Coordinated Plan Update for the DVRPC Region

Advisory Committee Workshop March 11, 2016

INTRODUCTIONS

DVRPC team • Office of Communications and Engagement • Office of Smart Growth • Office of Transit/Bike/Pedestrian Planning

Workshop participants

PROJECT LANDSCAPE

• Coordinated Human Services Transportation Planning (CHSTP) came out of 2004 Executive Order to better coordinate Federal investments in transportation for disadvantaged populations (primarily JARC and New Freedom)

• Last DVRPC Coordinated Plan update in 2007

• MAP-21 consolidated programs and effectively eliminated JARC; DVRPC’s role changed considerably

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

• Key issue: funds increasingly scarce and available only to established lifeline services; broader need (“ladders of opportunity” for the disadvantaged) remains severe and complex

• DVRPC approach: develop a plan that is more broadly relevant than CHSTP has been: • Outcome-focused,

funding source-neutral

THREE KEY PROJECT COMPONENTS

1. Regional technical analysis and map toolkit for county/local planners and project developers

2. Fresh set of plan goals/ objectives/ priorities developed through a robust public and stakeholder outreach process (online, workshops, individual interviews)

“An inch deep and a mile wide” by design: a framework for more detailed county and local planning, and subsequent work.

3. Several case studies at various scales (county, multi-municipal, corridor) to illustrate good practice and the myriad project types that can support the plan goals

PROJECT TIMELINE

Fall 2015: -Web survey -Beta map toolkit -PPTF workshop

Winter 2015/2016: -~50 stakeholder interviews

Spring 2016: -Analysis of interview findings -Advisory Committee workshop to begin developing Plan priorities -Refinements to map toolkit; outreach to update shuttles data

Summer 2016: -”Road Shows” to refine Plan priorities -Develop draft Plan document for Advisory Committee review

Fall 2016: -Plan adoption by DVRPC Board

Overview of Data from Stakeholder Interviews

ORGANIZATION OF STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS

◉ Conducted during Winter 2015/2016 ◉ Was able to reach out to about 50 stakeholders ◉ Stakeholders were from a variety of fields: - transportation - community development - social services - human services

- public health ◉ Online survey collected data concurrently with

interviews

DEMOGRAPHICS

67 61

51

35 34 33 28

22

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

What population do you most frequently work with or identify with, if any?

# of

resp

onde

nts

NEEDS

90

70

63

53

45

24 24

17

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Jobs Health/Medicalappointments

Shopping Education orJob training

Social serviceappointments

Healthy food Recreation andopen space

Other

For the populations you work or identify with, which are the most important reasons for trips outside the home?

# of

resp

onde

nts

SOLUTIONS

82

56 50 49

40

24 22 18

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

More frequentpublic transit

service

Moreaccessible andusable paths(sidewalks,

elevatiors, etc.

Other transitmodels ( vanpools, jitneys,car share, etc.

Bettermarketing,

coordination, orinfo sharing for

existingservices

More affordabletransit options

Addressingarchitecturalbarriers (e.g.overpasses)

In-person traveltraining

Other

In your opinion, which strategies would most increase a person's ability to access important destinations?

# of

resp

onde

nts

WHAT DOES EQUITABLE ACCESS MEAN TO YOU?

◉ About 40% of stakeholders mentioned understanding the needs of vulnerable populations, mainly low-income, physically disabled and senior citizens with lesser mentions for mental ability, race and unemployed

◉ Providing multiple options and opportunities for individuals to get from point A to point B

◉ Providing resources by “need-based” decisions rather than population-based to address gaps

EXISTING DATA

◉ Over 60% of stakeholders indicated their organization collects little to no data on their population of interest

◉ Most use and trust existing population data with 52% indicating American Community Survey (ACS) and Census data as preferable

◉ Only other trending data sources: DVRPC and local county planning department with 16% each

DVRPC’S ROLE

◉ Providing funding frequently/equitably and convening partners were the most common responses with 35% each

◉ Others frequently mentioned with around 30% each: - Sharing data - Providing regional information - Present best practices and recommendations - Collaborate across political regions ◉ Marketing transit services, collecting data, and

building capacity were not mentioned as often in this question but are seen as a trend through out the interviews

OVERALL TRENDS

Vulnerable Populations are those most affected by equity issues. We must consider and reach them to achieve access.

Funding needs to be pooled and distributed equitably to support and maintain current efforts.

Coordinating/Conveneing is hard to do across political boundaries but is a critical component of mending service gaps.

Marketing/Education can improve usage of already existing services and empower citizens in the future.

Data needs to be widely shared and accessible so smaller organizations can better serve their populations of interest.

THANKS!

Small Group Discussions

Purpose: - Identify problems - Develop outcome-oriented goals - Determine draft recommendations

Small Group Discussions

Pennsylvania Room – Vulnerable Populations - Shoshana Akins

New Jersey Room – Funding - Thom Stead

Conference Room Front – Coordinating/Convening - Karin Morris Conference Room Back – Marketing/Education - Emily Costello Project Room A – Data - Kim Korejko

Small Group Discussions

1. What are some PROBLEMS that come to mind?

2. In order to address the problems identified, what are some MEASURABLE GOALS that represent the outcomes you would like to see?

3. What are some RECOMMENDATIONS, solutions, or mechanisms that are necessary to accomplish these goals?

4. How does this discussion relate to EQUITY?

PROJECT TIMELINE

Fall 2015: -Web survey -Beta map toolkit -PPTF workshop

Winter 2015/2016: -~50 stakeholder interviews

Spring 2016: -Analysis of interview findings -Advisory Committee workshop to begin developing Plan priorities -Refinements to map toolkit; outreach to update shuttles data

Summer 2016: -”Road Shows” to refine Plan priorities -Develop draft Plan document for Advisory Committee review

Fall 2016: -Plan adoption by DVRPC Board