scheduling Mobility rides online.

• More Sunday service routes are needed.

• Later run times for Shopper Shuttle (METS).

• Direct connection to Deaconess Gateway from METS, rather than transferring to WATS.

• General Improvements

• Environmentally friendly buses.

• Cheaper passes, especially weekly, monthly and/or annually.

• More direct bus routes that do not make large loops or cut through developments.

• More frequency on some routes; 30 or 15 minute runtimes instead of hourly.

• Longer schedules for some routes to extend into evening and night hours, especially those that stop at 6:00 PM.

• More covered bus stop shelters and more benches, especially at major destinations (Eastland Mall, Walmart, major shopping areas).

52




5353535353

CHAPTER 7:

IMPLEMENTATION

54


CHAPTER 7: IMPLEMENTATION

• Bus Stops: METS and WATS should periodically review bus stop locations to determine if new locations are needed or existing locations are no longer necessary.

• Bus Shelters/Benches: METS and WATS should periodically review the location of benches and shelters along fi xed routes and add new/more benches or shelters at bus stops at major destinations.

• Bus Stops/Routes: METS and WATS should consider adding information at bus stops showing the routes that serve each stop.

• Terminals: METS should ensure proper lighting, trash cans, security, and route information are available at all transfer facilities.

• Service/Times: METS, HART and WATS should continue to receive input from riders regarding new or expanded routes, including locations of routes and times of service, and make improvements whenever funding is available. METS should evaluate Sunday Service over time to determine the feasibility of adding additional routes.

• Updated Service Information: METS should ensure that their website, online route maps, DoubleMap, and all other resources regarding fi xed routes are up to date, consistent, and easy to understand.

• Schedules: METS should consider providing a schedule with time points at locations other than the terminals. METS and WATS should consider posting schedule times at major bus stops and other locations.

• Service Connections: METS and WATS should consider modifying the location of their transfer point to a location more accessible for riders, easier for buses to get in and out of, and at a destination useful to more people.

• Service Connections: METS and HART should continue the discussion on connecting their two services.

The barriers, gaps and needs listed in the previous chapter identify a variety of potential projects to be completed by METS, HART, WATS and area non-profi ts to help provide better public transportation options for seniors and individuals with disabilities. This public input combined with the capital needs of the transit agencies and non-profi ts are used to establish an implementation plan.

FIXED ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONSThe following recommendations focus on improving the riding experience of seniors and individuals with disabilities on fi xed route buses. While the implementation of these recommendations is primarily internal to METS, HART and/or WATS, some items may be eligible for Section 5310 funding to assist in implementation.

• Wheelchair Users: Ensure all drivers understand the process for assisting wheelchair users, including securing the wheelchair, assisting them in accessing the bus if needed, providing safe locations to exit on an accessible sidewalk, etc.

• Sidewalks/Ramps: Encourage City and County offi cials, businesses, and developers to install ADA compliant sidewalks along bus routes, especially in proximity to bus stops. Also, encourage the installation of ADA compliant sidewalks/walking paths from the street, sidewalk, and/or bus stop to a location on properties that will provide access to parking lots and building entrances in accordance with 10.2.1 of the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).

• Sidewalks/Ramps: METS should work with their respective City Engineer to coordinate the installation of ADA ramp and sidewalk improvements near bus stops with other planned sidewalk improvements. Section 5310 funding may be eligible to pay for a portion of sidewalk and ADA ramp improvements near bus stops and along bus routes. Section 106, historic properties documentation will need to be completed before making improvements using Section 5310 funds.

55



AGENCY PROJECT2018 2019 2020 2021

METS 1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus

HART 2 Paratransit Buses

The Arc of Evansville

1 Low-Floor Minivan

1 Low-Floor Minivan

1 Low-Floor Minivan

1 Low-Floor Minivan


1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus


1 Paratransit Bus

1 Paratransit Bus

Other Non-Profi ts The MPO will continue to search for non-profi t organizations that serve seniors and/or individuals with disabilities that could utilize Section 5310 funding to purchase a bus or van for their clients.

ON DEMAND/PARATRANSIT SERVICES RECOMMENDATIONSThe following recommendations focus on improving the riding experience of users of paratransit service. While the implementation of these recommendations is primarily internal to METS, HART and/or WATS, some items may be eligible for Section 5310 funding to assist in implementation. Section 5310 funds can be used to fund up to 80% of the purchase price of vans or buses for METS, HART and area non-profi ts.

• Scheduling Rides: Consider improvements to scheduling paratransit/mobility rides. Additional forms of scheduling a ride, such as online forms, text messaging, etc., would help individuals with certain disabilities. It would also help people schedule rides at times when no one is available to take phone calls.

• Van/Bus Acquisition: METS, HART, WATS and area non-profi ts should continue to utilize Section 5310 to acquire new buses or vans to replace existing buses/vans that are beyond their useful life.

• Non-Profi ts: The MPO should continue to search for non-profi t organizations that serve seniors and/or individuals with disabilities that could utilize Section 5310 funding to purchase a bus or van for their clients.

CAPITAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATIONThe following planned capital projects are eligible for Section 5310 funding for implementation. These projects have been identifi ed by METS, HART and the MPO, in cooperation with area non-profi t organizations, as needs during the Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan’s planning period of 2018-2021. (WATS and Ride Solution receives funding through INDOT and their projects are included in INDOT’s Regional Coordinated Plan.)

Table 18: Planned Capital Projects

56




A-11111

APPENDIX A:

PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS

A-2


APPENDIX A: PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Work

School / Training

Medical or DentistAppointments

My child'sschool or activities

Visit friends / family

Grocery store or otheressential shopping

Recreation orspecial events

Weekend / HolidayTravel

Other (specify)

1. Do you travel to any of the following on a regular basis? (check all that apply)

A-3



0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Personal Vehicle

Family / Friends

Carpool

Bicycle / Walking

METS / HART / WATS

METS Mobility /HART Paratransit

Senior Center /Non-Profit Agency

Taxi

Other (specify)

2. How do you usually get around (check all that apply)

A-4



YesYes80%

NoNo20%

3. Do you have a driver’s license?

YesYes73%

NoNo27%

4. Do you own a vehicle?

YesYes18%

NoNo82%

5. Do you have a disability that requires you to use a mobility assistance device such as a cane, walker

or wheelchair?

A-5



YesYes76%

NoNo16%

RetiredRetired6%

Work Work from from homehome

2%

6. Are you currently employed?

YesYes19%

NoNo81%

7. Do you have issues getting to work because of where you live?

A-6



Vanderburgh

Vanderburgh

Vanderburgh

Henderson

Henderson

Henderson

Warrick

Warrick

Warrick

Other

Other

Retired

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Live

Work

Visit primarymedical provider

8,9,10. In which county do you.....?

A-7



Evansvillevansville79%

Hendersonenderso2%

Newburghewburg4%

Other or N/ANher or 15%

11. If you live within a city/town, which one?

Evansvillevansville62%

Hendersonenderso2%

Newburghewburg4%

Other or N/Aher or N32%

12. If you work within a city/town, which one?

A-8



StronglyStronglyAgree






Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

StronglyglyggStrongDisagree

StronglyStronglyDisagree





0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Does a good job of gettingme where I need to go.

Makes me wish therewas a better option.

Limits where I can work.

Is difficult for me to afford.

Makes it easy to run errands.

Is difficult for me to get into.

13. The Transportation I use:

A-9











Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral









0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

I knew what was available.

There was a bus routewhere I lived.

Wait time for pick-upwas shorter.

Bus arrival time wasmore reliable.

It was easier toschedule a trip.

I felt safe / secure on publicbuses and at bus stops.

Someone taught mehow to use the bus.

Buses were easier to get into.

14. I would use public buses regularly/more often if:

A-10








Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral






0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Get to work.

Get to the grocery store orshopping for other essentials.

Get to recreation, social events,shopping & other entertain.

Get to medical appointments.

Get to senior center activitiesor service provider events.

15. If public transportation was easier, I would use it/use it more to:

A-11



< 18< 181%

18 to 24o 2418 too8%

25 to 3925 to 3933%

40 to 6440 to 6446%

65+65+12%

16. What is your age group?

MaleMale37%

FemaleFemale63%

17. What is your gender?

A-12



0063%

1120% 22

10%

334%

552%

661%

18. Number of people in your household under 18?

Less than $10,000hann $1n9%

$10,000 to $10,000 to$19,999

00

$19,99916%

oo $20,000 to $29,99900 to $218%

$30,000 to 00 to $30,000$49,99999$49,99

10%

$50,000 or $50,000 omoremore47%

19. Total annual household income?

A-13



YesYes99%

NoNo1%

20. Is English your first language?

YesYes0%

NoNo100%

21. Do you need public transportation information in a language other than English?

A-14




B-1A-1111

APPENDIX B:

TRANSIT AGENCY/NON-PROFIT PROVIDERS

B-2


APPENDIX B: TRANSIT AGENCY/NON-PROFIT PROVIDERS

In-Service Fleet Backup Fleet Total

Public-Municipal Fixed Route City of Evansville All Residents 24 7 31

Full Senior/Disabled Student Weekday Saturday Sunday

$0.75 $0.35 $0.50 Monday-Sunday 5:45am-12:15am 6:15am-12:15am 6:15am-6:15pm


Public-MunicipalOn Demand/Paratransit City of Evansville Seniors/Disabled 14 0 14


$1.50 Monday-Sunday 5:45am-12:15am 6:15am-12:15am 6:15am-6:15pm


Public-Municipal Fixed Route City of Henderson All Residents 3 1 4


$0.50 $0.25 $0.25 Monday-Saturday 6:00am-5:30pm 6:00am-5:30pm


Public-MunicipalOn Demand/Paratransit City of Henderson Seniors/Disabled 2 1 3


$1.00 Monday-Saturday 6:00am-5:30pm 6:00am-5:30pm

Agency/Organization

METS -Fixed Routes

Vehicles

Agency/Organization

Vehicles

Hours Operated

Service Category Service Type Service Area Service Eligibility

Service Category Service Type Service Area Service Eligibility

One-Way Fare Days Operated

One-Way Fare Days Operated Hours Operated

Agency/Organization Service Category Service Type Service Area Service Eligibility Vehicles

METS -Mobility

HART -Fixed Routes



HART -Paratransit


B-3




Public-RuralFixed Route/

Route Deviation

Warrick (part); Newburgh, Boonville,

ChandlerAll Residents 4 2 6

Full Senior/Disabled Student Weekday Saturday Sunday$1.00

($2.00 for route deviation)

$0.50 Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm 6:00am-5:30pm


Public-RuralOn Demand/Paratransit Warrick All Residents 3

can move from other counties if

needed3

Full Senior/Disabled Student Weekday Saturday Sunday$2 in town;

$4 in county; $6 county-to-county

Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm


Public-RuralOn Demand/Paratransit

Warrick, Vanderburgh (part), Newburgh,

Boonville, Chandler

Medicaid(Link-n-Go also runs some trips for Ride Solution which are

open to all)

6can move from

other counties if needed

6


Monday-Friday 6:00am-6:00pm


WATS One-Way Fare Days Operated Hours Operated

Agency/Organization

Service Category Service Type Service Area Service Eligibility Vehicles

Ride Solution - Warrick County


Agency/Organization

Service Category Service Type Service Area Service Eligibility Vehicles

SouthernIndiana

ResourceSolutions -Link-N-Go


B-4




Non-Profit Client Services

Vanderburgh (part), Warrick (part),

Evansville, Newburgh, Chandler

Clients 5 4 9


Monday-Sunday 6:00am-4:00pm as needed as needed


Non-Profit Client ServicesVanderburgh (part),

Warrick (part), Evansville, Newburgh

Clients 11 0 11


Monday-Sunday 7:00am-7:00pm 12:00pm-6:00pm 12:00pm-6:00pm


Non-Profit Client Services

Vanderburgh, Warrick, Henderson (part), Evansville, City of

Henderson, Newburgh

Clients 1 0 1


Monday-Saturday 8:00am-4:30pm special events


Easterseals Rehabilitation

CenterOne-Way Fare Days Operated Hours Operated


EvansvilleAssociation for the Blind


The Arcof Evansville



C-1

APPENDIX C:

PUBLIC COMMENTS

C-2


APPENDIX C: PUBLIC COMMENTS

Date Received

Submitted By

Comment Response

6/5/2017 Gary E. May (email)

On page 11 (of PDF, page 3 of document), the following quote appears: Travel training; volunteer driver programs; building an accessible path to a bus stop including curb-cuts, sidewalks, accessible pedestrian signals or other accessible features; improving signage, or way-fi nding technology; incremental cost of providing same day service or door-to-door service; purchasing vehicles to support new accessible taxi, rides sharing and/or vanpooling programs; and mobility management.Maybe I missed it, but I didn’t see explanation/elaboration re: this comment elsewhere in the report, although there was affi rmation of the need for all the “targets” identifi ed. My concern centers on the word, “volunteer”. I’d rather see a more clearly accountable reference with measurable outcomes.

The referenced quote is listed on the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Fact Sheet. It is in reference to the “nontraditional” projects that are eligible activities for Section 5310 funding. A volunteer driver program is a transportation service provided by human service providers (non-profi ts serving seniors and individuals with disabilities). The drivers volunteer their time to provide transportation for non-profi t organizations. Section 5310 funds can be used to reimburse mileage.

Re: % with disability. The data are really old. IU has an Institute on Disability and Community that does an annual survey of Hoosiers with disabilities under contract with the state. Have they been contacted to possibly provide more current data?

The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) data was used throughout the Plan. The ACS data is the standard demographic data used by government agencies. The most current annual data available at the time of development of the Plan was used. Other resources do not typically have the ability to have a sample size as large as the ACS data. In future updates to the Plan, the MPO will reach out to the IU Institute on Disability and Community to determine if they have additional demographic data that can supplement the ACS data.

Re: general population increase (IN) between 2000 & 2014 - again, a bit dated. There were recent media reports to the affect that Evansville had lost the most population of all Hoosier Cities. (I believe this is the same report that named IN as the most polluted of all states and Posey County as the most polluted IN county.)

I note the funding for vehicles for not for profi ts. I don’t see any funding or priority for on demand accessible transport via taxi’s. The narrative in this section asserts that “institutionalized” folks don’t need taxi-like transport. My opinion - the absence of taxi-like service contributes to the institutionalization of citizens. Paratransit is an inadequate proxy for ad lib transport. The lead time required to make arrangements, inaccessible stops and foregoing spontaneity are unacceptable. (My opinion - Disability “Service” charity businesses frequently have pecuniary and other interests that trump wants/needs of people with disabilities.)

Section 5310 funding is only eligible to state or local governments, private non-profi t organizations, or operators of public transportation systems. A private taxi is not an eligible recipient of Section 5310 funds.

2018-2021COORDINATED PUBLIC TRANSIT - HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLANEvansville Metropolitan Planning Organization1 NW Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.Room 316 - Civic Center ComplexEvansville, IN 47708

2018-2021 coordinated plan amended 12.07.17 mpo 2018... · mr. greg prichett ms. janet james ms....

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