Two Components of FTA's Transportation Coordination Toolkit
Number C-02-06 5/1/2002|
U.S. Department |
Administrator |
400 Seventh St. S.W. |
Dear Colleague:
I want to thank you for your continued efforts to coordinate transportation services among the human service agencies and providers in your area. As you know, these efforts can result not only in lower costs, but also improved transportation services to your community.
Enclosed for your use are two important components of FTA’s Transportation Coordination Toolkit. The first is a report entitled, Planning Guidelines for Coordinated State and Local Specialized Transportation Services. Although it was issued last year, it was not widely distributed, so I wanted to be certain that you have a copy. Additionally, you will find a companion report entitled, Innovative State and Local Planning for Coordinated Transportation, that was prepared by the Department of Transportation’s Volpe Center in coordination with the FTA Office of Planning. This report examines specific planning strategies that can enhance coordination among the transportation services of health and human service and transit agencies. In it, you’ll find illustrations like:
- Dade County Florida, where the Miami transit agency is saving the area Medicaid agency between $6-7 million annually by offering transit passes to Medicaid clients who use transit instead of paratransit for medical trips; and
- A new brokerage system in Kentucky that provides transportation service for four human service programs (including Medicaid and TANF) and has reduced per trip passenger costs by almost 18 percent, while increasing ridership by nearly 60 percent over a two year period.
I am also pleased to announce that we have recently added a link on the FTA website to the website of the Joint Council on Access and Mobility. This now provides an easy way to find more information about the Joint Council, our Federal activities, and state and local coordination initiatives.
I hope you will take the time now to review these publications and consider how your region could benefit from increased coordination. By building strong local partnerships with human services agencies to integrate public transportation services, you are sure to find even more cost-effective ways to improve the quality of service in your community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer L. Dorn
