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Happy spring! Welcome to the March 2017 issue of MassMobility, covering news about community transportation, human service transportation coordination, and mobility management in Massachusetts.
This month, we welcome a new Mobility Coordinator to the MassMobility team. Read on for news on expansion of a paratransit pilot in Greater Boston, partnership between transit and human service agencies in Franklin County, and more news from around Massachusetts.
This newsletter is compiled by MassMobility, an initiative of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, with support from MassDOT.
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Registration is open for the 2017 conference
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If you are on the waitlist, don't despair! We will do everything we can to move people off the waitlist so you can attend the conference.
We are delighted to welcome Scott Bogren, Executive Director of the
Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA), as this year's keynote speaker. In his speech, Bogren will share insights on policy from Washington, D.C. He will also discuss how innovation is affecting community transportation across the country.
In addition, we'll hear from a panel of consumers sharing their experiences using community transportation. Participants will also have the chance to attend workshops covering volunteer transportation services, pedestrian safety for seniors and people with disabilities, employment transportation, MBTA updates, partnerships with Uber and Lyft, and more.
This conference is an opportunity for human service agency staff, transportation providers, advocates, planners, consumers, and others to connect with each other and hear about innovative and effective approaches to improving mobility for seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income commuters. Check out conference materials from
2016
and
2015
.
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MassMobility welcomes new staff
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Jennifer Henning - or "Jenna" - joined MassMobility as Mobility Coordinator on March 21. She previously worked as the Community Partnership Manager for Goddard House Assisted Living, a non-profit eldercare organization in Brookline. She's excited to join MassMobility and support an effort to improve transportation accessibility for vulnerable populations across the state.
Please join us in
welcoming Jenna
!
Together, Jenna and EOHHS Mobility Manager Rachel Fichtenbaum comprise the MassMobility team. To learn more about MassMobility or request technical assistance, please
contact us
.
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CTGP grant schedule coming soon
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MassDOT plans to open this year's Community Transit Grant Program in late spring. A final schedule for the grant and associated training opportunities is coming soon and will be posted on MassDOT's website.
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MBTA expands On-Demand Paratransit Pilot
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On March 1, the MBTA opened its On-Demand Paratransit
Pilot
to all RIDE customers. One day prior, Governor Baker joined MBTA officials to
announce the expansion
. Formerly
restricted
to 400 participants, the
pilot
has improved service options for riders while also saving money for
riders and
the MBTA.
Through this
pilot, the MBTA partners with Uber and Lyft to offer RIDE customers an alternative service. Customers can choose to book their ride on Uber or Lyft for $2, and the MBTA will pay $13. If the total cost exceeds $15, the rider is responsible for the balance.
During the
initial phase, customers saved nearly $1 per trip for a same-day trip (spending $4.38 instead of $5.25), and the MBTA saved $22 per trip. Customers also enjoyed faster service through the pilot, with an average time savings of 34 minutes per trip.
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Agency staff learn about FRTA system
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On March 22, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) hosted a transportation orientation for local human service agencies at the John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield. Approximately 20 attendees gathered for an overview of transportation options offered by the FRTA, and to learn about the transit possibilities available to their specific service populations.
The orientation featured an overview of the FRTA website, including the RouteShout app for live updates of bus locations and transit arrival times. FRTA presenters provided detailed instruction on how to read and use the bus schedules, and included multiple trip planning exercises for practical application of the information. MassMobility provided information on
travel training and how to best prepare individuals for their rides. The day ended with an opportunity for attendees to experience the FRTA system for themselves with a ride along one of the fixed bus routes. For those unfamiliar with FRTA, the ride provided a hands-on experience to better assist their consumers.
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HST Office seeks rider feedback on MassHealth PT-1 transportation
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Hilltown residents compete to name senior van
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The Hilltown CDC is asking residents to
submit names for the local Council on Aging van. The contestant whose name is chosen will receive a $50 gift certificate to a local general store, and another $50 gift certificate to a local restaurant.
The Hilltown CDC is rebranding the van as part of a process of assuming management of the van. Ridership has fallen in recent years, and the CDC - in partnership with the Hilltown RCC - is working to increase ridership and expand transportation options in their rural region.
Results of a
survey conducted last year will inform the van's schedule.
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Contest seeks mobility management best practices
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Do you have a mobility management or transportation coordination practice that you are proud of?
Enter it into a national database by March 31, and you could win a FitBit Charge2.
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National organization offers training to emerging leaders
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CTAA is launching a one-year
Emerging Leaders Academy this summer. The academy is targeted to rising leaders in community transportation and public transportation, and participants will receive training, peer networking opportunities, and coaching.
Applications are due April 28.
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Follow us on Twitter
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| Are you on Twitter? If so, follow us @MassMobility for links to community transportation resources relevant to organizations and agencies here in Massachusetts. If you aren't on Twitter, you can still see our posts online at twitter.com/MassMobility/. |
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We want to know your stories
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| If you have suggestions for news items or topics to cover in future newsletters, please contact us or submit a guest article. Comments, questions, and feedback are also welcome. |
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Please share this newsletter
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| Please forward this newsletter widely to others who are interested in mobility management, community transportation, or related topics and encourage them to subscribe to receive future newsletters and publications. You can also read past issues of all MassMobility newsletters. |
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