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Happy New Year! We look forward to working with you in 2019. If you have a creative idea about mobility and would like some help making it happen,
let us know. And if you are doing something exciting related to community transportation,
contact us and we'll feature your work in a future newsletter.
This month's issue highlights the
results of statewide efforts to take a holistic look at aging in Massachusetts - including a focus on senior transportation - and the future of transportation in the Commonwealth. We also report on
a range of initiatives seeking to elevate the voices of riders in transportation planning, news related to partnerships with Transportation Network Companies, and
new resources - including a funding opportunity for municipalities and other government entities, a tool for educators, and a training opportunity for transportation providers.
This newsletter is compiled by
MassMobility
, an initiative of the
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Statewide commissions release recommendations on healthy aging, future of transportation
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The
report of the Governor's Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts offers 28 recommendations related to transportation, housing, employment, caregiving, and innovation. Transportation-related recommendations include providing supports to help older adults drive safely for longer, making better use of transportation tools that are already available, and convening stakeholders to discuss supportive transportation. The Council was established by Executive Order 576 in April 2017.
The Commission on the Future of Transportation used scenario planning to explore transportation-related challenges and opportunities likely to be facing the Commonwealth in 2040, including population growth, increasing automation and electrification, and climate volatility. The report makes 18 recommendations for how to increase throughput of people (not vehicles), with an eye toward equity and a consideration for the needs of rural areas and Gateway Cities as well as Metro Boston. A second volume of the report provides backup documentation of the research conducted by the Commission, which was established by Executive Order 579 in January 2018.
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MassDOT announces winners of annual Community Transit Grant Program
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MassDOT distributes federal and state funds supporting mobility for older adults and people with disabilities through its annual
Community Transit Grant Program. Applicants may apply for vehicles, operating funds, or funding for mobility management projects. Please join us in congratulating the
2019 winners.
If you have questions about the program, contact
Alex Cox at MassDOT. If you would like technical assistance in planning for future projects or applications, please
contact MassMobility.
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Tufts grantees pursue transportation advocacy
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In December, the Tufts Health Plan Foundation announced its latest round of grants promoting policy change and advocacy in support of healthy aging - including four with a transportation focus.
Two statewide organizations received grants to continue and deepen their existing policy initiatives.
WalkBoston
received a three-year grant to continue
their work
training seniors to be walking advocates, as well as to partner with the
Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative
and other leaders to embed walkability as a core element of age- and dementia-friendly initiatives.
The Massachusetts Public Health Association
received a two-year grant to support their
advocacy on statewide policy initiatives. They are planning to offer legislative breakfasts to convene elected officials, community stakeholders, and older adults to discuss senior transportation.
Two additional grantees are engaging older adults in transportation advocacy in Chelsea and Springfield.
GreenRoots
received a two-year grant to build on their existing transportation justice work by
engaging and empowering older adults in Chelsea to improve public transportation for all.
In partnership with senior leaders who are currently involved in their Equitable Transit Campaign, they will conduct outreach and leadership development trainings
to engage a diverse group of senior residents who will identify transit needs for an aging population, create action plans, and jointly advocate for equitable transit.
Way Finders
in Springfield received a two-year grant to expand an existing advocacy program. They will work with their five resident health advocates - of whom four are seniors - to recruit older adults to serve as advocates for safer streets, focusing on improved street infrastructure to facilitate walking, such as street lighting, safe crosswalks, and accessible sidewalks - issues that come up regularly as priorities in their talks with local seniors.
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Roundtable discusses transportation advocacy in Worcester
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Advocates, human service agency staff, and other stakeholders gathered at the AC Hotel in downtown Worcester on December 14 for a roundtable hosted by the
Worcester Transportation Advocacy Coalition
. The roundtable was the culmination of a
six-month national grant
that Easter Seals Massachusetts received on behalf of the Coalition to support transportation planning
inclusive
of older adults and people with disabilities. From noon until 3:30, attendees heard from a wide range of local speakers.
The first group of speakers provided context. A representative of the Worcester Regional Research Board highlighted findings from a recent
report on Worcester's transportation history, current challenges, and future opportunities. A representative of Transportation for Massachusetts spoke about the RTA Advocates Coalition that is working to support Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) statewide.
Staff from the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission highlighted opportunities for public involvement in current planning efforts.
Local leaders comprised the second set of speakers. State Senator Michael O. Moore noted that the area needs transit since traffic congestion has worsened over time. State Senator Harriette Chandler called for a long-term, consistent, equitable funding plan for RTAs. Dennis Lipka, Interim Administrator of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority, shared five key considerations for the future of regional transit in Massachusetts.
Members of the Transportation Advocacy Coalition made up the final group of speakers. They highlighted the group's accomplishments to date, including getting a youth summer pass reinstated, conducting a survey of area riders, and creating a Facebook group for discussion and strategizing. They also spoke to the importance of rider involvement. Advocate Adam Thielker shared advice for policymakers: "Riders are the real experts of a bus system because we rely on it and don't have other options." Advocate Lynn Norris offered closing words to riders: "To make change, you have to get involved. You can't sit and wait for the bus and complain. Get involved. Advocate."
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SRPEDD incorporates design thinking into CHST plan update
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Published in December, the updated Coordinated Human Service Transportation (CHST)
plan
for Southeastern Massachusetts includes findings from interviews inspired by Design Thinking. Design Thinking techniques offer strategies for incorporating user feedback into the design process, in order to ensure that the final product or program will meet riders' needs.
When Angie Constantino first learned about Design Thinking, she immediately saw an opportunity to integrate it into her work as Senior Transportation Planner/Mobility Manager at the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD). SRPEDD - the regional planning agency for Southeastern Massachusetts - often conducts surveys to get feedback from residents and commuters. Constantino wanted to supplement traditional surveys with creative approaches that would provide not only details, but also the bigger picture of mobility gaps and priorities in her region.
At a SERCCOT meeting, Constantino provided
a brief training on empathy interviews, which use open-ended questions to elicit a broader and deeper understanding of participants' situations. Together, SERCCOT members developed a list of interview questions, and then individual SERCCOT members volunteered to conduct empathy interviews with their own consumers. Constantino
used the findings in her final report. She also infused the themes that emerged from these interviews to inform her development of questions for
a more traditional survey, which she conducted in order to reach a wider audience.
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Salem residents choose to fund improved crosswalk lighting
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Through a participatory budgeting
process
, Salem residents have chosen to improve lighting around downtown crosswalks. In 2018, Massachusetts municipalities received
TNC disbursements
equal to 10 cents for each Uber and Lyft trip that originated within their borders, thanks to state legislation passed in 2016. Salem chose to let residents decide how to use the funds. Over the summer, residents were invited to suggest projects that would promote complete streets goals or other alternative transportation efforts, in keeping with the legal requirements of the funding. After vetting the proposals to ensure they complied with the law and had sufficient detail, city staff posted the 11 submissions online and allowed residents to vote, using a ranked choice system in order to ensure some degree of balance and consensus. "It was engaging and exciting to hear ideas directly from residents," shares Dominick Pangallo, Chief of Staff of the Mayor's Office. The city is currently identifying which crosswalks will receive the enhanced lighting, and will then move forward to design, procure, and install it.
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MBTA extends on-demand paratransit pilot
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Although originally set to expire on December 31, the MBTA's
RIDE pilot with Uber and Lyft has been extended to July 2019 for all RIDE-eligible participants.
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Jitterbug phones partner with Lyft to promote senior transportation
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The Jitterbug - a cellphone designed with the needs of older adults in mind - can now connect users with Lyft rides, thanks to a new partnership between
GreatCall
and Lyft. By dialing 0, Jitterbug users can speak with a GreatCall operator who will then summon a ride for them. The cost of the ride and a service fee are added to their monthly phone bill. The program is now offered across the United States wherever GreatCall and Lyft services are available after a two-year pilot program that ran in select cities. It can be utilized for any trip purpose, from medical appointments to social engagements and beyond.
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National report discusses considerations for TNC partnerships
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In December, the
National Center for Mobility Management
(NCMM) in partnership with the
Shared-Use Mobility Center
(SUMC) published "
Considerations for TNC Partnerships: Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities.
" This informational brief provides a framework for organizations that serve older adults and people with disabilities to partner with transportation network companies (TNCs), like
Uber
and
Lyft
, to improve mobility for people with disabilities and older adults. It provides an overview of TNC services and advocates for rider input in the planning process. The brief also covers the various factors to consider when entering into a public-private partnership, including addressing accessibility, coordinating with other organizations/services, marketing, data agreements, technology/software training, and more. A concise and convenient checklist for partnering is included at the end of the brief.
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New tool helps promotes transportation for students with disabilities
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When students with disabilities graduate high school or age out of school services at age 22, they lose access to school-funded transportation. This transition is smoother if students can practice using community transportation options while they are still in school. In partnership with the national Easterseals office, Easter Seals Massachusetts hosted a
symposium
in April on assisting educators and transition specialists in integrating transportation education into the curriculum. Based on the learning from the symposium, Easter Seals recently published a
tool to assist educators
in identifying transportation options and supporting students in trying different modes.
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Organization offers free training on epilepsy
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The Epilepsy Foundation of New England is offering live or recorded 20-minute trainings on epilepsy to transportation providers across Massachusetts. To learn more or request a training, contact Sarah Specht.
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Looking for a New Year's Resolution for 2019? Become a volunteer driver
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Still looking for a new year's resolution? Volunteering to drive an older adult to a medical appointment, critical errands, or a social outing can be highly rewarding. Seniors who no longer drive often struggle to find transportation to the places they want to go, and face isolation, loneliness, and poor health if they cannot find rides. Volunteer drivers know they are making a difference in seniors' lives - and often build meaningful relationships and friendships with their passengers.
Want to help, but feeling crunched for time? Some companies allow employees to volunteer during work hours. For example, through the
SERV program, state employees in Massachusetts can spend up to one workday per month volunteering for municipal agencies and non-profits serving the community. Many organizations that offer
volunteer driver programs are already approved for SERV - such as the
American Cancer Society and
LifePath (formerly the Franklin County Home Care Corporation). Many
Councils on Aging - which are also approved sites for SERV - offer volunteer driver programs. State employees interested in driving for another program can fill out a
form to ask HR to review the organization and add it to the list.
Do you have a New Year's resolution related to community transportation or mobility management?
Let us know so we can share it on Twitter to inspire others.
And if you already operate a volunteer driver program but aren't yet part of our volunteer driver program network,
let us know
so we can invite you to upcoming networking and professional development opportunities.
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The Riders Transportation Access Group (RTAG) is seeking a Facilitator/Community Organizer to support the RTAG in advising the MBTA on transportation matters impacting seniors and/or persons with disabilities.
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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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