In Kansas, There Are 15 Coordinated Transit Districts (Ctds) s1

Marion/McPherson CTD

Coordinated Transit District 6

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Plan

Planning Document for Marion and McPherson County

Final

Prepared

November 30, 2007

FTA Review Check List

Coordinated Human Services Public Transportation Plan

Section I: Coordinated Human Services Transportation Plan

1. Assessment of available services identifying current providers (public, private, non-profit): Pg. 11-16
2. Assessment of need for individuals with disabilities, older adults and people with low incomes. This assessment can be based on experiences and perceptions of the planning partners or more sophisticated data collection efforts, and gaps in service (Note: If a community does not intend to seek funding for a particular program – Section 5310, JARC or New Freedom – then the community is not required to include an assessment of the targeted population in its coordinated plan): Pg. 18
3. Strategies and / or activities to address the identified gaps and achieve efficiencies in service delivery: Pg. 20-26
4. Relative priorities for implementation based on resources, time, and feasibility for implementing specific strategies / activities identified: Pg. 19, 27

Table of Contents

1.  Introduction 5

2.  Description of Service Area 6

Counties included in CTD 6

Demographics of CTD by county for CTD 6
Transit Dependent Populations 6

3.  Inventory of Transportation Providers in CTD 6 8

Stakeholder Identification 8

Transportation Providers Funded by KDOT 11

Other Transportation Providers 14

4.  Transportation Needs in the CTD 18

Framework for Action Summary 18

Service Gaps: What do we need to do better? 18

5.  Prioritized Needs 19, 27

6.  Action Plan 20

7.  Attachments

a.  Sample letter of invitation to participate 27

b.  Completed Framework for Action 28

c.  Stakeholder contact log 36

d.  Summit roster 44

List of Tables

Table 1: Transportation Dependent Populations, 2005 Estimates 7

Table 2: Planning Participants 10

Table 3: Transportation Providers in the CTD 6 Service Area 13

Table 4: Other Transportation Providers in CTD 6 14

Table 5: Summary of Survey Results 18

List of Figures

Figure 1: Map of Coordinated Transit District 6 6

Figure 2: Population Density for Counties in CTD 6 by Census Tract 7

Figure 3: Organizations 8

Figure 4: Planning Participation 9

Figure 5: Intercity Bus Routes 16

Coordinated Transit District 6

Coordinated Public Transit-Human Service Plan

(Marion and McPherson Counties)

November 30, 2007

1. Introduction

The goal of this plan is to improve coordination of transportation and human services in Coordinated Transit District 6. It also fulfills the federal planning requirements of SAFETEA-LU which consist of the following:

·  A unified, comprehensive strategy for public transportation service delivery;

·  Identifies transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with limited incomes;

·  Lays out strategies for meeting those needs; and

·  Prioritizes services.

To complete the plan, stakeholders were asked to complete inventories and web-based surveys. They were also asked to participate in a transportation planning summit held on May 1st, 2007. Forty of the ninety-four people invited participated in the summit.

By the end of the summit, a draft action plan was completed. A coordinated public transit-human service transportation plan was developed based on data and input received from summit stakeholders. All CTD members were given the opportunity to comment on the action plan before it was finalized to be included in this report.

This plan addresses transit coordination priorities for the period from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2010, but may be updated periodically to meet developing needs in the communities of Coordinated Transit District 6.

2. Description of Service Area

Counties included in CTD.

In Kansas, there are 15 Coordinated Transit Districts (CTDs). Each CTD is responsible for coordinating public transit within their service area and membership consists of recipients of public and human service transit funds from the Kansas Department of Transportation. The CTD is located in the Central area of the state. Map 1 contains the 2 counties that are included in CTD 6: Marion and McPherson.

Demographics of CTD 6 by county for
Transit Dependent Populations

Over 42,000 people live in the CTD 6 service area. Figure 2 provides the population density of the area by number of persons living in each square mile. The areas surrounding the following towns have the highest population densities:

·  McPherson

·  Lindsborg

Specialized transportation funds are targeted to individuals that are more likely to be transportation disadvantaged. Groups included in this category are older adults and individuals with disabilities, and individuals with incomes below the poverty level. Over 18% of the area’s population was age 65 or older, which was higher than the state’s overall rate of 13%. However, the rate of individuals with a go-outside-of-home disability was consistent with the state at 5.4%. The poverty rate of individuals 18 and older was slightly higher in the area (7.6%) than the overall state (6.5%).

Figure 2 Population Density for Counties in CTD 6 by Census Tract

Table 1

Transportation Dependent Populations

2005 Estimates

3.  Inventory of Transportation Providers in CTD

Stakeholder Identification

The CTD members identified 94 organizations that would be impacted by the Coordinated Plan. Human service providers represented the highest percentage of the stakeholder organizations. This is not surprising because there are many human service providers in CTD 6 whose clients rely on public transportation, and as a result these providers often have to coordinate their services with transit providers.

Each organization was invited to the Transportation Summit, as well as asked to either complete a transportation inventory and/or a human service provider inventory. Thirty-three percent of those organizations either attended the Summit or submitted inventories.

Table 2

Planning Participants

Attachment C contains the stakeholder contact log, which is a complete list of organizations who were contacted as part of the planning process.

Transportation Providers Funded by KDOT

Transportation providers who are members of CTD 6 receive capital and operating assistance from the state and federal government. The two primary funding programs are the Section 5310 (Specialized Transportation for the Elderly or Disabled) and Section 5311 (General Public Transportation). The following paragraphs include are descriptions of providers funded by KDOT.

Disability Supports of the Great Plains, Inc

This non-profit organization provides a demand response service for the disabled of McPherson County and the surrounding area for medical, recreational, shopping, and employment trips. It is funded by Section 5310 funds and state funds, and has five vehicles, of which one is lift equipped.

Hillsboro Community Medical Center

This non-profit organization provides demand response trips for the elderly and disabled for medical, recreation, and shopping trips in Hillsboro, Kansas. It’s operation is funded by state funds, and has one vehicle, which is lift equipped.

Marion County Department for Elderly

This county department uses a 24-hour advanced notice, demand response system to provide the elderly population of Marion County with medical, personal, recreational, and nutritional trips. Section 5310 and county funds cover operation costs. The organization has two vehicles, one is lift-equipped.

McPherson County Council on Aging, Inc.

This non-profit organization cooperates with seven different agencies including four senior centers, one nursing home, a County Council on Aging and a city government to provide a demand response service to the elderly, disabled, and general population with all trip types, including religious. It serves McPherson County. Operations and capital expenditures are covered by both Section 5311, State, County and agency general funds. The non-profit has six vehicles, all of which are lift equipped.

Bethesda Home

This non-profit organization is a continuing care retirement community that provides medical and social transportation to its residents as well as to the community at large. It provides demand response trips to the elderly and disabled for all trips types except employment. The non-profit’s primary service area is Marion, Harvey and McPherson Counties, with transportation to other areas as requested. It is not funded by Section 5311, 5307, 5310, 5309, or State operating funds, but acquired its vehicles through 5310 funds.

Multi Community Diversified Services

This non-profit organization provides the elderly, disabled and general public with a four route, deviated route service for medical, educational, recreations, shopping, and employment trips. It serves McPherson County and is funded by Section 5311, Section 5310, State, and County funds. The non-profit has nine vehicles, all are lift equipped.

Table 3

Transportation Providers Funded by FTA 5310, 5311 or State

Other Transportation Providers in CTD 6

There are also other funding sources for transportation providers. Table 4 consists of an inventory of other transportation providers that serve CTD 6.

Table 4

Other Transportation Providers in CTD 6

Intercity Bus

There is no intercity bus service in the CTD 6. The nearest intercity bus stops are in Salina. Figure 5 illustrates intercity bus routes nearest to CTD 6.