COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION – NORTHWESTCTA-NW

Transportation Planning for Washington State’s Aging

Population

Presenters

Tracy Gunter, Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging

Page Scott, Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (Regional Transportation Planning Organization)

Ryan Warner, Transit Agencies and Washington State Department of Transportation

Colleen Kuhn, CTANW & Local Government and Community Partners

CTA-NW Survey

2013 Survey – better understand transportation for aging population

Area Agencies on Aging, human service transportation agencies, transportation providers

ID current services, gaps, needs, planning processes, funding, partnerships & resources

CTA-NW Survey….Results

Lack of knowledge/information on planning processes

Project changed direction – shifted to basics of information sharing & connecting community resources

Planning conducted by many different un-connected agencies

Who is Planning for Our Aging Population?

Aging and Long-Term Support Administration through Area Agencies on Aging (AAA)

Regional and Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO/MPO)

Local Government and Community Partners Washington State Legislature Transit Human Services Agencies Private Providers

Planning Snapshot By Agency

Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) 13 Area Agencies on Aging in Washington State Primary Value: An individual’s choice and effort

to remain in the community, living independently

Work to ensure our communities are inclusive and responsive to the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities

Seniors ranging in age from 60 – 100 Trip purposes Individual functionality

Area Agency on Aging Planning Continued…

Planning Process Prescribed by the Aging and Long-Term Support

Administration of Department of Social and Health Services

Planning document is called an Area Plan and covers a 4-year period; current covers 2012-2015

Planning process generally involves: May-June/survey of community needs July-Aug/Community mtgs, discussions, listening sessions Sept/Public Hearings and submission of Plan to the

Sponsoring Agency Oct 1/Plan due to the State

Currently in process of updating Plans for 2014-2015

Area Agency on Aging Planning Continued…

Planning Process Advocacy for special needs transportation is a

function of all AAAs No funding source mandates transportation

funding; AAA funding for transportation is optional Two revenue sources allow funding of

transportation Federal Older Americans Act Title IIIB State Senior Citizens Services Act

Funding has not kept up with the growth of the aging population

Engage your local AAA, they are a valuable community partner

Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO) RTPOs responsible for Human Services

Transportation Plans (HSTP) Plans updated every 4 years WSDOT Consolidated Grants require

projects be included in HSTP Planning process: stakeholder outreach,

surveys, focus groups, input from other plans & population/census data

HSTP updates due 2014

Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

Statewide HSTP WSDOT developing process for gathering,

analyzing & reporting on statewide human services transportation plans/needs

Includes specific RTPO requirements Draft of Plan and work of HSTP Committee

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/acct/HSTP/

Local Government and Community Planning

Communities, counties and organizations around the state conduct planning Clark County Commission on Aging SW Washington Accessible Transportation

Coalition Veteran’s Transportation Planning (sponsored

by WSDOT looking statewide)

Planning by Transits Washington State requires each of the 32 public transits

(rural, small and large urban) around the state to develop and submit a Transportation Development Plan to WSDOT every 5 years Current Plan due 9/1/2013 Includes short, medium and long term plans Goals include capital, service, siting, operating and financial

status Informational for WA State Legislature to be informed of status

Requires public comment; typically at Board Mtgs but some more extensive

Transits are funded through sales tax, Federal Transit Administration and/or WSDOT Consolidated Grants

Involvement with RTPO/MPOs and local governments to ensure coordination

CTA-NW as a Resource

Conduct webinar Archive webinar on CTA-NW website Provide networking/information sharing Maintain contact information

AAA RTPO Local and county based planning Transit agencies

What’s Next fromCTA-NW?

Bi-annual web conferences/meetings to update membership/others on challenges & successes HSTP Process AAA planning process Statewide HSTP & RTP0