Georgia Transit Association RHST Coordination Session

GDOT Update to the Statewide HST Coordination Plan

Steve Kish, GDOTDecember 2, 2010

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Statewide RHST Coordinated Plan

Update

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Statewide Coordinated Plan Update Focus is on better Coordination of Rural Public

and Human Service Transportation (RHST)◦ Transportation for older adults, persons with

disabilities and persons with low income, including: Agency-funded transportation, such as transportation

to/from program activities Rural public transit Non-emergency medical transportation

Locally Appropriate and Feasible Structures Work where possible within Existing Structures RHST Program Support is Based on a Wide

Range of Funding Programs

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RHST Plan Update

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Stakeholder Involvement◦ Top Down – Key State Agencies GDOT, DHS and DCH◦ Bottoms Up Approach – regional workshops

Needs Assessment◦ RHST Workshops in all 12 regional commission areas◦ Assess RHST coordination within the Regions

Alternatives Analysis◦ RHST Workshops in all 12 regional commission areas◦ Discuss Potential Regional HST Coordination Approaches

Preferred Alternative◦ Work with Regions on regionally tailored RHST plans◦ Work with State Agencies on statewide RHST coordination efforts

reporting, payment, inspections, driver qualifications and training Pilot Projects

◦ Three approaches to assist Regions in moving RHST coordination plans forward

Administrative – Improved Efficiencies◦ Service Bundling◦ Inter-Agency Cooperation◦ Regional Approach◦ Coordinated Reporting Systems and Requirements

Operational – Improved Service Quality◦ Vehicles – Purchase, Insurance, Maintenance◦ Insurance◦ Service Delivery – IT & Scheduling Software◦ Utilization

Funding – Making the Dollars Stretch◦ Bundling◦ Service Payment◦ Ensure wise and efficient use of public funding ◦ Leverage new funding to attract additional federal funds◦ Sustainable Sources

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RHST Plan Update - Three Themes

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Why Change Now? Growing Demand for HST

◦ Aging population, people with disabilities↑

◦ New populations eligible for service: 500,000 new Medicaid by 2019

Growing transit-dependent populations

More transportation-intensive services

Poor economic conditions, budget cuts,

and reduced staffing

Opportune time to review GA’s HST network

0%25%

50% 75%100%125%

Total Under 18 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+

Age Group

Projected Change for Age Groups between 2010 and 2030 in Georgia

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Why Change Now? Demographic Changes

◦ Aging in place, community-based services

Economic Challenges◦ Individual and household

budgets constrained

Systemic Challenges◦ Budget constraints, staff

reductions

Growing transit-dependent populations

More transportation-intensive services

Poor economic conditions, budget cuts,

and reduced staffing

Opportune time to review GA’s HST network

Regional Issues and Success Factors

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 Phase For the Customer For the Service ProviderPhase 1 Creation & dissemination of 

centralized directory One-stop access for information

Facilitation of sharing policies and practices (e.g., grant applications, vehicle specifications, training curriculum)

Phase 2 Referrals and rudimentary trip planning

Local user-side travel vouchers or taxi subsidy programs

Fare and/or mileage reimbursement

Local sharing of support staff and resources Joint purchasing of fuel, maintenance, 

insurance, vehicles, software/hardware, etc. Centralization of resources (e.g., back-up 

drivers, volunteer drivers, escorts, bus buddies)

Co-sponsorship of local operations

Phase 3 Enhanced trip planning One-stop for requesting trips Trip boards for unsponsored trips

Multiple agency trips on same vehicle Seat filling / coordinating schedules Purchasing service from a “common” provider Consolidation of call center functions Consolidation of operations

Coordination Elements

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Tailored Approaches, not a one size fits all Funding Program Reporting Requirements Lack of Consistent Fee Structure Vehicles - purchase, insurance,

maintenance Vehicle Utilization Administrative Scheduling and Reporting Software

Regional Commission Key Issues

Collaborative Partnership between DOT, DHS, DCH and Others as Appropriate

Merge HST with Rural Public Transit Using “bundled” Funds as Program Revenue

Financial Support and Partnership from Cities and Counties

Passenger Fares Provide Some Revenues Centralized Reporting - Regulations Potential Mobility Management Approach Identified Champion

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Other Region/State: Keys to Success

Georgia Success Stories \

Regional Approaches to Coordinated Service

Delivery

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Mobility Manager(s)

Purchases services from provider(s)Schedules and dispatches trips using software (and ‘know how’) to determine most cost-effective and convenient way to provide transportationPays providers using the correct mix of funding sourcesMonitors service qualityResponsible for reporting 

Provider

Provider

Provider

Provider

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Mobility Manager A

Role of the Mobility ManagerDOT- 5311 Funds

DHS - 5310 FundsDHS- Other Human     

Service FundsDCH- Medicaid Funds

Regional Coordinating Council

Mobility Manager(s)

Purchases services from provider(s)Pays providers using the correct mix of funding sourcesMonitors service qualityResponsible for reporting 

Provider

Provider

Provider

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Mobility Manager B

Role of the Mobility ManagerDOT- 5311 Funds

DHS - 5310 FundsDHS- Other Human     

Service FundsDCH- Medicaid Funds

Regional Coordinating Council

Schedule/dispatch trips

Coordinate amongst selves to provide trips

Provide trips

Role of the Providers

Region Quick Facts• 14 Counties 

• Primarily rural• Largest city is Albany 76,000 residents (US 2008 

Census 

Region Accomplishments• Achieved coordination on Multiple Fronts

• Administration and Oversight• Funding Streams• Service Delivery 

• Developed capacity throughout region• Strong network of operators

• Consolidated administrative and management resources and functions

• High level of professionalism• Simplified customer system

• Especially for Medicaid

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Case Study: Southwest Georgia

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Southwest Georgia RegionAdministration and Oversight

SWGRC is Central Administrator and Service Broker• DHS, DCH and (most) GDOT Funding is coordinated through SWGRC

• Applies for and manages funding• Allocates payment of funds to transportation providers (based on trips)• Ensures compliance with federal requirements• Handles all reporting and oversight

• SWGRC manages a call center and brokerage for DCH (NET Medicaid)• Assigns trips based on rider needs and trip origin and destination• Simplified access for clients and customers

• Services are concentrated around five providers.• Four providers are managed by the SWGRC

• Through contracts or direct oversight• Ensure compliance 

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Case Study: Coastal Georgia

10 Counties Largest urbanized area

outside of the metropolitan Atlanta region◦ 638,254 population (2009)

35 cities Military Installations 49% increase in the area’s

population between now and 2030

Over 65 population◦ 11% currently◦ 19% by 2014

Coastal Regional Commission ◦ Single recipient of transportation funds◦ Coordinates regional (local) funding contributions◦ Staffs Regional Transportation Commission◦ Participation from all 10 counties

DHS and public transit funding coordinated Results in regional rather than local system Single call-in number for individuals needing

rides◦ Directed to appropriate provider based on

geography

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Coastal Georgia Coordinated Funding

10 Counties 2 counties — Coweta and Spalding — in

Atlanta Regional Commission MPO boundaries

∘ 58% increase in population between now and 2030

∘ 22% over 65 by 2014

Public Transit Operators (also DHS operators): Heard Transit  Heard Transit Troup Transit Coweta County Transit Three Rivers Transit System

∘ Butts∘ Lamar∘ Pike∘ Spalding∘ Upson

DHS-Only Operator∘ Quality Trans∘ Meriwether & Carroll

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Three Rivers

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Three Rivers Transit Operations Coordination

RC is central administrator for the regional transit program (all providers).

∘Monitors all work done by the Third Party Operator (COATS)

∘Compliance with state and federal regulations Regional transit system – Three Rivers Transit

SystemParticipating counties have annual agreements

with the RC, and pays their share of projected transportation funding

Working towards expanding regional transit system and services

Thank you!

Project Contact info:◦ Steve Kish, GDOT, skish@dot.ga.gov◦ Daniel Foth, CHA, dfoth@chacompanies.com

Closing Comments