Transportation Management

There is widespread recognition among rural residents, businesses, and community
leaders that effective public transportation is vital to attaining social, economic, and
environmental objectives. Meeting the demand for public transportation in rural areas
poses unique challenges, including conquering greater distances and factoring in lower
population density. Comprehensive planning and coordination are essential to
providing efficient transportation services in rural areas.
The State Transportation Planning Process (TPP) Involves You!
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) program that has the most effect on
services for persons with transportation needs is administered by DOT's Federal Transit
Administration (FTA). Rural public transit programs receive over $200 million per year
in FTA regular transit, elderly, bus and bus facility project funds. Transit planning
efforts are required to be integrated with highway planning activities, which are funded
through DOTs Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). In order for public transit
projects to receive a share of Federal funds, they must be included in the State's
Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). The Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century (TEA-21) provides opportunity for States to present a list of highway
and transit projects to be advanced in the next 3 years with FTA or FHWA funding.
Urban areas normally participate in a similar planning and coordination process with
metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). In some areas MPOs serve rural as well
as urban communities.
To initiate involvement in the State's planning process, local officials should contact
their State's Department of Transportation, State-level elected officials, and policy
makers. To secure funding for planning purposes, contact the National Transit
Resource Center for the name of your State's FTA regional representative. In addition
to involvement in the State-wide planning process, the following strategies may assist
your community with starting up a public transportation system.
Step 1: Create a Local Transportation Advisory Committee
This Committee should be comprised of a broad base of transit champions or
stakeholders from the community. This includes MPOs, County Commissioners, Social
Service Agency Heads, City Council members, Councils of Governments (COGs),
Chamber of Commerce, potential or existing transportation providers, economic
development leaders, local business leaders and concerned citizens. Local consensus
and community support are vital for success of the project.
The transportation advisory committee should conduct a transportation needs
assessment and also identify existing transit resources. A good way to begin this
process is to contact the National Transit Resource Center at 1-800-527-8279. Local
COGs and/or MPOs are appropriate organizations to prepare plans, collect and analyze
data, develop strategies, and allocate funds. The Advisory Committee should develop a
profile of transit services. Several options for meeting area public transit needs will
By Sharon Colbert April 2002 OCD Technote 21
􀁺 Is there a lack of quality, reliable, convenient ground transportation in
your community?
􀁺 Is the lack of mobility in your community stifling economic and social
progress or hampering opportunities to improving the well-being of your
residents?
If so, your community may want to consider these strategies for providing rural
transit.
Strategies for Providing Rural Transit
need to be analyzed to identify a strategy that will
meet the expectations of the public while also being
financially sustainable.
In order to secure a detailed quantitative assessment
of transit resources and needs, Transportation Advisory
Committees should seek out the advice and
services of the Community Transportation Association
of America (CTAA) or a similar organization. Often
outside expertise is beneficial in working with
participants to develop the range of services that will
effectively meet the identified needs.
Step 2: Locate Startup Funding.
Federal funds are available to agencies that need
transit to support their services 1. Contact the State
DOT for information on Section 5311 Rural
Transportation Grants. Identify all local social service
agencies, including public health, family and child
services, mental health, mental retardation, and
rehabilitation. All of these agencies have access to
transportation dollars. To receive funds, communities
must submit applications and identify any local
groups performing similar services.
Step 3: Develop a Transportation Business
Plan.
The business plan should address the most appropriate
use of transportation resources, the number of
vehicles needed in the initial phase of transit
operations, the types of services to be provided, and
projections of human, physical and technological
resources needed to operate the service. The system
has to grow its own demand; otherwise a large
overhead will cause it to fail. Through grant writing
and community planning, the goal is to secure enough
funding to operate the first year or two without any
locally subsidized public funding. Signed informal
agreements provide initial support and evolve into
formalized ones prior to system implementation.
Incorporate and implement a plan for seeking funds to
operate in the following years.
Step 4: Implement the Program.
The right personnel have to be put in place to carry
out the operation. This is critical to success. The
best candidates are ambitious, community-minded
persons who have business skills and can communicate
with Federal, State, and local leaders and the
general public. Partnerships with local industry, the
social service sector, and the business community as a
whole have to be developed.
Other Resources
􀂒Community Transportation Association of America
(USDA Rural Passenger Transportation Technical
Assistance Program) [http://www.ctaa.org] toll-free
hotline: 1-800-527-8279
􀂒USDA EZ/EC Communities Sustainability Tool
box [http://www.ezec.gov/Toolbox/sustainable.html]
􀂒Transportation Toolbox for Rural and Small Com
munities [www.bts.gov/ntl].
􀂒Getting Started: A Rural Transit Assistance
Program from the FTA, Brief No. 21, Dec. 2001.
􀂒Developing and Designing Community Transportation
Services: A Rural Transit Assistance Program
of the FTA, Brief No. 22, Dec. 2001.
􀂒Office of Family Assistance (U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services/Department of Labor-
Welfare to Work transportation services at: www.
acf.dhh.gov/news/welfare/.
_________________
1 A list of these resources is included on the CTAA
web site at: http://www.ctaa.org/ntrc/funding or
from your State DOT.
Additional copies of this Technote are available
from the Office of Community Development, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Rural Development,
STOP 3203, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, DC 20250-3203 (1-800-645-4712).
Copies may also be obtained at
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ocd
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all
its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and
marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication
of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should
contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (Voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil
Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (Voice or TDD).
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.