Recognizing transportation as a social determinant of health, The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts selected a rural transportation initiative to receive one of their four Round Five Synergy Initiative grants. In December, the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation (QVCDC) received a  $182,763 one-year planning grant to develop a replicable, sustainable model for rural transportation to improve health outcomes and influence health and transportation policy. If the planning phase is successful, QVCDC will be eligible to apply for a year of pilot funds and then up to three years of implementation funding through the Foundation's Synergy Initiative.

 

Three years ago, the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corporation (QVCDC), the Town of Ware, and other partners launched the Quaboag Connector to offer mobility to low-income individuals struggling to access jobs, education, health, and other services and opportunities. The Connector provides demand-response, public transit service to nine towns with little to no alternatives. Demand grew quickly, and currently hovers around 1000 rides per month - nearly outstripping capacity. Through the grant, QVCDC and its partners will use a Design Thinking approach to gather input from community stakeholders, center the rider experience at all stages of planning, and develop a model that can take the Connector to the next level while also serving as a model for other rural areas.

 

 

Lessard explained that some trainees have the skills they need to travel independently and safely after only a few sessions, but still want additional reassurance. She often makes visual aids like small booklets with photos following a trainee's route that the trainee can refer to during the ride, but had the idea to try personalized videos when working with a trainee with a propensity to lose things. Using free technology on her smartphone and computer and a low-cost microphone, Lessard recorded a video that shows the trainee's route, and recorded narration on top with key reminders. Lessard has also made videos for partner agencies, such as a homeless shelter that wanted a video to show guests how to take the bus to the local DTA office.

 

To learn how to make customized videos, check out Lessard's powerpoint. To join the email list for the Travel Instruction Network, contact us.

Valerie Rufo, Special Education/Transition Teacher at Middleborough High School, worked this past fall with GATRA's travel trainer Patti Waitkevich to introduce three transitional postgraduate students to public transportation extending far beyond their hometown. In the rural town of Middleborough, transportation options are limited, so introducing public transportation opens new options. "Patti is an expert and a great resource when it comes to introducing travel training to beginners. This allows students that have basic knowledge to explore opportunities within public transportation," Rufo explains. Waitkevich uses a curriculum based on materials from Easter Seals Project Action, but customizes her approach to each community and each student.

 

Waitkevich typically begins with in-classroom instructional sessions and a short, local bus ride. More advanced trainees, such as the three Middleborough students, get the opportunity to plan their own itineraries. The students set goals for themselves including learning to access social, work and volunteer opportunities, as well as developing independence, communication, reading schedules, time management and budgeting skills - and they learned a lot. "The transportation trips were awesome, and I learned a lot from them," said one student. "I enjoy being out in the community learning instead of in school," shared another.

 

There is no better way to learn how to use public transportation than to fully participate. These students experienced new challenges on each bus trip, and were excited to learn that for a student fare of $2.00 per day, they were able to travel to Wareham and Plymouth! "Glad I could be of service," Waitkevich commented. "There is no better satisfaction than helping these young adults work towards further independence and opening new doors in the community."

 

Learn more about GATRA's travel training or find a travel trainer near you.

In order to improve mobility for the town's low-income young folks, Watertown  joined  the MBTA's Youth Pass program in January. The Youth Pass allows eligible individuals ages 12 through 25 to purchase a monthly pass for all local bus and subway lines at the reduced rate of $30, as well as half-priced single-ride fares. The program offers an affordable option for young adults who rely on public transportation to access education, employment, and more across the MBTA service area.  "What a great way to support young people just getting launched in life, while also supporting transit, which reduces congestion and improves air quality," shares Watertown Senior Transportation Planner Laura Wiener.

The MBTA offers the Youth Pass in partnership with participating cities or towns. In addition to Watertown, participating communities include Arlington, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Quincy, Revere, and Somerville, as well as 19 North Shore communities. Residents of these communities apply through a community partner, such as the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network for Watertown.  Other municipalities interested in participating should contact the Youth Pass program to learn how.

 

On January 29, stakeholders gathered in Acton for an Age-Friendly Forum focused on housing and transportation. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) released a draft of the recommendations they are developing for their Minuteman Advisory Group on Interlocal Coordination (MAGIC) subregion. After a panel highlighting recent housing and transportation initiatives in the region, attendees broke into small groups to provide input on the recommendations. Meeting materials are available online, and MAPC is finalizing the recommendations.