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In This Issue
Welcome
MBTA offers system-wide orientation training
CTAA investigates inclusive transportation planning
Northern Berkshire County leads the way in vehicle share
Thank you to Bev Ward
Survey on MBTA fare increases
Research from 2012
Mobility Management Information Network
Join the new travel instruction network
Follow us on Twitter
Upcoming events
We want to know your stories
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings! 

 

We are delighted to release this fourth issue of the MassMobility newsletter. MassMobility contains news of interest to anyone who is interested in community transportation, human service transportation coordination, or mobility management in Massachusetts. Whether you are a transportation provider, human service agency, or state or local official, we hope you will find this newsletter helpful.

 

This newsletter is compiled by the Human Service Transportation (HST) Office of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), as part of our federally funded two-year grant to develop a Mobility Management Information Network across Massachusetts. One of this month's articles offers updates on our progress.

 

Happy new year from all of us at MassMobility. Best wishes for 2013! Do you have any new year's resolutions related to mobility management or transportation coordination? Share them with us! 

MBTA offers system-wide orientation training 

This month, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) launched a System Orientation training designed to familiarize seniors and customers with disabilities with the MBTA's fixed-route network of buses and trains. This training includes both a presentation and hands-on learning and covers topics such as trip planning, boarding and exiting, and customer and operator responsibilities. A general training is available for seniors and customers with disabilities, and the MBTA is also offering a training designed specifically for customers with visual impairments. To learn more, visit the  MBTA Accessibility website or call (617) 222-5237.

CTAA investigates inclusive transportation planning

One way to help ensure that new projects meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities is to include members of these groups in the planning process. The Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), in partnership with several other national organizations, was recently awarded a federal cooperative agreement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to demonstrate the value of inclusive planning in designing and implementing coordinated transportation systems. CTAA has convened a national expert advisory panel, which includes Tanja Ryden, Director of Mobility Policy and Outreach at the HST Office, to provide guidance and feedback to the research team. The goal of the project is to develop and test ways to strengthen coordinated transportation partnerships by empowering people with disabilities and older adults to be actively involved in designing and implementing coordinated transportation systems. If you know of a community or organization in Massachusetts that is particularly successful in engaging consumers in planning for transportation services or if you have questions about this project, feel free to contact us.

Northern Berkshire County leads the way in vehicle share

In many cases, vehicles used by community human service agencies run with empty seats or sit unused for some portion of the day. When organizations partner to share a vehicle, they may be able to reduce their expenses and serve more people. A great example can be found here in Massachusetts. In 2007, six community organizations in Northern Berkshire County applied individually to the Berkshire United Way for funding to purchase vans for transporting school-age children to various youth development programs. Since limited resources prevented Berkshire United Way from funding each individual application, the United Way suggested that applicants come together and jointly apply. Under the leadership of Berkshire Rides, the Northern Berkshire Youth and Community Transportation Network formed. Together, member organizations share five vehicles.

 

In partnership with the EOHHS Human Service Transportation Office, Work Without Limits recently completed a report on vehicle share, including a case study of the Northern Berkshire program. Three complementary resources accompany the report and provide additional information on vehicle share agreements, community transportation inventories, and transportation of school-age youth in Massachusetts. Download the report and resources to learn more about how organizations can share community vehicles.

Thank you to Bev Ward  

Thank you very much to Beverly Ward for serving five years as the federal United We Ride Ambassador to Region 1, which includes Massachusetts and other New England states. The Ambassador program ended December 31. Please join us in thanking Bev for her technical assistance on federal policy and her dedicated work on veterans transportation, the transportation coordination teams, and other initiatives over the past five years. She has been a real champion of our coordination efforts in Massachusetts.

Survey on MBTA fare increases

Recently, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Massachusetts Office on Disability conducted a survey on the impact of the recent MBTA fare increases on elders and persons with disabilities. If you or someone you know received a postcard to participate in the survey and have not yet responded, there is still time. Please call (617) 727-7440 for more information.

Research from 2012

2012 was a busy year for scholarship related to community transportation, including reports on coordination, accessible transportation, and transit.

 

New reports on coordination

The National Conference of State Legislatures released a report on regional human service transportation coordinating councils in January, including a state-by-state directory of regional efforts. In March, the Center for Workers with Disabilities published a report on transportation coordination in Massachusetts. The Government Accountability Office issued a report on federal coordination of services for transportation-disadvantaged populations in June.

 

New reports on accessible transportation

Easter Seals Project ACTION released many new reports and tools in 2012, including resources on travel training  and mobility management in Centers for Independent Living. David Hoff and Melanie Jordan of the Institute for Community Inclusion published an overview of issues in employment transportation for people with disabilities.

 

New reports on transit

National surveys of transit agencies determined the extent to which systems coordinate with other transit systems in their areas, how transit agencies use social media, and how transit systems integrate with ridesharing initiatives.

 

These are only a few examples of the studies published this past year. Share your favorite recent reports with us, and we will include your recommendations in future newsletters.

Mobility Management Information Network

The EOHHS Human Service Transportation Office is developing a Mobility Management Information Network to support mobility managers and people involved in community transportation coordination across Massachusetts and to help additional stakeholders get involved in regional efforts.

 

Part of our work is developing and sharing information about promising practices or innovative solutions to challenges. Check out these recent additions to our website:

We are also engaging in outreach to state agencies and community-based organizations across Massachusetts. We would love to hear about your transportation challenges, ideas, and questions and to explore opportunities for working together. We can work with you to explore effective and innovative solutions to your consumers' transportation needs. We welcome you to contact us and visit our website.

Join the new travel instruction network

The Massachusetts Travel Instruction Network launched its email mailing list in December and is already using the list to share program announcements and discuss issues in travel instruction. You can join the group at its webpage. If you join but do not receive confirmation emails, please contact us directly to request an invitation to join the group. The network is also planning an in-person meeting in February.

Follow us on Twitter 

Are you on Twitter? If so, follow us @MassMobility for links to community transportation resources relevant to organizations and agencies here in Massachusetts. If you aren't on Twitter, you can still see our posts online at twitter.com/MassMobility/.

 

What social media are you using? Let us know where you like to find information and where you like to share information.

Upcoming events and funding opportunities

HST has launched a calendar of mobility management events and funding opportunities for Massachusetts.

We want to know your stories

If you have suggestions for news items or topics to cover in future newsletters, please contact us. Comments, questions, and feedback are also welcome.

Please share this newsletter

Please forward this newsletter widely to others who are interested in mobility management, community transportation, or related topics and encourage them to subscribe to receive future newsletters and publications. 


You can also read archive editions of all MassMobility newsletters.