Capital District                                                                                               October 22, 2008

Transportation Committee      

 

 

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COORDINATION COMMITTEE

RECORD OF MEETING

 

DATE/TIME: October 9, 2008 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

 

ATTENDANCE: Luis Acosta—CDTA;  Carol Croak—Rensselaer County DSS;  Ed Dugrenier—CDPC/Schenectady Vocational Services; Kathy Fletcher—Clearview Center; Bill Garrison—Center for Disability Services; Paul Germain—Albany County DSS; Gloria Hessell—OTDA; Margo Mahoski—Catholic Charities of Schenectady County; Deborah Osborn—Saratoga County DSS ;Jane Schramm—Senior services of Albany; Deb Stacey—CDTC Staff; Maryellen Usis—CDTA; Tom Vaughan—NYSDOT; Kristina Younger--CDTA

 

STUDY DISCUSSION SUMMARY: After introductions, the agenda items were discussed in sequence:

 

RTCC Activities: 

a.   New Freedom Program —Catholic Charities of Schenectady County and Schenectady ARC submitted three proposals under the New Freedom solicitation:

1. Purchase scheduling software/hardware and install on both Catholic
 Charities and Schenectady ARC’s computers; includes training (joint application).

2. Conduct a feasibility study of initiating a weekend service for clients of Catholic Charities and other area human service agencies (Catholic Charities)

3. Add an additional maintenance bay to provide maintenance to additional human service agencies at cost plus 5% (Schenectady ARC)

          

While the evaluation committee (NYSDOT, CDTA, CDTC, CDRPC) recommended that all three projects be funded, there is an eligibility issue with the ARC’s proposed project.  There was also a disconnect between the weekend service feasibility study and putting service on the road (match requirements).  In order to program the FFY 2006 New Freedom funds, projects had to be submitted through CDTA to FTA and approved by September 30th.  Consequently, CDTA fast tracked the scheduling software project so the region would not lose the FFY ’06 funds allocated to Albany-Schenectady-Troy.  The FFY ’06 Saratoga allocations (~$21,000) were rescinded since no projects were submitted from sponsors located in Saratoga County.

b.     Next Solicitation—CDTC and CDTA staff will work with Catholic Charities and Schenectady ARC to more fully flush out their two individual projects.  The costs of these two projects, if deemed doable and eligible for funding, will be subtracted from the FFY’07/’08/’09 allocations.  A second round solicitation will be distributed to interested parties in January (reflecting the remaining budget assuming that the two approved but unfunded projects described above can be reconciled).  Project submissions under the 2009 New Freedom Solicitation will be due on March 31st.

c.      Other--The RTCC suggested that a one page summary of the New Freedom program, requirements and upcoming solicitation be sent to the mailing list of agencies now, so that agencies will have time to think through options and potential projects.  Deb Stacey will follow-through on this recommendation.

 

 

CDTA:

a.     CST Funding Update-- CST 8 funds were awarded; CDTA is waiting for the contract.  It appears that CDTA was also approved for CST 9 funding.  CST 9 does not include Saratoga County due to their poor performance in spending down previous funding allocations.  RTCC members inquired if other human service agencies located in Saratoga can assist in distributing passes.

b.     JARC—CDTA‘s Project Management Plan (PMP) was approved by FTA.  CDTA closed out the last JARC grant and is now spending down the JARC monies that they received through the SAFETEA-LU competitive process.  Travel Trainers (and supervisor), Taxi brokerage and Administration are being funded with the JARC monies.  CDTA can no longer use CST as match; CDTA is using their own funds ($234,000) to meet the program match requirements. CDTA hired a fourth travel trainer; this travel trainer primarily serves Saratoga County.  This trainer has been working with seniors and during the summer worked with Back Stretch workers at the race track.  The trainers have also been quite involved with an immigrant program which gives immigrants three monthly bus passes while they get established in the area.  CDTA’s travel trainers won CDTA’s team employee award.

c.      Other—Saratoga ridership has tripled from a year ago. STAR ridership has increase 25%.  Eligibility for STAR has been outsourced.  “Conditional Eligibility” is being used along with seasonable eligibility.  Ridership on CDTA’s fixed route systems has increased dramatically.  However, budget issues are forcing CDTA to take a hard look at some routes; some will be cut back or eliminated.  CDTA is requesting a fare increase which, if approved, will take effect April 1st.  The base fare will increase from $1.00 to $1.50.  Day cards from $3.00 to $4.00.  Monthly bus passes will increase by about 50% as well.

 

United We Ride/NYSDOT:

a.     United We Ride Activities—United We Ride has been folded into the statewide most integrated setting coordinating council (MISCC).  The MISCC (http://www.omr.state.ny.us/MISCC/) is responsible for developing a comprehensive Statewide plan to ensure that people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities receive care and services in the most integrated settings appropriate to their individual needs. A transportation sub-committee was formed as part of this council.  The sub-committee has representation from 9 state agencies and 4 advocates.  A key finding of the transportation workgroup deals with coordination:

 

Successful coordination of public and human service agency transportation mobility alternatives is essential to greater economic independence, healthy living and improved quality of life.

     

Recommendations include:

1.              Each member health and human service agency should be required to establish a transportation “czar.” 

2.              Establish a Mobility Manager/Health and Human Service Transportation Coordinator within each county to improve the availability and accessibility of transportation services and maximize choice.

3.              Develop a program bill that combines specific milestones with incentives to mainstream the deployment of accessible livery vehicles into private taxi fleets and other for-hire companies. 

 

There is approximately $34,000 left in the Albany County UWR grant for coordination activities.  The RTCC suggested that the monies be used to set up a maintenance facility in Albany (perhaps at the Center for Disability Services) to be modeled after the successful Schenectady ARC program.

 

b.     Section 5310 Program:  CDTC was asked to provide MPO certification letters to the eight applicants that applied for funding from the Albany area (4-Albany County, 1- Saratoga County, 3-Schenectady County).  CDTC was also asked to evaluate the applications using standard evaluation forms.  Agencies received MPO certification letters only if they agreed to participate in a coordination forum (that CDTC will be scheduling within the next six months) and if they could document some form of on-going coordination/dialogue with other human service agencies in the area.  All eight applicants received letters from CDTC specifying that they were part of the coordinated plan and that they did coordinate to a minimal allowable extent.  Most applicants currently coordinate one or more programs.  Coordination is not limited to sharing trips but includes shared maintenance, scheduling, shared driver pools, etc.

 

Next Meeting:

 

The next meeting of the Regional Transportation Coordination Committee is scheduled for Thursday January 22, 2009 at 10:00 am at CDTC’s offices.