Coordination of ADA Paratransit and Other Demand Responsive Services

Transcription

1 Coordination of ADA Paratransit and Other Demand Responsive Services Presentation to the Mobility Advisory Committee April 23, 2015

2 Purpose of the Study Examine opportunities for coordination of ADA paratransit and other demand responsive services in Clay, Jackson, Johnson, Platte, and Wyandotte Counties Identify a range of coordination options Select priority options with MAC input Develop implementation plans for priority options 2

3 Work Performed to Date September October October November/December February February/March Information about current services On-site visits First stakeholder meeting to identify coordination options Technical Memorandum with research about coordination options Second stakeholder meeting to shortlist strategies Technical Memorandum with descriptions and coordination plans for shortlisted strategies 3

4 Review of Second Stakeholder Meeting Area of Coordination 1st 2nd 3rd Score A. ADA Service Coordination B. Other Demand Response C. Agency-Specific Programs D. Volunteer Programs E. Regional Eligibility F. Travel Training G. One-Call/One-Click H. Public Information I. Fare Payment

5 Third Stakeholder Meeting - Objectives Review Proposed Implementation Plans for Shortlisted Strategies (see Technical Memorandum) Current Services Proposed Changes Implementation Considerations Proposed Schedule Input on the Proposed Strategies 5

6 Priority #1 Proposed Coordination Plan Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services

7 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services KCATA Share-a-Fare (ADA) Share-a-Fare (non-ada) City of Independence IndeAccess (ADA) IndeAccess Plus (non-ada) Unified Government Transit Dial-a-Ride (ADA) Aging Transit (non-ada) Johnson County Transit Special Edition (non-ada) 7

8 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Current Service Structure 8

9 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase I: Coordination of KCATA and Independence 9

10 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase I: Implementation Considerations Commingling of trips and cost allocation Capture passenger-miles by GPS and MDTs Managing total costs Monitor use of increased capacity to remain within budget Rider notification and recognition of vehicles Mailed notices and on-board flyers, RideKC branding Same-day schedule changes Handle calls centrally at KCATA to identify provider Consistent policies Driver assistance, package policy, trip negotiation 10

11 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase II: Coordination of KCATA and UGT 11

12 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase II: Implementation Considerations Staged implementation (1) trip reservation/scheduling and (2) commingling of trips Compatible technology Standalone RMS dispatch module for UGT Fully utilizing UGT vehicles Use available drivers to fully schedule UGT vehicles Coordination of group versus individual trips Utilize Congregate Meal vehicle capacity in afternoon Consistent policies Rider assistance, vehicle wait time, package policy 12

13 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase III: Regional Call and Control Center Phase I and II: Reservation and scheduling begin to co-locate Dispatch remained at the four separate locations Phase III: Reservation, scheduling, and dispatch are housed at one central location for the operation and management of all regional ADA and individual senior transportation Select a contractor for the Regional Call and Control Center Manage multiple service providers 13

14 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase III: Regional Call and Control Center 14

15 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Phase III: Implementation Considerations Timing and contract changes Current contracts through 2017 and 2019 Renegotiate provider contracts to reflect only service operation Cost analysis Identify provider savings through renegotiation Request proposals for single call/control center Compare proposal costs to savings Commingling of JCT trips Use available vehicles to commingle trips Consistent policies Rider assistance, package policy 15

16 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Proposed Schedule 16

17 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Priority #1 Coordination of ADA Paratransit Services Questions? Comments? 17

18 Priority #2 Proposed Coordination Plan Regional Eligibility

19 Regional Eligibility Service Eligibility ADA Criteria Seniors People with Disabilities KCATA Share-a-Fare (ADA & non-ada) (65+) Independence (IndeAccess & IndeAccess Plus) (60+) UGT (Dial-a-Ride and Aging Transit) (60+) Johnson County (Special Edition) (65+) Johnson County (SWIFT) OATS (Platte) (60+) OATS (Clay County) (60+) OATS (Jackson County) (60+) OATS (Blue Springs) OATS (Lee s Summit) Olathe (Taxi Coupon) (65+) Shawnee (Taxi Program) (65+) Liberty (Access Bus) (60+) Excelsior Springs (Omni Bus) Platte County Board Platte County Senior Fund (60+) Clay County Board (60+) EITAS Jewish Family Services (JET & JET Plus) (65+)* Low- Income General Public Johnson County (Catch-a-Ride) (60+) ** Agency Clients 19

20 Regional Eligibility KCATA Contract with MTM for phone or in-person assessments Nine-page application Unified Government Transit Directed to contact KCATA for Dial-a-Ride eligibility Demand Response age eligibility is self-declared Johnson County Transit Two-page application sent to KCATA County Human Services handles low-income eligibility City of Independence Seven-page application to First Transit (one-page for seniors) 20

21 Regional Eligibility Phase I: Eligibility Determination for Independence Centralize eligibility determinations at KCATA when reservations and scheduling are transitioned Eliminates the need for riders to apply to both IndeAccess and Share-a-Fare Eligibility for local and regional ADA service in one process Four core services will then have eligibility managed by KCATA 21

22 Regional Eligibility Phase I: Implementation Considerations Separate or common ADA applications Develop a new application form that combines the best features of the Share-a-Fare and IndeAccess applications Separate or integrated IndeAccess application One integrated application to eliminate the different ADA and senior applications currently used in Independence Cover instructions direct riders to appropriate pages Documentation of age Independence currently accepts self-certification of age Require applications to attach proof of age (i.e. license, ID) 22

23 Regional Eligibility Phase II: Develop a Common Application Process Implement a common application process to coincide with the RideKC branding initiative Consider a common name for ADA (AccessRideKC) and senior (SeniorRideKC) Issue a photo ID with the regional brand and indicate all types of eligibility RideKC ADA Senior Reduced Fare 23

24 Regional Eligibility Phase II: Implementation Considerations Documentation of age Require documentation rather than self-declaration of age to meet the needs of eligible riders Unique Special Edition eligibility criteria Consider a common age criteria for seniors (65+) Alight with ADA regulations for eligibility based on disability Low-income eligibility remains with Johnson County Clearly explaining service differences Communicate the types of services and how to complete the application for ADA, senior, and/or low-income eligibility 24

25 Regional Eligibility Phase III: Simplify Region-wide Eligibility Reciprocity Other agencies can accept documentation of eligibility Riders with AccessRideKC eligibility will meet disability criteria for other agencies Riders with SeniorRideKC eligibility will meet age criteria for other agencies 25

26 Regional Eligibility Phase III: Implementation Considerations Sharing rider information Common application packet used for core services would provide information about all services in the region A release for regional travel to share information Reverse reciprocity Not recommended as most criteria used by other agencies is not strict enough; riders still need to apply to KCATA Differences in age criteria If a common age criteria cannot be agreed upon, reciprocity based on age would pose additional complications 26

27 Regional Eligibility Phase IV: Transportation Resource Center (TRC) Combine coordination efforts in a central location Eligibility determination staff Travel training staff Mobility management staff Fixed route customer service Information material Travel equipment Integrate one-call/one-click service (next section) 27

28 Regional Eligibility Phase IV: Implementation Considerations Initial build-out costs and funding Range in price according to complexity Recommend application for Section 5310 funding Ongoing operating costs Varied operating costs depending if newly-acquired space or an existing space 28

29 Regional Eligibility Proposed Schedule 29

30 Regional Eligibility Priority #2 Regional Eligibility Questions? Comments? 30

31 Priority #3 Proposed Coordination Plan Expanded Information and Referral Services One-Call/One-Click and Public Information

32 Information and Referral Services Link for Care One-click managed by KU Medical Center Care Connection One-call managed by Shepherd s Center Central KCATA Call Center Fixed route customer service and trip planning Expanded to include mobility management 32

33 Information and Referral Services Phase I: Upgrade Link for Care Partnership between Link for Care, Care Connection, and KCATA Fixed route trip planning Paratransit trip planning (map trip O-D and service areas) One-call service with Care Connection hotline KCATA Call Center hotline More detailed eligibility information and guidance Travel training information 33

34 Information and Referral Services Phase I: Implementation Considerations Service agreements Formalize responsibilities and cost allocation Review of database Seek assistance of transportation specialists to ensure the database and search engine are designed effectively Work with a technical expert for paratransit trip planning Monitor call volume Adjust part-time and full-time personnel as volume increases and train staff to use Link for Care site and pre-screen callers Screen reader capabilities 34

35 Information and Referral Services Phase II: Transportation Resource Center (TRC) This phase aligns with Regional Eligibility Phase IV Migrate function to Transportation Resource Center Expands Link for Care beyond information and referral Aligns with other regional coordination initiatives such as eligibility and travel training Single-point of entry for assessment, eligibility, and service information rather than contacting multiple providers 35

36 Information and Referral Services Phase II: Implementation Considerations Merge resources KU Medical Center continue to maintain the database for transportation and other human service Physical TRC housed in a central, accessible location Maintain other human service categories By housing the database, KU Medical Center can continue to seek and receive funding to maintain all categories Flexibility One-call/one-click service is intertwined with other elements and the site should be updated as coordination progresses 36

37 Information and Referral Services Phase III: Marketing and Outreach Concurrent with the previous two phases Outreach efforts Unified Forum Regional Branding Promotion of Link for Care Database in print format is not effective nor cost-efficient Incorporate into materials such as business cards and brochures Campaign with launch of the Transportation Resource Center Digital wizard to automatically prompt service providers to update information on the site to maintain accuracy 37

38 Information and Referral Services Proposed Schedule 38

39 Information and Referral Services Priority #3 One-Call/One-Click Service and Public Information Questions? Comments? 39

40 Next Steps Today May/June June Third stakeholder meeting Present coordination plan to appropriate decision-makers and groups Final report Thank you!