creating community options through public transit
TRANSCRIPT
Creating Community Options Through
Public Transit
September 18, 2013
Introduction
Robyn Bernardy
• MTM, Inc.
Frank N. Roth
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
Krystian Boreyko
• Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA)
What is Travel Training?
Travel training is the “professional activity of teaching individuals
how to access their environment & their community & use public transportation independently.”
-The Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)
Travel Training Skills
Skills Learned During Travel Training
Planning trips Reading & using maps & schedules
Crossing streets appropriately & safely Walking to bus stops & train stations
Standing in appropriate places at the stop
Identifying correct vehicles & stops
Paying fares Boarding & disembarking vehicles
Recognizing landmarks When to get off the vehicle, how to let the operator know & transfer process
Identifying & using accessibility features Handling unexpected situations & emergencies
Obeying vehicle rules & exhibiting appropriate behavior
Stranger & safety awareness
Family of Travel Training Services
Train-the-trainer training
Group travel training
One-on-one travel training
Travel Training Benefits
Benefits to successful trainees:• Increased independence &
confidence
• Cost savings
• Additional vocational & social opportunities
• Decreased feelings of fear & anxiety
• Health impact
Finding Trainees
Word of mouth
Community outreach
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit eligibility process
WMATA Travel Training
Began in 2004
10 travel trainers
• Six contracted
• Four WMATA employees
Various training levels to cover all disabilities
• One Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Trainer
• Partner with Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Target audience: paratransitcustomers & senior citizens
Travel Training Benefits
Benefits to transit agencies:
• Effective hands-on, individualized teaching
• Cost savings/avoidance
• Accessibility options & services
WMATA Success
2012 training opportunities• 760 completed one-on-
one travel training• 1,430 completed group
travel training
25 individuals have completed Train-the-Trainer Workshop in 2013
Success stories
Estimated Cost Savings/Avoidance
$50/paratransit trip
Average customer three trips/week
Annual savings of $7,800/customer
Annual system savings of $400,000
Total savings of $1.2 million
Contracted vs. In-House Travel Training
WMATA utilizes both contracted & in-house trainers• Six contracted trainers (two in each of the three main
jurisdictions)
• Four WMATA in-house staff trainers
• Each train customers & perform outreach
Benefits:• Allows trainers to be where customers are
• All referrals reviewed by internal staff
• Expedites training
WMATA Funding
Current funding: $600,000• Future funding anticipated to remain
the same
Presenting travel training to your board• Reduction in paratransit costs• Revenue for bus & rail• More independence for customers with
disabilities• Community relations
Cost-Benefit Analysis
A Travel Training Cost-Benefit Model for People with Disabilities, Public Transportation Agencies, and Communities• Presented at the International Conference on Mobility & Transport
for Elderly & Disabled Persons (2010)
Components of the cost-benefit model• Cost of vehicles & equipment for training (a)
• Cost of travel training personnel (b)
• Cost of supplies & office space (c)
• Increased taxes paid by customers (y)
• Cost avoidance –paratransit trips not provided (z)
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Benefits: y + z
Costs: a + b + c
Three agencies surveyed:
• Agency 1: Cost-benefit ratio of 2.07; total savings of $201,822
• Agency 2: Cost-Benefit ratio of 1.45; total savings of $341,300
Benefit/Cost Ratio:(y + z) / (a + b + c)
Net Benefit:(y + z) – (a + b + c)
• Agency 3: Cost-Benefit ratio of 3.98; total savings of $440,918
Funding Travel Training
Federal funding available through MAP-21• Urbanized Area Formula Grants (5307)/JARC
• Rural Area Formula Grants (5311)/JARC
• Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities (5310)
Funds can come from a transit agency’s capital funding as a mobility management expense• Can also use funds to contract with human
service agencies offering travel training
Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA)
Mission: Promote universal access to transportation for people with disabilities under federal law & beyond by partnering with transportation providers, the disability community & others through the provision of training, technical assistance, applied research, outreach & communication
Functions• Training
• Technical assistance
• Outreach
• Applied research
Introduction to Travel Training Workshop
Train-the-trainer model
• Target audience: new travel trainers or individuals interested in the field
ESPA has been conducting the workshop since 2008
• Approximately 500 individuals have been trained
No other similar training curriculum is available
Introduction to Travel Training Workshop
Seven modulesAssessment
Trip Planning
Assessing Path of Travel
Task AnalysisStreet
Crossing
Riding the Bus
Emergency Preparedness
Introduction to Travel Training Benefits
Training conducted by experienced professionals
Opportunity for hands-on learning during bus & street crossing modules
Audience has wide national representation
Networking
• Access to the global travel training community
ESPA Resources
Competencies for Practice of Travel Instruction & Travel Training• Key guidelines & outlines fundamental abilities needed for
effective travel training
• Viewed as standard in the field
Fundamentals of Travel Training Administration course
Ask the Expert: Nate Neeley, Travel Training Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools
Buses & Trains for Everyone
ESPA Resources
Cost-Benefit Model for Travel Training
Considerations for Selecting & Hiring Travel Trainers: A Compilation of Resources
GET Going! Guiding Everyday Travel
Public Transportation: The Route to Freedom
Travel Training for Student Success: The Route to Achieving Post-Secondary Student Outcomes
You Can Ride
Global Travel Training Community
Online community of trainers• More than 300 members
Members share knowledge
Resources available on all aspects of travel training• Program administration
• Travel instruction planning
• Instruction methods
Visit www.projectaction.org to access ESPA’s resources
Closing
For questions about MTM’s On the Move travel training program contact Robyn Bernardy, Director of Travel Training
Keep in touch with ESPA
• 1-800-659-6428
Questions?