2015 Age & Disabilities Odyssey Conference Duluth, MN June 15th

Greater Minnesota Transit:

What is Happening?

• MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes

• Transit for Our Future in 20 minutes

• FTA Section 5310: what is that? In 20 minutes

Regional Transportation Coordination Councils – WHAT is NEW

“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”

Your bus will be arriving in 15 minutes Transit Products and Services Support MnDOT and Other State, Federal, Local Partners

The Office has three sections:

• Management Services

• Bike and Pedestrian

• Program Management

“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”

Your bus will be arriving in 12 minutes

Current Key Office Initiatives:

Manage Investments

Implement Policy

Direct Planning and Research

Advance Programs

“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”

Your bus will be arriving in 10 minutes

Management Services Section Judy Ellison Director 651-366-4168

• Planning • Manage federal grants • Financial administration • Technical assistance

“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”

Your bus will be arriving in 8 minutes

Bicycle and Pedestrian Section Tim Mitchell Director 651-366-4162

Planning Facility design training Technical assistance ABC Parking Ramps Develop Bicycle Routes

“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”

Your bus will be arriving in 4 minutes

Transit Program Section Tom Gottfried Director 651-366-3855

Manage operating and capital programs

Contract management Data management Technical assistance

“MnDOT Office of Transit in 15 minutes”

Your bus will be arriving in 2 minutes What does this mean?

• In 2015, Over $90 million in Public Transit Services or 1.2 million service hours or 12.5 million passenger trips

• Still short of Greater MN Transit Investment Plan for 2015 of 1.6 million hours or 15.5 million passenger trips

Your bus has arrived, your next Stop: “Transit for Our Future”

Transit for Our Future

The Questions Why are we proposing changes?

What do we hope to gain?

The Answers Improved regional travel

Streamlined administration

Efficient fleet utilization

Federal and State compliance

Born out of reaction to proposed budget cuts in the 2011 legislative session

Questions we asked ourselves: • How can we preserve service coverage in the

rural parts of the state? • How much cutting can the transit systems take

and still be viable?

We ended up with no cuts, and we persevered

Why are we proposing changes?

What do we hope to gain?

Improved regional and interregional travel

Streamlined administration of transit systems

More efficient fleet utilization

Better FTA compliance

Fewer contracts

Improved regional travel

Things have changed since 2000 census • Aging populations

• New Americans

• Regional Trade Center (RTC) amenities

Next larger RTC may be on the other side of a jurisdictional boundary

Streamlined administration

The transit system’s manager is expected to: • Manage all aspects of daily operations

Scheduling trips, drivers, vehicle maintenance Customer service Public outreach and marketing Coordinate with other transportation providers All finances and reporting Interface with governing board

• With 100% proficiency

Federal and State compliance

All transit systems are expected to be 100% compliant: • Drug and alcohol rules and regulations • Procurement rules and regulations • Title VI Civil Rights responsibilities • Environmental Justice responsibilities • ADA responsibilities • Service planning experts

State statutes and rules also require expertise

So, what do we really hope to gain?

Greater coverage in the most rural parts of the state

Enhanced access to desired regional trade center amenities

Better frequency of service

More efficient use of public funding

Public Transit

Has a Beginning, a Middle and an End

The Public Transit Bus can not cover all areas or hours or days or meet all

passenger (client) needs

Your Next Stop…. FTA Section 5310 Program

Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and

Persons with Disabilities(5310)

Vehicles and Transit Coordination Assistance Projects(TCAP)

MAP-21 Moving Transit Forward

3 FTA Appropriations in MN- • rural, small urban and large urban

Minimum of 55% for vehicles

Met Council and MnDOT have an agreement for MnDOT to manage program in Metro Area

Potential Recipients

Private, non-profit organizations and associations;

Tribes;

Public bodies approved by MNDOT to coordinate human service activities; and

Public bodies that certify to MNDOT

Match Requirements

Capital, Mobility Management & Marketing/Education = 20% Local Match

Non Federal Match

Funding Overview Funding source: Federal Transit

Administration http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3556.html

FFY appropriation for 5310 approximately

$3,500,000 for CY2016

35 vehicle contracts in 2014

36 vehicle contracts in 2015

6 TCAP projects(3 Rural, 3 Large Urban)

Future…. Next Stop

Regional Transportation Coordination Council(s) (RTCC)

Regional Transportation Coordination Council(s) (RTCC)

First a bit of history…. Minnesota Council on Transportation Access (MCOTA) was formed by the MN State Legislature in 2010.

Made up of 13 separate agencies and organizations…..

The Council

• Office of the Governor • Minnesota State Council on

Disability • Minnesota Public Transit

Association • Minnesota Department of

Education • Minnesota Department of

Human Services • Minnesota Department of

Veterans Affairs

• Metropolitan Council • Minnesota Department of

Commerce • Minnesota Board on Aging • Minnesota Department of

Transportation • Minnesota Management

and Budget • Minnesota Department of

Health • Minnesota Department of

Employment and Economic Development

The Coordination Goal

RTCC Goal

MnDOT, DHS and Met Council, in collaboration with other state agencies are working to create 8-10 regional transportation coordination councils as appropriate throughout Minnesota.

Network would consist of existing public, private and non-profit transportation providers in order to offer a

seamless system of transportation services.

What is an RTCC?

Stakeholders with an interest in improving mobility and providing transportation services.

RTCC implements and/or oversees provisions of coordinated transportation in their region.

RTCC will also provide feedback to MCOTA as to what is working and where State level assistance may be needed.

RTCC Concept Steps To Date

Project Management Team

Hosted four stakeholder workshops: o Duluth – April 23

o St. Cloud – April 30

o Mankato – May 13

o Metro – May 14

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Stakeholder Questions

Q1: What issue or concern brought you to stakeholder meeting?

Q2: What is the most important issue for coordination in your area?

Q3: What idea or issue related to coordination should MnDOT and DHS pay most attention to?

Coordination Roles

Potential RTCC MEMBERS

• Transit users

• Funders

• Local Elected Officials

• Disability services

• Workforce centers

• Transportation Providers (public, private, STS, volunteer, medical, school

• Religious organizations

• Area Agencies on Aging

• Social service providers

• Health care

• Veterans services

• County divisions: health, human services, housing, transportation

• Regional Development Commissions

• MPOs

• Rural and urban

RTCC Authority/Responsibility

Authority and the expertise to create policies, make decisions

Clear mission and goals

Funding to support RTCCs

Funders control over councils a question/concern

RTCC Goals/Activities

Distribute funding

Coordinate transportation providers to improve service “one-stop shop”

Promote cross-agency collaboration

Develop tools for trip planning, reimbursement (for users traveling via

multiple providers)

RTCC Goals/Activities (cont.)

Advocate for, develop, and implement policy

Oversee transportation providers to ensure compliance with policies, best practices, and financial standards

Develop a regional transportation plan, and define level of service

RTCC Staff Structure/Roles

Crucial to have a paid coordinator.

Staff could provide operational support for the council and service providers and users.

Provide a “one call” or “one click” referral service

Coordination Processes

How should governance actors be chosen?

An application process.

Council should be limited in size (8-15 people) to make it effective.

Having a grievance and removal process is important.

No clear consensus of appointment or election

How should RTCCs be accountable for results?

Need clear mission, goals, and accountability structure.

Participants noted that each region is unique.

State oversight for the councils – freedom to adapt to meet local needs.

How should RTCCs be accountable for results?

• Success measures:

– Increased ridership

– Cost savings

– Reduction in service gaps

– Reduction in duplicative services

– Fewer service denials

– Consistent policies and practices among transit providers

• Improved outreach to potential users

• Continued success of programs that are already working well

• Stakeholder satisfaction

• Improved collaboration (such as ride-sharing) among members

Coordination Tools

Two communication systems the council will need: one for providers and one for riders.

Software platform to provide support for scheduling, billing, mapping and reporting.

System will need to protect privacy of users. HIPPA compliance may be necessary

8-10 Regions

In general, participants were in agreement with number of possible regions.

Greater Minnesota most popular options –

* Designated Workforce Center Regions

* MnDOT Districts

* Economic Development Regions

8-10 Regions (cont.)

Metro Area

*Divide seven-county metro area

*Met Council districts

Possible regions

• Designated Workforce Center Regions (12)

Possible regions

• MnDOT Districts (8-12)

Possible regions

• MN Economic Development Regions (13

RTCC Stakeholder Meeting Participant Overall Impressions

Cautious optimism

Big project with significant potential

Keep communication open

Moving in right direction

Create less red tape, not more

Would like to hear strong objectives and a defined end goal.

Next Steps

Continue PMT meetings

Host an additional 3 RTCC stakeholder meetings:

*Bemidji

*Marshall

*Rochester

Next Steps (cont.)

Provide technical assistance in facilitating additional stakeholder meetings .

Create Guidelines for RTCC administrative structure

Determine funding criteria

Questions?