butte county coordinated public transit- human services transportation plan with may 2008

Butte County Coordinated

Public Transit-Human Services

Transportation Plan

With

May 2008

Today’s WorkshopWhy are we doing this?Survey Findings Outreach Findings Direction of RecommendationsDialog on possible projects Finalizing the plan and next steps

Section 5310 processLocal Call for Projects

Butte County Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

Project Overview

4

Why are we doing this? Coordination history long

• Improving rural/ improving social service transportation (1970s)

• GAO Report on Coordination (2003)

• Federal Executive Order (2004)

• Locally (2001) – Regionalizing transit creating B-Line; human services coordination working group—Easter Seals project

Coordination Requirement of new Federal legislation • Section 5310 – Capital program / seniors & persons with disabilities

• Section 5316 – Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC)/ low income & work-related trips

• Section 5317 – New Freedom program / persons with disabilities

Circulars require a unified, comprehensive plan that is locally developed with public transit and human services participation.


5

4 Federal Requirements An assessment of available services that identifies current

providers (public, private and non-profit).

An assessment of transportation needs for individuals with disabilities, older adults and people of low income -- this assessment can be based on experiences and perceptions of the planning partners or on the data collection efforts and identified gaps in service.

Strategies and/or activities and/or projects to address the identified gaps between current services and needs as well s opportunities to improve efficiencies in service delivery.

Priorities for implementation based on resources (from multiple program sources), time and feasibility for implementing.


6

Coordination Plan Development Goals

1. Through outreach, identify & promote partnerships.• Interested, Willing and Able Agencies. Looking for leadership.

2. Identify unmet needs & service gaps for target populations.• Persons of low income

• Persons with disabilities

• Seniors

3. Promote survey and validate survey findings.

4. Inform & educate stakeholders about capacity building strategies.

5. Integrate SAFETEA-LU coordination planning into BCAG’s ongoing efforts to build cooperative relationships.

6. Leverage existing dollars to expand transportation options/ choices.


§ 5316 – Job Access & Reverse Commute Program

§ 5317 – New Freedom Program

§ 5310 – Seniors & Persons W/ Disabilities Capital Program

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan for Butte County, 2008

A Locally Developed Comprehensive, Unified Plan Tied to 3 Federal Programs

Demographics Analysis: 2000-2030

Stakeholder Inventory

Survey

Outreach Opportunities:

3 Subarea Workshops; Selected Stakeholder

Interviews

Need and Resource

Assessment Activities

Consumer Focus

GroupsDisabilities, Low-Income, Seniors

May Project Development

Workshop

Assessments:Transit Operators –

B-Line, Other Operators

SSTAC/Wkg. Grp. Draft Plan Public

Hearing Process

Background Information:

Unmet Needs, Performance Audit

Report of Findings/

Needs Assessment

SSTAC/Wkg Grp.

Jan 7th

Adopted Plan

Coordinated Plan

Call For Projects2007/08

Target Populations

9

Target Populations

Orange County Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

Butte County Transportation Coordinated Plan Adult Target Populations, 2000 and 2007

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Butte County Adults w/ Disabilities16-64

Adults Low Income 18-64

Seniors 65+

Co

un

ty P

op

ula

tio

n

2000 Census2007 DOF

5.9% 19.7% 15.7%

7% increase

percent of total population

10

Seniors• Low income seniors

2,286 persons 1.1% of 2000 County population

• Seniors w/ self-reported disabilities 5,546 persons

2.7% of 2000 County population• Oldest seniors, 85+

4,384 persons 2.2% of 2000 County population

Youth• Chronically or acutely ill children &

youth• Court-placed youth; CASA youth• Aging out of foster care• In behavioral health system• On probation• With developmental disabilities and

special needs

Target Population Subgroups


Other Subgroups• Welfare-to-work families & children• Homeless individuals returning to

employment• Persons on dialysis• Adults with developmental

disabilities• Chronically mentally ill homeless• Discharged prisoners

11Butte County Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan

Current Transportation Resources

13

Regional Public Transit Network B-Line Service in Chico, Oroville, Paradise areas -- intra and inter-community linesB-Line ParatransitGridley Golden Feather FlyerAdjacent Counties – Glenn Ride and Plumas Transit

Other Public Sector Transportation (partial)Butte CollegeChico State UniversitySchool districts – Chico, Oroville, Durham and Feather Falls Unified School Districts

Human Service Agency & Organization Transportation (partial) Work Training Center Bus ticket distribution – DPSS, CAPFeather River Hospital – Rural Health Clinic Catholic Workers, Salvation ArmyPeg Taylor Center Longfellow Catholic LadiesPassages Faith-based organizations

Private sector services (partial)Merit Medi-Trans Telephone check-in/ transportation provider for seniorsBetter Babies/ Cabs for KidsGreyhound Bus Lines

Resources



Existing Public Transit

15

Resource Utilization (2007)Trips taken in Butte County by various services:

• B-Line fixed-route – 1.1 million trips• B-Line paratransit – 112,420 trips• Responding human services providers – 281,364 trips

(excludes school districts and commercial providers; n=15)

Trips Per Capita Fixed-route – 5.5 Paratransit – 0.6 Survey agency trips provided – 1.3 All trips counted – 6.9


16

Resource Utilization (2007)

Trips taken in Butte County by various services:• B-Line Fixed-route – 1.1 million trips• B-Line Paratransit – 112,420 trips• Responding human services providers – 281,364 trips

(excludes school districts and commercial providers)

Trips Per Capita Fixed-route – 5.5 Paratransit – 0.6 Survey agency trips provided – 1.3 All trips counted – 6.9


Coordinated Plan Trip Per Capita Demand Estimates: All transit – 10.7

Specialized – 2.7

17

SAFETEA-LU FundingSection 5310 – Statewide competition of $12 million Section 5316 – JARC $ 51,000 Section 5417 – New Freedom $ 30,000

Section 5307 – Small urban areas $1.5 millionSection 5311 – Rural areas $500,000

California Transit FundingTransportation Development Act, LTF $6.8 million California State Transit Assistance $1.1 million

Transportation Funding Resources in Butte County


18

Human Services FundingButte County Dept. of Education $8 millionFar Northern Regional Center $1.7 million

Other Funding Sources (partial)California Dept. of RehabilitationDept of Health Services (MediCal) Calworks/ GAINProposition 63 – Mental Health Services Act

Tobacco Settlement RevenueFirst FiveRyan White CARE Act (HIV/AIDS)Chaffee Act (Foster Care Independence)

Transportation Funding Resources in Butte County


Survey Results

20

Survey Respondents

24% response rate from 302 agencies.

Approximate case load of responding agencies is 163,000 persons

Daily attendees –13,187 (8%)

Needing transport help -7,393 (5%)


Survey Respondents by Agency Type, n=65

2%

5%

6%

43%

45%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Private, nonprofit

Public

Faith Based

Private, forProfit

Tribal

21

Survey Respondents


Survey Respondents' Reported Primary Client Population, n=65

43%

45%

49%

46%

63%

66%

55%

77%Persons of low income

Youth

Persons with behavioral disabilities

Persons with physical disabilities

Persons with sensory impairments

Seniors, frail

Seniors, able-bodied

General public


Survey - NeedsButte Survey Respondents' Most Reported Transportation Needs, n=65

65%

58%

46%

42%

35%

32%

31%

26%

26%

26%

22%

22%

14%

Going to the doctor/medical trips

Counseling/mental health treatment

Training, ed classes or program sites

Shopping and multiple errand trips

Interviews/screenings

Recreational activities or events

Weekend and holiday trips

Getting to work between 8am - 5pm

Late night or early morning work shifts

Visiting family or friends

Kids to daycare or school

Long distance trips

Other

23

Survey – Coordination Interests• Centralized information

highest ranked by all agency types.

• Coordinated trip scheduling & dispatch highest ranked by both human service transport providers and non-provider agency types.

• Agencies with no current transportation function least interested in coordination opportunities.


Interest in Coordination Activities

22%

14%

16%

17%

20%

25%

42%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45%

Not currentlyinterested

Shared fuelingfacilities

Pooling financialresources

Joint contracting

Coordinated serviceoperations

Joint use/poolingvehicles

Centralizedinformation

24

Survey-Barriers to TransportationFunding availability

directly operated or contracted transport.

Challenges with public transit reliability, availability, frequency, bus pass purchase rules

Demand response service trip scheduling, service reliability, difficulties with dispatch

Butte County’s geography and long-trips Information assistance needed at all levels

agencies, consumers booking trips, riders boarding/ on vehicles

Consumers’ individualized needs


25

Survey- ResourcesVehicles reported by 36 human service agencies (exclusive

of B-Line):

• 174 vans and buses

• 146 (84%) used daily

• 80 (46%) in need of replacement within next two years

• Only 17% lift-equipped

Funding for transportation by human service agencies responding to survey:

• Reported over $5 million (may include some duplication with FNRC $s)

• Funding for vehicle operations, bus passes, mileage reimbursement, taxi vouchers, some administration


Outreach FindingsNeeds and Issues

27

Outreach Meetings: Representative Contacts

Community Workshops

Attended by over 50 persons representing 35 organizations

Paradise – Family Resource Center Chico – Community Employment Center Oroville – Community Employment Center

Meetings/Roundtables BCAG’s Social Services Transportation

Advisory Council/ Coordination Working Grp. Secondary & University Transportation

Providers Butte Community College Chico State University of California Chico Unified School District

Dept. of Public Social Services Housing & Community Development

Program Managers


Meetings/ Interviews Paradise Adult Treatment Center Peg Taylor Adult Day Care Merit Medi-Trans Work Training Center Feather River Rural Health Clinic North Valley Catholic Social Services Dept. of Behavioral Health, Prop. 63

Consumer Focus Groups Persons with chronic mental illness –

Paradise Treatment Center Seniors –

Residents at Jarvis Gardens, Chico Individuals of low income –

Jesus Center food bank

28

Needs Identified

1. Human service agency needs

2. Consumer needs

3. B-Line fixed-route and unserved pockets of County

4. B-Line ADA and paratransit needs

5. Community infrastructure needs


29

Human Service Agency NeedsGatekeeper Information and Communications, relating to

fixed route services• New staff not aware of available services• Caseworkers don’t track changes in transit• Destination-oriented fixed-route transit info• Helping clients translate ride guide info into a trip plan

Travel training Training staff to train consumers Select locations (CAP Training) good sites for consumer training; Assisting consumers in how to use available services Youth need training No Cost Low Cost/ Help Central a resource


30

Human Service Agency NeedsMore escorted transportation needed

So consumers don’t wander off (Alzheimer's’, developmental disabilities) Assistance between door and vehicle (frail elderly, frail and blind, dialysis

patients, unsteady on feet)

Need transit to follow Entry-level jobs at airport, casinos, fast food locations New low-income housing developments (seniors, families)

Special purpose shuttles • Shopping shuttles (from Paradise to Costco/ Chico mall)

• Recreational activities on Saturdays and evenings (Do-It dances, movies)

• Families with children


31

Human Service Agency NeedsNon-emergency medical transportation

• High level of no-shows for MediCal appointments due to transportation difficulties

Agency staff transport costs increasing; Mileage reimbursement to staff significant budget item

Agencies need vehicles on limited basis:• Special events or outings (recreational)

• Group shopping trip on limited days

• Special out-of-county field trips


32

Consumer NeedsRider compliments – drivers, dispatch, serviceReduced fares for low income riders

• Many can’t afford even fixed route fares • Transit tickets offered for individual trip; more cost effective if

monthly pass available; 10 tickets not enough for job search, apartment search

• Smaller ticket denominations ($5)

Increasing fuel costs severely impacting low income consumers and families• Desire to turn to public transit• Where transit isn’t available, “fuel cards” are needed

Transit dependent with pets to vets


33

Consumer NeedsTransportation accommodating needs of low income

women with children• Work transportation to accommodate taking children to day care.• Difficulty of traveling on bus with infants or several children to get

to medical, social service, mental health counseling appointments.

Importance of on-time performance Whether fixed-route or paratransit, missing buses and late arrivals

impacts doctors’ appointments, job interviews, work

Same day non-emergency medical trips Health needs can’t be anticipated Changes in MediCal; difficulty in obtaining

transportation authorization


34

Consumer NeedsTravel training

• Riders confused – county vs. city; inbound vs. outbound

Butte County areas with limited public transit or no service at all. • Paradise to Magalia• Paradise to Pines• Gridley• Kelly Ridge to Oroville • Oroville to Palermo• Berry Creek and Concow• Out-of-county medical trips to:

Yuba/Sutter and North Sacramento-UC Davis


35

B-Line Paratransit Related IssuesADA certification computerized

Hard for consumers to navigate Difficult for caseworkers to help frail consumers

ADA services at capacity (a.m. and p.m. peaks) Longer waits, more missed trips; missed connections

Service quality issues On-time performance, missed appointments due to lateness

Dispatch communication issues• Consumers report difficulties around trip scheduling, follow-up on late

vehicles and missed trips

• Need for more dispatcher training, improved rider communications

• Call ahead -- reminding frail seniors who are often forgetful


36

B-Line Paratransit Related IssuesConfusion regarding ADA trip types

• Regularly scheduled versus subscription• Vacation trips and not; driver manifest is not always correct

Rigidity in booking trips difficult Sometimes consumers need a different pick-up or drop-off location

Vehicles Old, break-downs not infrequent, in need of replacement

Some trip needs beyond what ADA can provide Escort assistance; more frail riders Trip chaining – waiting for pharmacy, grocery store return trip


37

B-Line Fixed Route IssuesFrequency of service, particularly inter-community

Magalia to Paradise Magalia to Chico (medical, social service appointments) Paradise to Chico Chico to Oroville

-Oroville to Chico return; need additional afternoon run-Routing reviewed; more direct routing needed

Improved connections for inter-community tripsB-Line buses around University:

Changes in timing – buses leave 10 minutes to the hour;

students can’t get to the bus; long waits for next

Calling out stops infrequent• Difficult for new or uncertain riders


38

B-Line Fixed Route IssuesParticular locations needing transit servicesWeekend and Evening Hours

• Half-day on Sundays; later Saturday nites for work trips• Evening services needed for airport, certain fast food locations• Casinos (Gold Country) need 3rd shift transportation

Overcrowding • Particularly Chico to Oroville and return

Bus pass purchase capabilities Need easier administrative processes for agency purchases. Discounts for low income riders Need universal bus pass that human service agencies could be

billed for trips taken


39

B-Line Fixed Route IssuesPockets of unserved need and key destinations without

adequate public transportation.• Gridley• Pockets up in the foothills – Berry Creek, Concow, Thermalito,

Feather Falls Gold Country Casino in Kelly Ridge Oroville to Palermo (bus does stop at Four Corners) Between Oroville and Yuba/ Sutter Oroville Senior Nutrition Center Oroville – The Oaks; Cottonwood Estate Oroville -- New Family Resource Center


40

Infrastructure Related IssuesNeed capability for trip brokering, sharing of vehicles for

trips are coming in from rural areas.• Interest in collaboration

• Common trip corridors

• Limited ways for agencies to “find” one another around trip needs Discounts for low income populations.

• Role for private providers

Need mechanisms for agencies to collaborate more easily around meeting trip needs.

Role of mobility manager- Within agencies and service systems

- Between agencies and service systems


41

Infrastructure Related Issues

Physical environment Curb cuts and street improvements for pedestrians Bus stop and bus shelter needs Stop signage incomplete, often missing, more information needed Better info at central transfer locations (Chico mall)

Role for volunteers Interest in & capacity for volunteer-role in Butte County given

strong community orientation – CASA program Insurance issues must be addressed Fuel costs must be addressed


42

Emerging Recommendations

43

Direction of Recommendations

1. Facilitating infrastructure

2. Building services

3. Enhancing information portals


44

InfrastructureFacilitating mechanisms for coordinationThere are Interested, Willing…. And ABLE Partners

Merit Medi-Trans Work Training Center Many other human service agencies collaborating in this process Roles for B-Line Paratransit and B-Line Fixed Route

Can address:

- Vehicle maintenance

- Travel training

- Ability to fill seats on specific runs

- Potential for vehicle sharing in a coordinated system


45

Infrastructure

Defining the role of a CTSA –

Consolidated Transportation Services Agency

- Institutional issues – where, who, governance

- Funding partners

- Defining responsibilities

- Defining services


46

Infrastructure

Defining the role of a CTSA –

Consolidated Transportation Services Agency

- Institutional issues – where, who, governance

- Funding partners

- Defining responsibilities

- Defining services


47

Building Services

Building the Service Network Address key B-Line fixed route and paratransit

issues identified thru upcoming transit planning processes

Encourage human services transportation options

- promote bus pass/ voucher programs

- promote volunteers Integrate public transit and human services

transportation capabilities


48

Enhancing Information

Information portals Printed and website information, availability

promoted Travel training of users/ bus buddies Travel training case managers Development of supplemental tools

- Destination oriented

- Consumer-group specific


Project Development

50

From Needs to Projects Information and trip planning resources Internal agency transportation coordinators – Mobility Managers Non-emergency medical transportation Same-day transportation option Coordinated transportation options – brokered trips Individualized shuttle services to address specialized needs

(i.e. shopping runs, recreational-Saturday dances, mothers with children, frail elderly, youth, training events)

Voucher programs/ reduced fares/ improved bus pass distribution for low income consumers

Improvements to B-Line ADA dispatching and communications Improvements to existing B-Line fixed route service


51

From Needs to ProjectsDefine the need.

What need or service gap will your project address?

Design the service.

What are its operating elements: days, hours, eligibility; outreach/ marketing to consumers; service area; limitations.

Align the players.Who will be the partners in this effort? How can you share

resources and responsibilities?

Assign the assets.How will you match the Federal funds – cash or in kind services?

• 50% match for operating• 20% match for capital or mobility manager


52

Next Steps

• Draft Plan for Comments On BCAG website in June 2008

• Adopted Plan July 2008

• Section 5310 Vehicle Grant Applications Draft application June 2nd to BCAGFinal application August 29th to CalTrans

• Section 5316 and 5317 Call for ProjectsAnnounced Fall 2008Submitted to BCAG


butte county coordinated public transit- human services transportation plan with may 2008

Documents

human services participation

current services

unified plan

comprehensive plan

disabilities section

disabilities seniors

regionalizing transit

projects butte county