FY 2011 Update & Revision Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission REGION 7 Serving the counties of: Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry & Houston . Prepared by the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission Under contract with the Alabama Association of Regional Councils and the Alabama Department of Transportation September, 2011 i Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is permitted so long as appropriate attribution is made. The preparation of this report was financed, in part, by the Alabama Department of Transportation. For information or copies, contact: Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission 462 North Oates St P.O. Box 1406 Dothan, Alabama 36302 Planning Area: Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry & Houston Counties, Alabama and the Dothan, Alabama metropolitan area Lead Agency: Southeast Alabama Regional Planning & Development Commission Contact Persons: Scott Farmer, Community Development Director [email protected] John Sorrell, Manager, Wiregrass Transit Authority [email protected] Telephone: (334) 794-4093 Abstract: This document is an update to the Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan for the Southeast Alabama Region (HSCTP) that the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (SEARPDC) originally published in January, 2007 and subsequently updated in September 2008. This HSCTP may be used as a stand alone document or it may be used in conjunction with the 2007 Plan and its 2008 update. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU), (Pub. L. No. 109–59, August 10, 2005) requires that projects selected for funding under the Elderly Individuals and Individuals with Disabilities program (Section 5310); the Job Access and Reverse Commute program (Section 5316); and the New Freedom program (Section 5317) be ‘‘derived from a locally developed, coordinated public transit-human services ii transportation plan’’ and that the plan be ‘‘developed through a process that includes representatives of public, private, and nonprofit transportation and human services providers and participation by the public.’’ This plan was developed, in part, to meet this requirement. Although SAFETEA-LU does not define “Coordinated Plan”, based on comments received and experience, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) defines the “Coordinated Plan” in the Federal Register/ Vol. 71, No. 172/ Wednesday, September 6, 2006 as a plan that identifies the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes, provides strategies for meeting these local needs, and prioritizes transportation services for funding and implementation. Further more, FTA proposes that the key elements of a Coordinated Plan include the following: An assessment of available services that identifies current providers (public, private and nonprofit); An assessment of transportation needs for individuals with disabilities, older adults, and people with low incomes This assessment may be based on the experiences and perceptions of the planning partners or on more sophisticated data collection efforts, and gaps in service; Strategies and/or activities to address the identified gaps and achieve efficiencies in service delivery; and Relative priorities for implementation based on resources, time, and feasibility for implementing specific strategies/activities identified. The purpose of the Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan (HSCTP) is to provide a mechanism and a starting point by which transportation shortfalls may be identified and highlighted. Subsequently, transit services may potentially be improved or enhanced for persons with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with lower incomes by ensuring that communities coordinate transportation resources provided through multiple federal programs. This plan, however, is not exclusionary. It should also lead to discussions and initiatives that enhance transportation for the general public as well. This update is a continuation of the HSCTP process in coordination with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS). ALDOT has retained oversight for 5310 funds in the state of Alabama, while ADSS oversees Section 5316 and Section 5317 funds. The regional councils of Alabama, through the Alabama Association of Regional Councils (AARC), have been contracted to ensure that local grant applicants for Section 5310, Section 5316, and Section 5317 funds are included in the HSCTP. As we expanded and modified this coordinated plan, the specific identification of all stakeholders became problematic. Within the initial plan we identified numerous stakeholders within the region. This initial identification relied on the active participation of these stakeholders or of their umbrella agencies. The very nature, however, of some of our providers and consumers of service suggests that they will “come and go” with some frequency. Consequently, this plan implicitly includes all providers of transportation services within the region who actively identify themselves, both current and future, whether they have actively participated in this process or not. It applies the same standard to all consumers of transportation services. We will make no attempt to limit or curtail services or access to resources by any iii transportation provider or consumer of transportation services merely because they are not specifically included by name in this plan. Neither will be deny anyone the opportunity to coordinate with the various providers of service within the region based merely on the fact that they are not explicitly mentioned in this plan. However, any service that is proposed or any grant that is requested must address one of the broad areas of need as addressed in chapters 4 & 5 of this plan if the grantee is to be assumed to be part of this plan. iv Table of Contents Southeast Alabama Regional Planning & Development Commission Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Background & Program Overview Chapter 3 Planning Context and Methodology Chapter 4 Needs Assessment Chapter 5 Strategies and Recommendations Chapter 6 Conclusions Appendices Appendix A Implementing Resolution Appendix B Public Involvement . Chapter 1 Introduction Utilizing the basic methodologies defined in United We Ride’s Framework for Action the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning & Development Commission developed and subsequently updated its Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan for that southeast portion of the state served by this commission. This area encompasses Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties as well as the City of Dothan metropolitan area. This initial effort was initiated in the Spring of 2006 and completed in January 2007 with the first update (update 1) completed in September 2008. This overall effort was accomplished in conjunction with the other eleven regional planning commissions within the state and under the aegis of a contract between the Alabama Association of Regional Councils (AARC) and the Alabama Department of Transportation, Bureau of Multimodal Transportation. This document amends and expands this Commission’s original 2007 plan and its 2008 revision. The original study addressed the following contractual elements: 1. Stakeholders meetings were held to collect and assess public input into this plan. 2. Mapping data was developed to identify the following contractual deliverables: a. Common Origins b. Common Destinations c. Existing Transportation Services (location & coverage) 3. Vehicle and asset inventories were conducted and are located at Tab D (Inventory) of the original and revised plan. This is a subset of the deliverable “Existing Transportation Services”. Updated data may be found in chapters 2 and 3 of this plan. 4. The deliverable “Identify Unmet Transportation Needs” was predominantly identified in Tab B (Unmet Needs) of the original plan and its initial update. This represents the UWR framework for action methodology of collecting and assessing data and was derived from the initial stakeholders meetings and from subsequent public involvement venues and interactions. This data was coalesced and expanded in Tab C.9 and C.9a (action plan). Additional unmet needs were discussed in the appropriate portions of Tab B and further expanded in Tab C of the original plan and its initial update. These data are identified and discussed in Chapters 3 & 4 of this plan. Chapter 1 Introduction Page 1.1 5. The deliverable Develop Transportation Alternatives was the basis for this report and can found throughout the original plan and its initial update, including in the Tabs and amendments discussed above. These alternatives are further discussed and developed in Chapters 5 & 6 of this plan. This study, and the discussions that it engendered, yielded several basic themes that carry throughout the region and are neither specific nor unique to any particular county. We find that these themes and issues remain essentially unchanged from the findings in the original plan and its initial update. We recognize that, while a lack of stable funding is significant, it is not the only issue. We have attempted to address these other issues but have found that for them to be successful the discussion almost always reverts to one of funding and resources. We continue to look for issues and solutions