Atlanta Regional Demand Response Implementation Plan 3 Introduction
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NOVEMBER 2020 2 Atlanta Regional Commission Table of Contents Introduction . 4 Report Organization . 4 Stakeholder Engagement . 5 Engagement Activities . 5 Summary of Activities . .6 County Profiles . 7 Best Practices Research . 8 Key Recommendations . .. 9 Introduction . 9 Establish Consistent Regional ADA Policies . .. 9 Coordinate Interjurisdictional Paratransit . 13 Integrate DRT Into Regional Trip Planning . 15 Regionally Coordinate Microtransit Services . 17 Support Ongoing Regional HST Collaboration . 19 Additional Strategy Primers . 22 Primer: FTA 5310 Funding . 22 Primer: Fare Payment . 24 Primer: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Brokerage Models . 27 Primer: Volunteer Driver Programs . 30 Primer: Post-2020 Census Planning . 32 Primer: TNC Trip Booking/Concierge Assistance . 33 Primer: Co-Mingling Riders . 34 Appendices . 36 Appendix A-1: Comparison of Existing ADA Practices and Policies for ADA Paratransit Eligibility, Appeals, and Visitors . 36 Appendix A-2: Comparison of Existing Selected ADA Rider Policies . 39 Appendix A-3: Sample Letters and Policies from FTA ADA Circular . 40 Appendix B: Key Details for Regional Trip Planning . 52 Appendix C-1: Microtransit Basics. 59 Appendix C-2: Regional Microtransit Status .. 65 Appendix C-3: Microtransit Platform Considerations . 66 Materials Compiled Throughout the Project TAC Meeting Summaries Deep Dive Sessions Regional County Profiles Best Practices and Strategies The Atlanta Regional Demand Response Implementation Plan 3 Introduction CHAPTER one Introduction The Atlanta Regional Demand Response Implementation Plan is an effort to operationalize recommendations from the Atlanta Regional Human Services Transportation (HST) Plan adopted by ARC board in March 2017. That plan included as a key goal a menu of local and regional coordination tactics to improve mobility in the Atlanta region. This plan , prepared by Nelson\Nygaard Consulting Associates with Civic Sphere and RLS Associates, is intended to focus on complementary paratransit (ADA) and county-run demand response transportation and inform future models of regional coordination, particularly new mobility paradigms to improve efficiency and the enhance the user experience. This report summarizes the work undertaken for this year-long project, including interviews and meetings with those directly and indirectly involved in HST and Demand Response Transportation (DRT), demographic and HST DRT profiles of the ten counties that comprise the ARC planning region, research into applicable best practices, and most importantly, recommendations for implementing strategies to improve HST DRT collaboration and coordination. Report Organization Chapter 2 summarizes what the project team learned through research, interviews, and meetings of the study’s technical advisory committee (TAC). Chapter 3 summarizes the key findings of that research and data compiled for county profiles, including needs and key themes related to HST DRT. Chapter 4 summarizes the best practices research effort. Chapter 5 presents the key recommendations deriving from the project. Chapter 6 presents a series of primers on additional areas of potential regional HST DRT implementation. Materials that supplement the individual recommendations are included in an appendix. This is followed by a complete set of materials prepared and shared with the TAC over the course of the project. This report is being published during the COVID-19 pandemic and its recommendations presume that HST DRT services will operate at pre-pandemic levels in the not-too-distant future. 4 Atlanta Regional Commission Stakeholder Engagement CHAPTER two Stakeholder Engagement This chapter summarizes what the project team learned through research, interviews, and meetings of the technical advisory committee (TAC). Meeting summaries, attendee lists, and presentation materials from TAC meetings and deep dive sessions were distributed to the TAC throughout the course of the study and are included at the end of this document. Successful HST planning efforts are collaborative and participatory. Collaboration is an essential element of improved coordination, particularly those that consider potential changes to service delivery models, regional cooperation, and funding. The best chance for success involves engaging stakeholders in meaningful discussions, establishing and adhering to outcome-driven goals, sharing our data and analysis with them, and ensuring that working group meetings reflect a diversity of viewpoints. Throughout the course of this study, several engagement activities took place to support the development of the study recommendations that benefit regional stakeholders. Engagement Activities The project team led several engagement activities to support project tasks, such as developing a baseline understanding and providing input to guide the development of effective recommendations. Figure 1 - Timeline of Engagement Activities Technical Advisory Group (TAC) Meetings Project Kickoff HST Summit Project Project Final Updates Updates Presentation OCT NOV FEB MAY JUNE JULY SEPT OCT 2019 2019 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 Stakeholder Stakeholder Transit Operators Deep Dive Strategy Interviews Interviews Group (TOG) Sessions Presentation The Atlanta Regional Demand Response Implementation Plan 5 Stakeholder Engagement Summary of Activities Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meetings To guide the project team throughout the study, a TAC was formed and convened regularly to provide input to the project team in the progress and development of the project. The TAC is comprised of stakeholders involved with HST activities across the region, including county senior services and transit agency staff, nonprofit organizations, staff from ARC and the ATL, and state-level program leads, representing a range of interests to ensure broad-based participation in the planning process. The TAC’s involvement in this study was critical to develop meaningful recommendations that reflect shared priorities. Their engagement included: ▪ Providing information about local transportation programs and unmet transportation needs ▪ Sharing results of previous planning efforts ▪ Providing comments and input at major project milestones ▪ Participating in a four-hour HST Summit in March 2020 that focused on areas of greatest need and included a separate session for the region’s five complementary paratransit operators Stakeholder Interviews To learn more about existing transportation services and to understand the state of transportation throughout the region, including a better understanding of unmet needs, the project team conducted interviews with state, county, and transit agency staff. The interviews discussed available data, identified characteristics, and articulated topics to cover at the HST Summit in February. The feedback from these interviews helped inform identification of needs included in County Profiles, which also summarized trends throughout the region. Transit Operators Group (TOG) Meeting Following the focused paratransit discussion at the HST Summit, the study team was invited to give a presentation on paratransit coordination to the TOG in May 2020. Feedback was positive and has led to the development of additional recommendations on this topic. Deep Dive Strategy Sessions Following the June 2020 meeting, the project team facilitated five deep dive strategy sessions, each focusing on a strategy that would support HST planning and services in the Atlanta region, and help prioritize strategy recommendations. TAC members provided input that helped specify and tailor the study’s recommendations to ensure effective implementation of local and regional tactics that will work in a coordinated manner to improve mobility in the Atlanta region. 6 Atlanta Regional Commission County Profiles CHAPTER three County Profiles This chapter summarizes the key findings of the team’s research, which include data, needs, and key themes related to HST DRT for the 10-county ARC planning region. The County Profiles report is included at the end of this document and is summarized below. The County Profiles highlight the organization and usage of existing services, illustrate needs and trends, support future coordination, and identify opportunities for service enhancements. The inputs include data compiled from a variety of sources and qualitative input collected during stakeholder interviews and project meetings. The County Profiles identify the commonalities among different counties based on their local context and geography and contextualize these themes regionally. Counties are organized into four tiers: ▪ Tier 1 – MARTA region (Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton) ▪ Tier 2 – Gwinnett and Cobb ▪ Tier 3 – Cherokee and Douglas ▪ Tier 4 – Paulding, Forsyth, and Henry Available population, funding, and travel data are presented along with an analysis of transit propensity. Observations are included summarizing the common challenges and opportunities within each county and tier related to HST DRT services. Figure 2 - Tiers used for County Profiles Cherokee Forsyth County County Gwinnett Paulding Cobb County County County Dekalb Fulton County TIER MARTA Region (Fulton, Dekalb, and Clayton) Douglas County County TIER Gwinnett and Cobb Clayton TIER Cherokee and Douglas County TIER Paulding, Forsyth, and Henry Henry County The Atlanta Regional Demand Response Implementation Plan 7 Best Practices Research CHAPTER four Best Practices Research Based on input from ARC staff and the project Technical Advisory Committee (TAC),