CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Prepared by:
Additional copies of this document may be obtained by contacting:
Chelan Douglas Transportation Council 11 Spokane Street, Suite #301 Wenatchee, WA 98001 P: 509.663.9059 www.chelan-douglas.org
TITLE VI AND AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) NOTICE TO PUBLIC: The Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council (CDTC) hereby gives notice that it is the policy of the agency to assure full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, Executive Order 12898 on Environmental Justice, and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities. Title VI requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, or national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which CDTC receives federal financial assistance. Any person who believes they have been aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI has a right to file a formal complaint with the CDTC. Any such complaint must be in writing and filed with the CDTC Title VI Coordinator within one hundred eight (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence. Title VI Discrimination Complaint Forms may be obtained from the CDTC at no cost by calling 509-663-9059
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council (CDTC) 2018 GOVERNING BOARD
CHERYL K. FARIVAR Chair of the Board City of Leavenworth Mayor Chelan County Small Cities Representative
JC BALDWIN Vice-Chair of the Board Port of Chelan County Commissioner
RANDY AGNEW City of Rock Island Mayor Douglas County Small Cities Representative
DAVE BIERSCHBACH WSDOT North Central Region Administrator
RICHARD DeROCK LINK Transit General Manager
KEITH GOEHNER Chelan County Commissioner
FRANK KUNTZ City of Wenatchee Mayor
STEVE LACY City of East Wenatchee Mayor
MARK SPURGEON Port of Douglas County Commissioner
KYLE STEINBURG Douglas County Commissioner
Washington State Transportation Commission, Mayors (or designee) of all remaining small cities and towns in addition to the Washington State Senator and Representatives are considered non-voting members of the CDTC Governing Board.
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council (CDTC) STAFF AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CDTC Staff
Jeff Wilkens David Fletcher Executive Director Senior Transportation Planner
Chad Daggett Nicole Campbell, AICP Executive Assistant & Clerk of the Board Associate Transportation Planner
CDTC Technical Advisory Committee
City of Wenatchee City of East Wenatchee Rob Jammerman, Public Works Director Tom Wachholder, Project Development Manager Gary Owen, City Engineer Lori Barnett, Community Development Director Steve King, Economic Development Director
Douglas County Chelan County Aaron Simmons, County Engineer Eric Pierson, Public Works Director [Vacant], Community Development Mitch Reister, Community Development Director
Port of Douglas County Port of Chelan County Lisa Parks, Executive Director Represented by: Erik Howe, RH2 Engineering
City of Cashmere City of Chelan [Vacant], Community Development Director Jake Youngren, City Engineer
City of Entiat City of Leavenworth Mike Herdt, Public Works Director Nathan Pate, Community Development Director
City of Rock Island City of Waterville Represented by: Kurt Holland, Varella Associates Martin Ramin, Public Works Director
City of Bridgeport Town of Mansfield Stewart Dezellem, Public Works Director [Vacant]
WSDOT LINK Transit Dave Bierschbach, Regional Administrator Lauren Loebsack, Service & Facilities Planner Terry Mattson, Program Manager Nick Manzaro, Transportation Planning Manager Cindy McGlothern, Transportation Planner Paul Mahre, Local Programs Manager
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
The North Central Washington Mobility Council formed in 2017 following a Mobility Summit hosted by Link Transit. The Mobility Council is a diverse group of organizations from healthcare, public health, social services, local government, transportation and non-profits. Mission To increase access to services to improve the wellness of our communities and vulnerable populations in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties.
Vision The Mobility Council is a long term effort aimed at creating partnerships and identifying resources to expand and increase accessibility to existing services; and to advise the community on services needed to fill in the gaps.
Leadership
Co-chair Maggie Kaminoff LINK Transit Co-Chair Megan Parish, MPH Confluence Health Foundation CDTC Rep Nicole Campbell, AICP Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council Clerk Chad Daggett Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council
2018 Members and Active Participants
Paige Bartholomew Chelan-Douglas Health District Tamara Burns Chelan-Douglas Developmental Disabilities Program Linette Gahringer Wellness Place Kelsey Gust Community Choice Rosenda Henley People for People Brooklyn Holton City of Wenatchee Carol McCormick Chelan-Douglas Health District Deb Miller Community Choice Alicia McRae Chelan County and City of Wenatchee Housing Authority May Segle Entiat Valley Community Services Greg Wright Washington State Department of Transportation
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction 8 About CDTC About Coordinated Transportation Planning Project Goals
Chapter 2: Stakeholder Involvement 12 2017 Mobility Summit Mobility Council Mobility Council Survey
Chapter 3: Existing Conditions 14 Community Information Public Transportation Use in NCW Major Destinations Existing Transportation Services Technology Emergency Management Coordination
Chapter 4: Regional Mobility Needs 28 Process Regional Mobility Needs
Chapter 5: Regional Priorities and Ongoing Coordination 33 Project Prioritization Process Developing Regional Strategies 2019 and Beyond
Appendix A: CDTC Regional Project Rankings 35
Appendix B: Mobility Council Data Summary 38
Appendix C: Document Maps 47
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Chapter 1: Introduction
Every four years a regional Coordinated Public Transit-Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HSTP) must be prepared and submitted to Washington State Department of Transportation by all transportation planning organizations in the state.
The CPT-HSTP is a planning tool to assist the region in identifying local public transportation needs and recommending programs and improvements to benefit people with disabilities, seniors, young people, individuals with lower incomes and those who rely on transportation services.
This document serves as the CPT-HSTP for Chelan and Douglas counties.
Planning area
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
About CDTC
The Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council (CDTC) is the lead agency for the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Regional Transportation Planning Organization with responsibility for transportation planning and programming in the Wenatchee Metropolitan Statistical area. The area includes the entirety of Chelan and Douglas counties.
CDTC receives funding from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to update and maintain the CPT-HSTP every 4 years.
About Coordinated Transportation Planning
The goal of coordinated CPT-HSTP Requirement: Located in: transportation planning is to improve efficiency, reduce service duplication and improve access and mobility Stakeholder outreach Chapter 2 options, especially for special needs transportation users. Origins and Destinations of Chapter 3 individuals with special transportation needs Federal Coordination Inventory existing Chapter 3 transportation services In 2004, the Coordinating Council on Identify technology solutions Chapter 3 Access and Mobility (CCAM) was created by Executive Order. The Describe emergency Chapter 3 CCAM asked ten agencies to focus management planning in on coordinating efforts, and includes the region representatives from Transportation, Identify unmet transportation Chapter 4 Health and Human Services, and needs Education among other agencies. Strategies to meet regional Chapter 5
needs and address gaps The past three federal transportation bills, including the current FAST Act, Describe future coordination Chapter 5 have maintained a requirement for efforts the CPT-HSTP to be eligible for Federal Prioritized projects list Appendix A Transit Administration (FTA) funding.
State Coordination
The information identified in this plan is used to support the WSDOT Statewide Human Services Transportation Plan. The goals of the WSDOT plan are to: Identify service gaps and challenges Compile and consolidate best practices from around the state Recommend strategies to improve access to transportation in Washington 9
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Focus on how to deliver transportation services to people with special needs; and to those who are unable to transport themselves due to physical or mental limitations, income or age
WSDOT also requires the plan to meet eligibility requirements for the WSDOT Consolidated Grant Program. The Consolidated Grant program funds: Projects to improve transportation within and between rural communities Transportation services between cities Purchases new buses and equipment Provides services for seniors and persons with disabilities
Regional Coordination
This planning document was developed in partnership with the North Central Washington (NCW) Mobility Council. The Mobility Council formed after a 2017 Mobility Summit hosted by Link Transit.
While this plan focuses on Chelan and Douglas counties, the Mobility Council takes a holistic look at the entire NCW region of Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties. Residents in Grant and Okanogan counties rely on medical and social services in Chelan and Douglas counties, and all four counties provide employment opportunities for the region.
More information about the Mobility Council and their role in the planning process can be found in Chapter 2.
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Project Goals
1. Comply with federal and state requirements for the CPT-HSTP document and process
2. Facilitate funding and opportunities for collaboration in the operation of local and regional transportation services operating within the two county region
3. Provide local transportation data that will be used by the Mobility Council to work on improving services and developing new programs for the North Central Washington region
4. Highlight transportation needs and potential solutions identified in Chelan and Douglas counties
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Chapter 2: Stakeholder Involvement
The CPT-HSTP process encourages working with a diverse list of local stakeholders. CDTC Organizations Represented at the has been participating in local efforts and Mobility Summit/Mobility Council engaging partners for the past two years. Wenatchee Housing Authority The 2018 CPT-HSTP data collected, the needs Together for Youth identified and recommended strategies are Okanogan County Transit the result of the hard work and dedication of Authority local partners who have worked together on City of Wenatchee this topic in recent years. This is a significant Chelan-Douglas Health District increase in community participation Entiat Valley Community Services compared to 2014 and prior human services Aging and Adult Care of Central planning documents in the region. WA Mission Vista Community Choice 2017 Mobility Summit Molina Healthcare WSDOT In June 2017, Link Transit hosted a Mobility Planned Parenthood Summit. Participants from nearly 30 different Grant Transit Authority organizations came together to learn about Lake Chelan Community Hospital mobility programs in the region and identify Prime Point Care Consulting gaps and solutions. Wellness Place Wenatchee Valley Senior Center Mobility Council Confluence Health DSHS
Columbia Valley Community Following the Mobility Summit, Link Transit took Health the lead in establishing the NCW Mobility Heritage Heights Council. CDTC staff has been active in the CDTC leadership committee since the beginning Ballard Ambulance and worked with the Mobility Council to Link Transit collect and review data. The Mobility Council People for People was also asked to review the WSDOT Chelan County Sheriff’s Office Consolidated Grant projects for the region WA Developmental Disabilities and act as an informal advisory committee to Administration this planning process. A list of members is Catholic Charities Volunteer identified in the front of the document. Services
Mobility Council Survey
From 2017-2018, members of the Mobility Council developed a survey to collect data on regional transportation needs. The goal was to collect information for this planning document, as well as more broadly for the Mobility Council and community organizations to use. 12
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Survey Outreach Survey Topics
Extensive public outreach was completed for this survey in Do you use public all four counties. A website with the online survey was transportation or active emailed out regularly during the survey data collection transportation? timeframe. The survey was also the focus of a Wenatchee How do you use it? World Art of Community news article. With help from the Why do you use it? Mobility Council and other partners the survey was widely Where do you go? shared online and paper copies and fliers were distributed What challenges do you at meetings and events. face using public transportation or active It was available online and shared by the following email transportation? lists: What new services The North Central Accountable Communities of would you support or use Health (NCACH) mailing lists and Coalitions for in the region? Health Improvement (CHI’s) Opportunities for Mobility Council email list individuals to tell us their Wenatchee School District social media stories and ideas for Wellness Place social media improvements Confluence Health social media Senior Service Network email list And many more!
Paper survey copies and/or fliers were delivered to the following locations or events: Food banks Local libraries and businesses Community Action Council Kids Pancake Breakfast Okanogan Senior Health Fair Wenatchee Community Health Fair Home health care workers distributed to clients Wenatchee Valley Senior Center Confluence Health clinics throughout the region Veterans Services The Center for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Garden Terrace Senior Housing Beacon Health NCWA behavioral health meetings And many more!
Survey Results
The survey received 800 responses in English and Spanish from May-August 2018. 63 Spanish survey responses were received.
Information from the survey is included throughout this document and a summary can be found in Appendix B.
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Chapter 3: Existing Conditions
Community Information
Chelan and Douglas Counties are joined together by a regional economy and labor market, an integrated transportation network, and shared culture and history. The Wenatchee-East Wenatchee area is the urban population center and the business and services hub of the region, with a retail and services market area that reaches into Grant, Kittitas and Okanogan counties, and the Okanogan Valley region of south- central British Columbia, Canada. The rural areas throughout Chelan and Douglas counties sustain thriving agricultural production with an emphasis on tree fruit (apples, cherries, pears and apricots), wheat, and wine grapes.
The combination of an agrarian culture, a scenic setting along the east slope of the Cascades mountain range, Lake Chelan, the Columbia River and its major tributaries, an dry and sunny climate and high quality outdoor recreation opportunities, many of the small cities and rural sub-regions are developing a strong and growing regional tourism sector.
These characteristics shape the population demographics and trends in the region. The 2015 Regional Demographic Profile (available online at www.chelan- douglas.org) provides an understanding of these trends, and serves as important data to guide the Council's planning and decision making for the regional transportation system.
Demographics
The data used is provided by the 2010 census. Newer data was not used due to the region’s relatively stable population growth and the high margins of error on the 5-year estimates.
Table 1 POPULATION DATA
Total Population Total Percent Change 2000 Population 2010 Washington State 5,894,121 6,724,540 14.1% MPO Region 99,219 110,884 11.8% Chelan County 66,616 72,453 8.9% Douglas County 32,603 38,431 17.9%
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Cities Total Pop. 2000 Total Pop. 2010 Percent Change Chelan 3,522 3,890 10.4% Cashmere 2,965 3,063 3.3% Leavenworth 2,074 1,965 -5.3% Entiat 957 1,112 16.2% Wenatchee 27,856 31,925 14.6% Bridgeport 2,059 2,409 17.0% East Wenatchee 5,757 13,190 129% Mansfield 319 320 0.3% Rock Island 863 788 -8.7% Waterville 1,163 1,138 -2.1%
Table 2 ZERO CAR HOUSEHOLDS
Area Number of Zero Car Percent Occupied Households Households Washington State 2,632,621 184,023 7.0% MPO Region 40,922 2,024 4.9% Chelan County 26,943 1,754 6.5% Douglas County 13,979 270 1.9%
Chelan County Occupied Persons Per Zero Car Households Household Households % Chelan 1,602 2.39 8.8% Cashmere 1,118 2.66 4.7% Leavenworth 908 2.16 11.8% Entiat 421 2.64 2.2% Wenatchee 12,379 2.53 8.7% Douglas County Occupied Persons Per Zero Car Households Household Households % Bridgeport 673 3.58 2.7% East Wenatchee 4,997 2.63 1.7% Mansfield 144 2.22 6.9% Rock Island 262 3.01 5.1% Waterville 449 2.51 2.1%
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Table 3 DISABILITY DATA
AREA Total Civilian Non- Non-institutionalized Percent institutionalized Population Population with a Disability Washington State 6,716,822 839,747 12.5%
MPO Region 111,349 13,694 12.3% Chelan County 73,038 8,305 11.4% Douglas County 38,311 5,389 14.1%
Table 4 AGE DATA
Population under 18 Population 18-64 years Population 65 years years and over AREA Total % With Total % With Total % With Disability Disability Disability Washington 1,578,179 4.4% 4,297,899 10.6% 840,744 37.3% State MPO Region 28,838 6.2% 66,246 10.4% 16,265 33.7% Chelan 18,393 6.1% 43,624 8.5% 11,021 31.5% County Douglas 10,445 6.4% 22,622 14.0% 5,244 38.2% County
Table 5 INCOME DATA
Percentage of Families Whose Income In The Past 12 Months Is Below the Poverty Level Washington MPO Chelan Douglas State Region County County All families 9.4% 10.1% 8.3% 11.9%
With related children under 18 years 15.0% 18.7% 14.3% 23.1% With related children under 5 years 15.6% 18.6% 31.3% 5.8% only Married couple families 4.8% 6.6% 5.9% 7.2% With related children under 18 years 7.2% 13.9% 13.3% 14.4% With related children under 5 years 5.4% 6.8% 13.6% 0.0% only Families with female householder, no 28.6% 24.4% 15.9% 32.9% husband present With related children under 18 years 37.1% 30.7% 14.3% 47.1% With related children under 5 years 51.3% 70.6% 93.1% 48.1% only
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Table 6 EMPLOYMENT DATA
Employment Status Washington MPO Chelan Douglas State Region County County Population 16 years and 5,434,028 87,439 58,184 29,255 over In labor force 3,533,079 55,567 36,534 19,033 Civilian labor force 3,477,743 55,567 36,534 19,033 Employed 3,117,998 50,737 33,590 17,147 Unemployed 359,745 4,830 2,944 1,886 Armed Forces 55,336 - - - Not in labor force 1,900,949 31,872 21,650 10,222
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Public Transportation Use in NCW
The following comes from the Mobility Council survey and existing demographic data prepared by CDTC.
Who is using public transportation and active transportation in the region?
The Mobility Council survey found that over 400 of the respondents use active transportation and nearly 300 respondents use public transportation.
Active transportation was included in the survey for several reasons:
Transit users frequently walk or bike to access transit, make transit connections, or access destinations during their trip
Link Transit has previously identified bus bicycle rack capacity issues on popular intercity bus routes in the region
Limited information on active transportation is available from the rural areas of our region. There is a regional bicycle plan for the urbanized area of Wenatchee/East Wenatchee, a trails plan for the Leavenworth area, and the City of Wenatchee is currently working on a pedestrian plan. The survey was an opportunity to help us better understand the demand and need across the entire region.
Do you use public transportation or active transportation? 500 400 300 200 100 0 Yes No No Response
Do you ever use public transportation Do you ever use active transportation
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Using public transportation in the region
Based on the survey we learned what types of public transportation are being used, why people are using public, where they are going and whether they experience difficulties.
The majority of survey respondents use local buses (Link Transit, Grant Transit, Okanogan Transit) with medical transportation and hired services (taxis) being the next most frequently selected answers.
When asked why people use public transit, using public transit by choice (119 responses) was the top answer. Having a disability (64 responses) or not having access to a car (68 responses) where the next most commonly selected answers.
When asked whether they experience difficulties using public transportation in the region, more than 50% of the respondents (231 responses for the question) identified that yes, they do have challenges.
Using active transportation in the region
Similar questions were also asked about active transportation. The majority of respondents walk (336), followed by biking (163), using a wheelchair or mobility device (32) and skateboarding (8).
When asked why people use active transportation, using active transportation by choice (161 respondents) and for the health benefits (121) were identified as the top reasons. Like public transportation, not having access to a car or having a disability were also identified.
About 40% of the respondents (360 responses) identified that they experience challenges using active transportation.
Common origins
The following map compiles five indicators of potentially disadvantaged populations in the region:
1. Minority Population (by block group) 2. Limited English Proficiency Households (by block group) 3. Populations Age 65 and Older (by block group) 4. Households below the Federal Poverty Level (by block group) 5. Carless Households (by block group)
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
The rural areas have the largest percentage of seniors over 65 and households below the federal poverty level, while the urban area has more indicators overall. The demographic profile, including larger maps, can be found at www.chelan-douglas.org.
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Major Destinations
Most common destinations
The survey asked where respondents go when they use active transportation or public transportation. The following came up as the top destinations for both modes:
Basic Needs (267 responses) Medical appointments (242 responses) Shopping/Dining (219 responses) Employment (169 responses) Recreation (130 responses)
More people identified that they use active transportation for their basic needs and shopping/dining than public transportation. Public transit and active transportation were similarly tied for the other choices.
Common city destinations
The Mobility Council survey asked respondents to identify the top three locations that they visit using public transportation. Out of 577 responses, these were the top 10 destinations identified:
City # of times identified
Wenatchee 203 Cashmere 60 Chelan 57 Leavenworth 51 East Wenatchee 40 Omak 21 Moses Lake 16 Okanogan 15 Entiat 15 Seattle 13
Additional responses ranged from the Puget Sound region to Spokane and everywhere in between.
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Map of Major Destinations
As expected, Wenatchee and East Wenatchee are a major destination for the entire region. Residents from across the region come into the Wenatchee area on a regular basis for employment, medical appointments, social services and basic needs.
The following map illustrates that there are other major destinations distributed throughout the region. Chelan, Cashmere and Leavenworth also have a number of major destinations included on the map.
A larger version of the following map can be found in Appendix C.
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Employment Density Map
Wenatchee has the highest density of employers in the region, followed by East Wenatchee. The US 2 corridor and Chelan also have some areas with higher employment densities in the region.
A larger version of the following map can be found in Appendix C.
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Existing Transportation Services
Transit Service Providers –Fixed Route Transit
Link Transit is the only fixed route transit provider in the region. They run transit in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee and have routes to Leavenworth, Cashmere, Chelan, Manson, Entiat, Waterville and Rock Island as shown in the map below. The Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA) boundaries do not allow Link Transit to provide services to the cities of Mansfield or Bridgeport.
Link Transit operates routes Monday through Saturday from 5:30 AM to 8:05 PM.
Link Transit fares range from free (on the high-frequency “Current” routes) to $2.50 (two zone intercity routes). In 2018, Link Transit launched mobile fare payments but they continue to except cash fares and have a variety of discounted fares and passes available. The rural intercity routes rely on WSDOT Consolidated Grant funding to operate. Large versions of the map can be found in Appendix C.
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Transit Service Providers-Paratransit and DART
Link Transit provides Dial-A-Ride transportation in Leavenworth and LinkPlus paratransit services up to ¾ of a mile beyond where the regular (non-commuter) fixed-route buses travel.
The Leavenworth DART service is a shared ride, advance reservation service that is available to all persons and operates in the greater Leavenworth area. It is available Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The fare is $1.00 and the service relies on the WSDOT Consolidated Grant Program for funding.
LinkPlus is a modified door-to-door (line of sight), advanced reservation, shared ride service. LinkPlus can provide the entire trip, or connect users to a regular bus route for service. The service hours match the days and times in each community. Riders must meet the ADA eligibility requirements, apply and meet with Link Transit staff for a review to receive this service.
Mobility Management
Link Transit also provides Mobility Management services for the region. The Mobility Coordinator manages the program, including ADA assessments, travel training and coordinating the Mobility Council. Link Transit also offers classes and workshops to help seniors and persons with disability stay healthy and mobile.
This program relies on the WSDOT Consolidated Grant Program for funding.
Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (Medicaid)
People for People provide the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation in the region as the Medicaid Broker. They also support the Washington 2-1-1 information line. Users must be verified by People for People and there are a variety of ways that they can help client’s access medical services.
Eligible clients call and schedule their services. Two days business notice is required for local trips and five business days are required for long distance trips.
Long Distance Bus Services and Regional Transit Connections
In addition to Link Transit and People for People, there are a number of other local agencies providing services within or near Chelan and Douglas counties.
Grant Transit Authority and People for People operate routes between Moses Lake and Wenatchee. These are available for medical transportation (Health Express Shuttle operated by People for People) and also to serve the general public.
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CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Okanogan County Transportation and Nutrition (OCTN) and the Okanogan County Transit Authority (TranGO) primarily provide services within Okanogan County. OTCN schedules a monthly trip to Wenatchee when there is demand. TranGO connects Okanogan residents to Wenatchee by providing a direct connection to the Appleline intercity bus route.
The Appeline, Northwestern Trailways and Amtrak all provide services in the region. Wenatchee and Leavenworth are the primary stops within Chelan and Douglas counties.
All of the above services can be found on the following map (larger version in Appendix C):
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Other Transportation Services, as identified in WA 2-1-1
Entiat Valley Community Services: Provides programs that serve seniors with transportation, social activities, education, workshops, classes, interactive events, healthcare, homecare, clothing, meals, food, and other services for seniors 60+ and disabled 55+ homebound.
Wellness Place: Provides support for cancer patients and survivors in the North Central WA and beyond.
Salvation Army: Helps with eviction notices, light/water shut off notices, and in-state bus fare in emergencies.
Chelan County Veterans Services: The Chelan County Veteran's Assistance Fund is designed to help veterans with temporary emergency financial assistance.
Catholic Charities: Volunteer Chore Service (VCS) provides basic in-home assistance to low-income elders and adults with disabilities.
Technology
The region uses technology to aid in the planning and coordination of services. Link Transit and CDTC both use Esri Arc GIS for planning purposes. Link Transit also uses Ecolane for dispatch and the management of paratransit services.
The WSDOT Statewide Intelligent Transportation Services (ITS) plan has been adopted by the region as the regional ITS plan.
Emergency Management Coordination
Link Transit is able to participate in relevant emergency preparedness planning and operations, and response, primarily in the form of transport of crews to/from emergency sites such as forest fire operations staging. Link Transit does not provide “First Responder” level emergency response at this time and therefore is not included in evacuation plans.
Due to FTA requirements that restrict access into public transit dispatch and operations areas, it is not feasible to provide shelter at our Operation Base (2700 Euclid Avenue, Wenatchee, WA); however they provide shelter at Columbia Station during emergencies, including severe weather that prevents buses from returning riders home from outside the urban area.
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Chapter 4: Regional Mobility Needs
Process
The needs and gaps identified in this chapter have been developed using the following information:
A review of all existing studies, past plans, focus groups and research completed on this topic in the region was completed prior to developing the Mobility Council survey (see Chapter 3 and Appendix B for details)
The 2017 Mobility Summit determined a list of top gaps and solutions for the region based on the day long workshop with more than 35 participants
The 2018 survey data was reviewed for new or emerging trends
The 2014 HSTP Needs-Gaps-Barriers was reviewed by the Mobility Council
The following needs, strategies and potential projects list was developed in coordination with Mobility Council members:
Regional Mobility Needs
The following needs are not identified in order of priority:
1. Maintain existing services that rely on consolidated grant funding
Many of the region’s public transportation services rely on consolidated grant funding to operate. Maintaining service hours, preserving equipment and vehicles, and the continuation of existing routes is a priority for the region.
Existing services include:
Link Transit commuter routes, Upper Valley demand response, mobility management and maintaining a vehicle fleet for existing services
2. Increase public transit service hours in the region
A need for increased hours of services has been identified as a significant need in the region for many years. 24 hour services, Sunday services or simply expanded times of 28
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan services has been identified as a priority by the 2014 HSTP, the 2015 CDTC regional survey, the 2017 Link Transit strategic planning survey, the 2017 Mobility Summit, and the 2018 Mobility Council survey.
Key Findings:
2015 CDTC Survey: 32% of respondents (the general public, not transit users) believed that buses should operate later into the evening and on the weekends
2017 Mobility Summit: Expand existing routes identified as top need
Link Transit Survey: 83% of respondents would like to see increased weekend and holiday service
Link Transit Survey: 81% would like to see extended service on weekdays
Link Transit Survey: 65% would like to see more frequency on existing routes
Mobility Council Survey: Majority of open ended comments on the difficulties of taking public transit focused on transit service frequency and hours
3. Improve options for rural transportation
The rural areas of our region have a number of transportation challenges and limited options for mobility. Not having access to transportation due to financial costs or factors that limit their ability to drive, needing to coordinate public transportation or services with medical appointments, and living in an area without services have been identified as major concerns in the region’s rural areas.
3A. Provide rural non- Medical Transportation Services emergent medical service transportation Currently, these services are disproportionately serving
Medicare/Medicaid The 2016 Community Choice Rapid populations. Those who are Transportation Assessment Survey found that: privately insured also need Rural residents are unlikely to use public access to these services, but transportation for medical they are financially appointments unobtainable for many Scheduling NEMT services for (insurance will only cover your appointments is burdensome and hard EMS trip in most cases, but not to do non-emergent services). Inconvenient transportation means skipping medical appointments
Potential Strategy: Transporting services to people was identified as a top solution at the Mobility Summit and something that Community Choice, Confluence Health, 29
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan
Entiat Valley Community Services and other organizations around the region have been working on in recent years (this includes medical/dental mobile units, mobile food banks and telemedicine services).
3B. Provide rural transportation for special needs populations
The Mobility Council identified more general rural transportation needs for youth and the developmentally disabled as a regional need. This includes transportation for work, social opportunities and school.
Potential Strategies Identified:
Increase public transit frequency and expand routes in rural areas
Partner with DSHS on job access shuttle (there is one available for workers in Grant County)
3C. Serve individuals outside of the Public Transportation Benefit Areas (PTBA’s)
There are currently some areas in Chelan and Douglas counties without public transit including the cities of Mansfield and Bridgeport. Link Transit receives requests for paratransit services outside of their boundaries that they cannot serve, and for the general public there are limited transportation options beyond a personal vehicle.
Potential Strategy: Entiat Valley Community Services volunteer driver program (TRIPS: Transportation for Rural Immobilized Persons and Seniors) currently receives calls from residents outside of Entiat and is hoping to expand their services in 2019.
4. Expand same day Emergency Room Visits service transportation The North Central Accountable Communities of options Health (NCACH) has identified transportation as a barrier to health. Same day transportation could help These are unscheduled needs that prevent people from waiting until the last minute for come up last minute for transportation medical care (prevent trips to hospital via EMS/ trip to services. Specific destinations identified ER by getting people to healthcare when they need during the Mobility Summit include: it). local hospitals, jails, picking up 30
CDTC Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan prescriptions, and other urgent trips.
Potential Strategy: Discharge shuttles at hospitals can provide transportation for individuals who are driven to the hospital or brought by EMS.
5. Provide better connectivity between Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan & Grant counties for access to social events, employment, medical services, social services and regional shopping destinations
Getting people in and out of Wenatchee, which serves as a regional hub, has been identified as a need by the Mobility Council. Additionally, there are limited services providing connectivity between rural cities in our counties. Grant Transit Authority and People for People currently provide transit services in and out of Wenatchee, but the rest of the region currently has limited transportation services crossing local PTBA boundaries.
Potential Strategies:
Complete a planning/coordination study to explore strategies with a goal to expand services between counties and regional public transit providers
Transport services to people (identified as top solution at the Mobility Summit)
6. Research and support funding opportunities for new and existing programs and services
There is a need to learn more about existing programs, funding available for transportation services and work on strategies to meet the identified needs in the region. Specifically, funding resources and support for small non-profits to serve clients with transportation needs is identified as a priority for the region.
Potential Strategy: The NCACH has hired a grant writer to help local non-profits build capacity and find grant funding to work on transportation and housing. The Mobility Council has also identified a strategy to complete a plan that identifies funding sources and strategies for the region.
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7. Provide active transportation facilities (bike, walk, ADA accessible) across the region to increase safety and access to bus stops and essential services in our communities
The Mobility Council survey included questions on whether people bike, walk, or use a mobility device for transportation. The Mobility Council learned that there are people biking and walking to medical appointments, basic needs, social services and work across the region, including the rural areas. Concerns about safety, walking distance and a lack of bike lanes or sidewalks were identified as concerns.
Potential Strategies:
Complete a bike share feasibility study to determine if bike sharing is appropriate for the region and whether it would complement existing transit services
Access to transit non-motorized study to look for areas to improve bike/walk access at bus stops, park and rides and transit stations
8. Increase education and outreach to public transit users and the general public on existing programs and transportation options, especially for special needs transportation users
This plan and the Mobility Summit identify a need to prioritize existing programs and services. One challenge heard repeatedly is 2017 Mobility Summit that there is a lack of awareness and coordination of existing data, services, and groups working on these issues. It was Top Need: Education of identified as one of the top needs at the Mobility Summit. existing programs
Examples of Existing Resources: Top Solution: CTANW transportation guide DSHS, WA Healthcare Authority, etc. Centralized hub of all provide service provider guides Human services transportation plans in information/dispatch all 4 counties WA 2-1-1includes transportation services information Link Transit Mobility Programs
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Chapter 5: Regional Priorities & Ongoing Coordination
This planning document reflects the collaborative work of the Mobility Council. The data collected, the needs Adopted regional identified and implementation moving forward has been/or priorities set by the CDTC will be done in coordination with the Mobility Council. Link Governing Board in 2014: Transit and Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council have both committed staff and resources to support the work of the Mobility Council in the future, in addition to community 1. Maintain Existing partners who have invested significant time and energy in Services the past year.
2. Identify new or The Mobility Council Vision: expanded services to fill gaps, especially in rural Long term effort aimed at enhancing mobility by creating areas of the county and partnerships and identifying resources to expand within Link Transit accessibility to existing services; and to advise the boundaries community on services need to fill in the gaps.
Project Prioritization Process
As part of this planning effort a regional prioritization process is completed to assist WSDOT with the scoring of Consolidated Grant Program applications. In past years, the CDTC governing board received presentations from the applicants in the region and ranked projects using a forced pairs ranking exercise.
This year, the Mobility Council and all the project applicants weighed in on the ranking process. Recommendations for the project ranking process were developed during the September 2018 Mobility Council meeting and approved by a motion at the October 2018 CDTC Governing Board meeting.
The project list and details on the process can be found in Appendix A on page 34.
Developing Regional Strategies
Prior to this plan update there was not regular implementation or coordination beyond this planning process. Since the Mobility Council is still in the early stages of development, specific strategies have not been fully developed. Some are identified in Chapter 4, and others will be identified in the coming years.
During the development of the plan the Mobility Council focused on:
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Collecting existing data Engaging new partners Developing the regional transportation survey Forming a committee structure, charter, mission and vision Serving as an advisory committee to this planning process, including reviewing data, reviewing the region’s list of needs and recommending project priorities for the Consolidated Grant Program 2019 and Beyond
A current priority for the Mobility Council is to develop a strategic plan based on identified needs and begin reporting annual progress. In late 2018 or early 2019, the Mobility Council will use this plan and the CPT-HSTP plans of QUADCO and Okanogan RTPO to begin developing goals and project priorities for 2019 based on identified needs for the region.
The leadership team has also discussed the possibility of hosting an additional Mobility Summit in 2019, and the survey team will continue to analyze the survey data for the next several months.
The Mobility Council is expecting to continue meeting regularly and plans to engage in future WSDOT consolidated grant solicitations and future CPT-HSTP updates.
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Appendix A: CDTC Regional Project Rankings
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Appendix B: Mobility Council 2018 Data Summary
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The data collected by the Mobility Council and CDTC is a mix of responses from providers and users:
Users/General Public Providers (Social services, clinical & 2014 HSTP (#1) transportation) CDTC public opinion survey (#2) Community Choice Rapid Link Transit Mobility Summit (#7) Transportation (#3) Mobility Council (advisory Link Transit Strategic Planning committee for the plan) Survey (#4) Confluence Health Data (#5) WIN 2-1-1 usage data (#6) NCACH Focus Groups (#8) Mobility Council Survey (#9)
# 1 2014 HSTP Needs-Gaps-Barriers
Maintaining existing services Increased/improved stop locations Increased public education Technology improvements Fleet maintenance Vehicle Replacement
New or expanded services Rural non-emergent medical service transportation Rural Job Access transportation for developmentally disabled populations Cross Jurisdictional transportation for employment and medical services Vehicles adapted to changing client needs within existing service routes
Other Need to serve individuals outside of the Link service boundaries Better connectivity between Chelan, Douglas & Grant counties for access to employment, medical services and regional shopping destinations Lack of adequate funding Lack of safe non-motorized access to transit stops Information distribution for users and agencies working with specific populations with public transportation needs
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#2 2015 CDTC Public Opinion Survey
SESRC purchased random sample of 4,000 addresses of residents living in Chelan and Douglas County
492 completed interviews and 23 partially completed interviews
Key findings:
A half (49.1%) of respondents is familiar with the bus routes and services offered by Link Transit and a half (50.9%) is not familiar.
Of those familiar with Link Transit, majority (77.9%) thinks that Link Transit offers “Very good bus service” or “Somewhat good bus service.” Less than ten percent (8.9%) think that bus service provided by Link Transit is “poor.”
When asked whether or not Link Transit offers bus routes that they can use for traveling to work, school or running errands, 40.1% provided affirmative response, 29.6% provided a negative response, and 30.4% were not sure.
When asked whether Link Transit should be changed, more than 40% said that existing bus routes, frequency of service and hours of operation are adequate, close to a third (32.4%) think that buses should operate into later evening hours and weekends.
Forty respondents (or 8.1%) were of the opinion that if a new bus route became available they would “always” choose to take the bus. An additional 27.8% said that they sometimes” would choose to take the bus, if a new bus route became available.
When asked about bus services, majority (63.6%) believe that buses should primarily serve long-distance trips between communities, while 36.4% think that buses should primarily serve local trips within communities.
When asked about safety of their community, majority (75%) indicated that their community is safe for walking and more than a half (51%) believe that their community is safe bicycling.
Our results show that more than a half (56.8%) “Always” or “Sometimes” walk to work, school, to run errands or for recreation, and this number might go up to 66% if the streets are improved.
#3 2016 Community Choice Rapid Transportation Assessment Survey
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Key findings: rural residents unlikely to use public transportation for medical appointments scheduling NEMT services for appointments is burdensome and hard to do inconvenient transportation means skipping medical appointments
Recommendations: survey most remote residents by mail or care coordinators to determine barriers, streamline/improve communications explore same day transportation for remote residents
#4 2017 Link Transit Strategic Planning Survey
3,668 respondents to Link survey Phase 1 and 2.
Results and Gaps: Ability to add $450,00 toward new services (2018) Allows Link to address at a minor level one of the service improvements most desired by public or a combination of improvements at a lesser degree. Under current funding stream it is impossible to become a more comprehensive system as desired by a large number of respondents.
Major Findings: Increased weekend service/extended hours on Sat/add Sun and Holiday service. (83%) Extended service on weekdays (81%) Frequency (65%).
#5 Confluence Health Data
Sources: Case Management Team, Organizational Data
An estimated $140k spent by Confluence Health case managers on patient transportation expenses each year (inpatient and outpatient combined)
Organizational data tracks outpatient appointment cancellations. However, patient- driven cancellation data is very limited because 99% of recorded cancelled/missed appointments do not include a reason for patient cancellation. A small sample of patients (N= 126) specify a lack of transportation as the reason for an appointment cancellation.
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#6 WA 2-1-1 Transportation Calls Data
There is a 2-1-1 transportation landing page https://www.resourcehouse.info/win211/SpecialTopics/Transportation
Under the 2-1-1 transportation taxonomy, 13 services are listed for Chelan and Douglas counties and 12 for Grant and Okanogan counties.
2-1-1 transportation referral report run for Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan counties for 2017 (timeframe: 1/1/2017 - 12/3/2017).
Search terms included: transit, transportation, ride program, shuttle, bus
Top Referrals for the Region: (1) Medical Appointments Transportation 52% (2) Transportation 15% (3) Gas Money 12%
#7 2017 Mobility Summit
Top Needs Identified Education – existing programs (2-1-1, Community Choice program) Expand existing routes- accessible
Top Solutions Identified Centralized hub (dispatch) Transporting Service to People (rather than bringing the people to services)
Mobility Summit- All Needs
Service needs Geographical distance Transit routes and needs in rural Holiday/event closures & volume areas Expanded (accessible) routes Same day service and times/days of services needs/scheduling Hospital/jail Education & Outreach Prescription pick up Language and cultural gaps Urgent trips Includes low technology literate Schedule issues-timing Trust issues (scheduling appts around bus Knowledge gaps around how to schedules) plan trips Lack of regional connections Education of existing programs Transportation gaps Need for a comprehensive Access for youth community survey 42
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Need for a comprehensive consumer education plan Education Brochure with all the Funding transportation options in WA Lack of funding Client education to rural clients Sliding fee for services Community Choice program Funding Utilize partners to Funding to market a consumer develop/disseminate information education plan Coordination & Partnerships Red items voted top needs Coordinated shuttles & on demand Centralized Hub (ie dispatch) to Mobility Summit- All Solutions match need with service 24/7 Community based problem Services solving Pateros to Chelan (medical Increase 1:1 interactions (model services) Entiat, Methow) and increase Wenatchee to Pangborn engagement (employment/medical) Collective Impact Model (ie Connecting county transits Mobility Council) Retired and aging population Partner Specialization transportation Building relationship in outlying Uber-type transportation options areas & community organizations Voucher system or stand alone Coordinate around Carpooling app (rideshareonline) transportation services and Transporting services to people education Rotating/Satellite offices & e- docs Red items voted as top solutions
Funding Volunteer trips Tax-grant writing Donations Partnerships (with same or like goals/footprint) Community Foundation outreach Creative partnerships/braided funding
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#8 NCACH Transportation & Housing Focus Group (from NCACH Summit presentation)
Strengths across the Region Strong spirit of collaboration and pulling together Resourcefulness and creative problem solving Cooperation among non-traditional partners Being small has its advantages Recent wins in all four counties – expanding services despite headwinds Growing community-wide recognition of the impact that social determinants have on health
Challenges for People Depression and social isolation Unavailability of clinicians Difficulty of traveling to services and appointments Inability to use housing vouchers because no housing is available Mentally ill run around in circles Rising rents Unawareness of free/affordable resources Difficulty of understanding and navigating complicated requirements, paperwork, etc. Lack of access to email/internet and culturally appropriate communications Anti-immigrant climate – intimidation and isolation Aging population – not enough caregivers Insufficient services for youth
Challenges for Organizations Decreased funding even as demand increases State funding models reflect urban concerns and priorities Geographic spread of clients Hard to recruit/pay/house workforce and avoid burnout Bridging culture gaps can be difficult Reimbursement rates don’t reflect true costs Discrepancies between data sources
NCACH Actions “…We shared the findings from the focus groups at our Annual Summit and asked attendees to recommend actions that NCACH can take to support transportation and housing across the region. We got over 150 responses highlighting three major themes:
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Capacity building and grant support -- mentor organizations and agencies by identifying funding opportunities and providing technical assistance on grants and development
Asset mapping – develop a comprehensive database of community resources across the North Central region that allows service providers to easily and quickly connect clients to critical support services and each other
Convening and Advocacy – Use NCACH’s network to strengthen the region and help organizations come together to leverage similar funding and policy opportunities and provide advocacy at the local and state level…”
#9 Mobility Council Survey
Preliminary review of the 800 responses:
800 Reponses 63 Spanish surveys
The Mobility Council survey team will be analyzing the data in more detail and will provide a final summary and topic specific reports in early 2019. They will be available at www.ncwmobilitycouncil.org.
Emerging themes…
Transit scheduling issues/time that it takes to get places Coordinating with work or appointments, nights, weekends, holidays
Lack of services in rural areas Transit frequency, service gaps, doesn’t go everywhere people need it to (can’t take jobs because there is no transit to that employer) Walking to bus stops is challenging because of disability Cost of services, cost of gas
Biking and walking safety/transit amenities riding to work on Chumstick Hwy, walking on Western Ave no sidewalks where I walk lighting/personal safety Bike parking Trouble walking due to health issues No amenities at transit stops (benches, lights)
Transit and bicycling viewed negatively by the general public impacts people comfort using it in the region
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Ideas to improve transportation…
Expand the bus system o More buses between Wenatchee and Grant county o More options & routes o Nights and weekends o Don’t focus on just the job seekers o More rural service o Increase frequency o Migrant workers o More bus stops o Advertise the bus system, market to students and employers Improve paratransit services and options More curb to curb services, more Uber & Lyft options, ridesharing or Uber, options for urgent needs Bike lanes & pedestrian infrastructure Bike sharing Customize schedules for medical appointments Fund vehicles for volunteers or employees to drive Better lifts on buses Better education for users, easier to read schedules, wayfinding/drop off locations Low cost bus passes for low-income individuals and families, reduced fees for medical situations after hours, more cost effective services, free transit to low- income people
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Appendix C: Document Maps
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