Skagit-Island HUMAN SERVICES TRANSPORTATION PLAN Prepared for the Skagit-Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization • November 2014 Prepared by Transpo Group 11730 118th Avenue NE, Suite 600, Kirkland, WA 98034-7120 425.821.3665 | www.transpogroup.com Skagit-Island Human Services Transportation Plan | Transpo Group | 2 High Needs Areas ............................................................ 23 1. Introduction ...................................................... 4 Unmet Needs .................................................................. 24 2. Project Methodology ......................................... 5 6. Emergency Management ................................... 27 3. Existing Transportation Services ........................ 6 Skagit Transit ................................................................... 27 Public Transit Providers .................................................. 6 Island Transit ................................................................... 27 Human Services Transportation Providers ..................... 8 7. Technology ....................................................... 28 Long-Distance Transportation Providers ........................ 9 Skagit Transit ................................................................... 28 4. Public Engagement ............................................ 10 Island Transit ................................................................... 29 Skagit-Island Special Needs Transportation Committee . 10 8. Strategies and Activities .................................... 30 Committee Meetings ...................................................... 12 Identified Strategies and Activities ................................. 30 Special Needs Survey ...................................................... 13 Prioritization of Strategies .............................................. 31 Listening Sessions ........................................................... 15 Coordination and Implementation ................................. 32 Ride-Alongs ..................................................................... 16 Reference Plans .............................................................. 16 9. WSDOT Consolidated Grant Program ................. 33 Program Goals ................................................................ 33 5. Needs Assessment ............................................. 18 Eligible Projects ............................................................... 33 Common Origins and Destinations ................................. 18 Project Ranking ............................................................... 35 Public Engagement Findings ........................................... 19 Special Needs Populations .............................................. 21 Appendix A-F Demographic Profile ....................................................... 23 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE Skagit-Island Human Services Transportation Plan | Transpo Group | 3 Figure 1: Group Homes, Senior Centers and Shopping Facilities Paratransit Destinations ................................... 18 Figure 2: Medical Facilities, Religious Facilities and Other Frequent Paratransit Destinations ................................... 19 Figure 3: I need transportation because: .................................. 20 Figure 4: I need transportation to: ............................................ 20 Figure 5: On a scale of 1 to 5 (low to high), rank how current transportation options are meeting your needs: ............ 20 Figure 6: Why don’t the existing transportation options meet your needs? (Select all that apply): ........................ 20 Figure 7: I need to go to (top three destinations): ..................... 21 Figure 8: Skagit and Island County Demographic Data .............. 23 Figure 9: Human Services Transportation Need Index (Census Tract in Top 25%) .............................................. 25 Figure 10: Prioritized Strategies and Weights ............................ 32 TABLE OF FIGURES TABLE Skagit-Island Human Services Transportation Plan | Transpo Group | 4 1. Introduction Across the Skagit-Island region people with special barriers between transportation providers. Since (RTPO) to oversee and guide the plan; however the needs, including seniors, people with a low-income, then, federal surface transportation programs passed RTPO Board maintained oversight and final approval and people with disabilities, face daily transportation in 2005 and 2012 have required that regions develop of the plan. challenges. These challenges make it more difficult to a, “unified, comprehensive strategy for public The major components of the plan are summarized in run errands, access services, get to and from work, or transportation service delivery that identifies the Section 2. visit family and friends. transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with limited income, This plan, called the Skagit-Island Human Services laying out strategies for meeting these, and Transportation Plan (HSTP), was developed by prioritizing services.”1 This is the third HSTP to be engaging special needs populations in conversations developed for Skagit and Island counties, with about their needs, documenting existing services, updates occurring on a four-year cycle. identifying needs and highlighting service gaps. Based on this information, this plan then defines regional The Federal Transit Administration, as well as priorities and recommends projects for state and Washington state, fund special needs transportation federal grant funding. services including capital investments, operating support, mobility management and planning grants. Addressing both federal and state HSTP requirements, In Washington state, these funds are combined and this plan was developed using best practices distributed by the Washington State Department of identified in the statewide HSTP. This includes Transportation (WSDOT) consolidated grant program “listening sessions” at events and other locations with on a biennial basis. concentrated special needs populations, identification of special needs populations through census data, and To be eligible for WSDOT consolidated grant funding, prioritization of projects using an objective and projects must address the needs and gaps identified transparent methodology. in the regional HSTP and must be included on the regional HSTP project list. This plan does both, with Washington state has been a national leader on the regional priority list available in Appendix F. human services transportation planning. In 1998, the Agency Council on Coordinated Transportation (ACCT) This planning work, which occurred between June and was created by the state legislature with a mission to November 2014, was funded through a WSDOT direct and promote activities that efficiently use all planning grant and managed by staff from the Skagit Footnotes: available state and community resources for special Council of Governments (SCOG). A special needs 1 Federal Register: March 15, 2006 (Volume 71, needs transportation, including improved transportation committee was created by the Skagit- Number 50, page 13458) coordination and elimination of cross-jurisdictional Island Regional Transportation Planning Organization Skagit-Island Human Services Transportation Plan | Transpo Group | 5 2. Project Methodology The following sections summarize the steps taken to Out and About: Persons with Disabilities needs populations. Several action items were support each of the key project findings. Skagit Project Homeless Connect recommended. Oak Harbor Senior Center Documentation of Existing Services Stanwood-Camano Persons with Disabilities Technology This work involved documentation of the range of Skagit County Buddy Walk The use of technology by transportation providers public transportation services currently provided in was reviewed, particularly with relation to how Skagit and Island counties. These services include To complement the listening sessions, a survey technology can improve communication between fixed-route transit service, dial-a-ride paratransit (printed and online) of special needs users was transportation providers and customers. This was a services, vanpool services and pocket services. It also developed to collect information on how their recurring trend, especially among paratransit riders. includes transportation services provided or transportation needs are currently being met. A total sponsored by other social service agencies, as well as of 143 surveys were collected. Additionally, in-person Identification of Strategies and Activities Medicaid brokerage and long-distance transportation user surveys were collected on Skagit Transit A set of strategies and activities were developed from services. paratransit vehicles, capturing feedback from a total public engagement and the needs analysis. These of 38 paratransit users. were based on strategies identified in the statewide Public Engagement HSTP, however adapted and expanded to better Needs Analysis This plan used a variety of methods to engage and address the local context. Strategies capture the high- communicate with the public. A special needs A “needs analysis” was conducted to develop a level priorities, while the activities identify specific transportation committee was formed, made up of a clearer understanding of the challenges faced by actions that can be taken to deliver on each strategy. diverse set of stakeholders, from human services special needs populations. In addition