Partnering for the future of Rural Transportation National RTAP Technical Assistance Conference Denver, Colorado October 28, 2015
Topics for Discussion • Cross-County partnerships with neighboring transit providers • Statewide Transit Initiatives • Innovative Partnership Strategies
Crawford Area Transportation Authority • Great Lakes region of Northwestern Pennsylvania • Population: 87,376 • Fixed Route and Paratransit Services for Crawford County • Revenue Service fleet: 35 • Vehicle Operators: 40 Recipient of the FTA Administrators Award for Outstanding Public Service
Crawford Area Transportation Authority • Fixed Route Service: • Service Hubs in the Cities of Meadville and Titusville • Started new “Community Route” service Meadville – Saegertown • Ridership exceeds 240,000 trips per year • Paratransit service: • Unprecedented growth over the last 3 years • 40% ridership growth (66,505 trips in FY1415) • 70% increase in miles travelled • Program went from $120,000 operating loss in 2007 to self sufficiency in 2015
Crawford Area Transportation Authority • Currently contract 100% of Maintenance services • 30% Design for Storage/Wash/Maintenance facility • Partnership with Erie Metro to staff garage “satellite maintenance facility”
Cross County Partnerships Erie Metro – Urban system to the north • Sharing of Vehicles after EUL • Paratransit vehicles transferred to CATA after useful life are maintained better than our fleet with contracted maintenance • Saves Capital expense in running vehicles for 1-2 years • Major Maintenance Contracts • Access to Parts inventory, diagnostic software • Expertise on diesel engines • Faster less costly turn around time
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania PA Act 89 of 2013 “Consolidation and Mutual Cooperation” 67 counties in PA, over 80 various providers of public transportation services. How can rural communities come together to reduce administrative expenses, maintain regulatory compliance and sustain transit service? “Community Transportation Service Delivery Pilot Program” “Test and Evaluate new models of paying for and delivering Shared Ride and Community Transportation” PA Lottery Law “Shared Ride Public Transportation Services” 85% fare reimbursement for paratransit services above and beyond ADA service areas through PA Lottery programs
Pennsylvania in the Driver’s seat PA Act 89 of 2013 “Consolidation and Mutual Cooperation” Northwest Pennsylvania Transit Regionalization Study • Counties of Clarion, Crawford, Forest, Venango and Warren • Region covers 3,659sq miles (larger than Delaware & Rhode Island combined) • Current Operating Expenses for the region: $6,400,000 • Current Administrative FTE: 27.5 Synopsis: Phase 2 study researches consolidation into 1 new entity. Expand the operating authority of existing Transit Agency, appoint regional Board, consolidate Admin functions, maintain Operations facilities in each county.
Pennsylvania in the Driver’s seat PA Act 89 of 2013 “Consolidation and Mutual Cooperation” Through Regionalization we can eliminate duplication of position and create new positions to enhance the organization and streamline reporting requirements • Currently the region has 3 Directors, no HR positions and only one agency with a Compliance Officer and Planner • Currently the region has 9 Dispatch/Schedulers, no dedicated road supervisors • Region currently completes a combined total 35 Operating grant report documents for PennDOT and 5 Capital Applications in addition to numerous status report updates and projections • New Regional entity would submit 5 Operating Grant reports and 1 Capital Application
Pennsylvania in the Driver’s seat PA Act 89 of 2013 “ Community Transportation Service Delivery Pilot Program” Legislation authorized PennDOT to establish an advisory committee to assess and evaluate new models of delivery for Shared Ride, Community Transportation services. Advisory Committee currently evaluating proposals from various counties New models may include: • Private partnerships to generate new ridership • Partnerships with Medical facilities to coordinate trips • Basing fares and copays off systemwide expense, not miles • Creating fare free zones for rural fixed route to encourage paratransit riders on fixed route
Pennsylvania in the Drivers seat PA Lottery Law “Shared Ride Public Transportation Services” Legislation created reduced fare door-to-door paratransit reimbursement and free fares on all fixed routes for seniors age 65 and older • Programs receive no grant funding, strictly 85% fare reimbursement per trip • Funding also available for Persons with Disabilities under the age of 65 at 85% fare reimbursement per trip • Services must be scheduled in advance, no reimbursement for same day service
Innovative Partnerships Build support for transit amongst your community partners • Turn “advertising” of transit into “education to community agencies” • Work with Agency staff, case workers, etc to enable the agencies to Educate their consumers • Give them everything they need (applications, trip request forms, etc) • Integration of Transit applications for seniors into initial intake procedures at area nursing facilities and senior centers • Go after the students – working with SGA’s at Allegheny College and University of Pittsburgh at Titusville
Contact: Timothy C. Geibel Executive Director P – 814-336-5600 E – tgeibel@catabus.org W – www.catabus.org
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