United We Ride Aims to Improve Transportation for Older Adults, People with Disabilities and Low-Income Families

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, joined by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson, U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao and U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige, today announced a new federal initiative that will make it easier for government agencies and non-profit organizations to share transportation resources in order to provide more and better transportation services without increasing costs.

"Opportunity and self-reliance are fundamental American values and essential to a growing American economy," said Secretary Mineta. "With United We Ride, we renew our commitment to make it easier for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with low-incomes to get to jobs, stay healthy, and live independently."

Although there are currently 62 federal programs that fund transportation services, more programs have not always meant better service for individuals who need to access medical care, employment, and other community resources. "Getting a ride" is often anything but simple -- people do not know whom to call for their ride, and agencies often do not know what services their counterparts provide -- all of which means less service at higher cost. The United We Ride initiative will help communities make better use of the transportation resources they have to help people get where they're going.

"For some individuals, transportation service programs can mean the difference between employment and unemployment," said Federal Transit Administrator Jennifer L. Dorn. "Coordination is the key to making the most efficient use of these 62 programs and the energy and commitment that our communities bring to them."

The United We Ride initiative includes:

• Help Along the Way. This technical assistance program provides hands-on assistance to states and communities in coordinating their human service transportation programs. Experts will assist in assessing and evaluating current programs to improve policies and increase services.
• A Framework for Action. This self-assessment tool provides states and communities with a roadmap that will assist in identifying areas of success and areas where they still need to take action to improve the coordination of human service transportation.
• State Coordination Grants. Grants will be made available to states to help address gaps in their human service transportation coordination efforts. Funds may be used to assist with a variety of infrastructure needs, including statewide training, planning and policy development. Eligibility and application details will be announced in conjunction with the National Leadership Forum.
• National Leadership Forum on Human Service Transportation Coordination. This conference, scheduled Feb. 23 - 25, 2004, in Washington, D.C. brings together senior state government leadership teams seeking to raise the visibility of the issue among state leaders and secure state and local commitments to action. The forum provides technical assistance to organizations working to improve transportation coordination and recognize states that have already made strides in this area.
• State Leadership Awards. These awards, which will be presented during the National Leadership Forum, recognize five states that are leading the way in the development and implementation of coordinated transportation infrastructures, policies and programs. The awards highlight successful strategies and give other states and communities models for making improvements.

More information on United We Ride can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov.