Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Planning
Background:
A transportation summit was convened in March 2005 by TARC and Metro United Way to explore how Louisville could make the best use of the community’s resources to provide optimal transportation service for persons in need. The summit was convened on the heels of an Executive Order from President Bush calling for greater coordination of the transportation services provided by more than 62 disparate federal agencies. About 30 representatives of community agencies and organizations attended the summit.
A steering committee was appointed from the summit to begin work on a Coordinated Human Services - Public Transportation Plan. A second summit was held in 2006 to validate the Steering Committee’s mission, vision and short-term action plan. TARC provided staff support to the Steering Committee throughout this process. In September 2006, on the recommendation of the Steering Committee, a Regional Mobility Council was formed and TARC hired a Mobility Manager in part to provide ongoing support for these planning and coordination efforts.
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law on August 10, 2005. SAFETEA-LU includes the following human service transportation programs that provide formula funding to States and communities:
- Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) – funding for development and maintenance of job access programs for welfare recipients and persons with low income and for reverse commute programs.
- New Freedom – funding for the provision of new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond ADA requirements that assist persons with disabilities with transportation
- Section 5310 - funding for capital projects to assist in meeting needs of the elderly and persons with disabilities
As a requirement of SAFETEA-LU, projects selected to receive funding from these programs must be derived from a coordinated human services public transportation plan. The Regional Mobility Council has carried out the planning process in a collaborative manner. The Regional Mobility Council includes representatives of human service agencies, transportation providers, public officials and consumers including, but not limited to:
AARP; Elderly and Disabled Community Representatives and Consumers; HDB Service Group; Kentuckiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA); Lifespan Resources; Louisville Metro Office for Aging and Disabled Citizens; Louisville WHEELS Transportation, Inc.; New Hope Services; Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; Oldham County Government; Southern Indiana Transportation Advisory Group (SITAG) and Transit Authority of River City (TARC).
Projects are solicited through an open competitive selection process for the urbanized areas of: Clark and Floyd counties in Indiana and Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldham counties in Kentucky. The projects must be based on the goals/priorities set forth in the Greater Louisville Region Coordinated Public Transit - Human Services Transportation Plan. Information about the competitive selection process is made public and posted on the TARC website. Any group that might be interested in submitting an application, desires more information, or wishes to comment is welcome to notify the Regional Mobility Council by contacting TARC Mobility Manager Nancy Snow (phone: 502-561-5145 or e-mail: nsnow@ridetarc.org).
The coordinated plan is available in PDF format by clicking here. | 