Taking AAAIM: Involving Persons with Disabilities in Transportation Planning, Implementation, and Investments

Presented by Sheila Holbrook-White Transportation Research Board 89th Annual Meeting

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

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Taking AAAIM Presentation Overview AAAIM: Austin Accessibility Assessment IMprovement

n  What prompted our PTPP proposal?

n  Who we worked with?

n  What we did and how it worked out?

n  What are the take-aways for public participation?

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Taking AAAIM Genesis, Broader Applicability n  Local: Capital Metro’s proposed paratransit service changes (2008)

n  National: TCRP Legal Research Digest 24: Transit Bus Stops: Ownership,

Liability, and Access (March 2008)

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Taking AAAIM Partners

2007 Board Directive Increase Passenger Options Improve Customer Service Increase Regional Options

ADA Transition Plan City Sidewalk Master Plan Prioritize Improvement Increase Mobility Options

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Taking AAAIM 1. Identify the challenges n  Objective:

n  General: To understand customer service issues n  Specific: To identify challenge sites Tools:

n  Phone/VRS survey in English and Spanish to 10% of DFC customers

n  Modified version of TCRP Report 46, Part 2 Survey

n  Objective: n  Sort and locate the challenge sites Tools:

n  Use Google Maps to locate sites

n  Prioritize sites using CapMetro Boarding Data

n  Reference City’s Sidewalk Master Plan Ratings as a way to prioritize

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Taking AAAIM 2. Assess Sites, Recommend Improvements

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Assessment Teams Recommendations By Frequency

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Taking AAAIM 3. Collaborate: Connection to Planning, Service, and Investment

•  Ensuring schedule/passenger information: 30 stops •  Completing site evaluations: 22 stops •  Policy discussions prompted: 2 •  FY2010 Bus Stop Improvement Line Item: $1.5M

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Taking AAAIM 3. Collaborate: Accessible Community Connections

•  Improvements completed: 1 •  Recommended improvements in the funding queue: 2 •  Recommended improvements scheduled for future completion: 13 •  Recommended improvements in the City’s Draft Strategic Mobility Plan: 14

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Value participants, not “participation.”

Taking AAAIM Lessons Learned