The Marlborough Council on Aging (COA) launched a pilot transportation service in October 2013, which will run through March 2014. The COA has been considering implementing a transportation program for a few years, but the time was right when a recently-retired volunteer decided to dedicate his time to getting it launched. Funding for the program comes from several different sources, including the state, the community of Marlborough, a local non-profit, and a local private foundation.

The pilot transportation program takes residents to shopping as well as medical appointments, and once a month they make a field trip to a restaurant out of town. This service gives Marlborough's seniors a new option. The town has a FISH program, which is a volunteer service that picks people up and takes them to medical appointments. However, FISH is limited to individuals 65+, while the COA serves individuals who are 60 or older. Marlborough is also served by the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority.

Service is currently provided through a contract with a local non-profit agency to provide vehicles. Going forward, the senior center is considering acquiring its own vehicle to provide greater schedule flexibility, but will review its options with the Mayor and City Council at the end of the pilot.

We all know that the transportation system has gaps, but finding exact data on where people want to go can be difficult. In an attempt to identify some specific transportation challenges, newly-forming Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) in Berkshire County and Southeastern Massachusetts and on Cape Cod and the Islands are each developing a needs assessment. These surveys are targeted to agency staff, who will respond with information about the transportation barriers their consumers face. The RCCs will use this information to identify projects to work on and to recruit additional stakeholders to participate.

In addition to these regional efforts, the town of Carlisle is developing a survey to mail to residents. This survey aims to measure demand for transportation for people with disabilities under age 60.

Has your organization conducted a needs assessment for transportation? Share your story with us here. If you are interested in learning more about the Regional Coordinating Council forming in your area, please contact us at hstmobility@state.ma.us.

In late January, MassDOT announced that its annual community transit grant program funding will open on February 3. Applications will be due March 3. Training on the online grant application system is available the week of February 3 in locations across Massachusetts, with an additional online training to be scheduled. For more information, visit MassDOT's Community Transit Grant Program website.

On January 16, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) released a circular with guidance on the Urbanized Area Formula Program regarding changes to the 5307 program from last year's new federal transportation legislation, MAP-21. For example, the circular clarifies that although the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program is no longer a stand-alone program under MAP-21, projects in urban areas that were formerly eligible for funding under JARC are now eligible for funding under 5307. The circular discusses what has changed for JARC projects under MAP-21 and what policies remain the same. FTA also provided a summary.

2013 was a busy year for community transportation researchers, who published on a wide range of topics. For example, the Transit Cooperative Research Program published a guidebook on developing partnerships between transportation agencies and disability communities, and AARP published a report on funding senior transportation. A report out of Minnesota discussed strategies for sharing vehicles, and a MassINC report highlighted the important role that regional transit authorities (RTAs) play in Gateway Cities around Massachusetts. Our own MassMobility reports covered volunteer drivers, insurance, and wheelchair-accessible taxicabs. What were you reading in 2013? Email us your favorite reports, or tweet us @MassMobility.

Aniko Laszlo, Statewide Mobility Manager at MassDOT, blogs monthly on topics related to community transportation in Massachusetts. This month, she discusses MassDOT's BusPlus+ program, a public-private partnership to expand intercity travel around Massachusetts. Check out her current posting and archives to learn about ongoing efforts around the state.

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/.

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

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