Memorandum

City of Lawrence / Douglas County

Planning & Development Services / MPO

TO:	David L. Corliss, Lawrence City Manager Craig Weinaug, County Administrator
FROM:	Jessica Mortinger, L-DC MPO Transportation Planner
CC:	Scott McCullough, Planning & Development Services Director Todd Girdler, L-DC MPO Senior Transportation Planner Cynthia Wagner, Lawrence Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Lawrence  Assistant City Manager
DATE:	03/05/12
RE:	Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Regional Transit Advisory Committee (RTAC) are excited to present the approved Coordinated Public Transit – Human Services Transportation Plan (CPT-HSTP).  MPO staff began developing this plan in December of 2010 in response to the growing need to replace the existing outdated plan for Coordinated Transit District #1.  This new plan is the result of 8 meetings over the past year and the creation of the MPO advisory committee RTAC. The new plan was approved by the RTAC on December 1, 2011 the by the MPO Policy Board on February 16^th, 2012.

MPO staff worked with regional transit service providers to identify the transportation needs of individuals with disabilities, older adults, and individuals with limited incomes in Douglas County and created strategies to address the unmet and future needs. Providers include:

Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center

Cottonwood, Incorporated

Douglas County Senior Services, Incorporated

Independence, Incorporated

Johnson County Transit- K-10 Connector

KU on Wheels, University of Kansas Parking & Transit

Lawrence – Douglas County Housing Authority and Lawrence Transit

The process of creating this new plan has been valuable for both the MPO staff and providers. Staff found that this plan will formalize the informal coordination that has existed for years between providers and the creation of RTAC will provide them an outlet to continue to work towards coordination efforts.

The growing need for paratransit services is expected to place increased burdens on the providers in Douglas County. The work in Lawrence and Douglas County to attract retirees adds to the projected growing demand for specialized transportation services. The plan recognizes that providers are doing the best they can with the resources provided to meet the growing demand for services.

The RTAC will continue to work in the coming years to carry out the goals and strategies in the plan. The six goals are listed below:

Goal 1: Improve the coordination of public transit and human services transportation to maximize the efficient and effective use of funding.

Goal 2: Providers and CTD #1 will (with MPO, KDOT and FTA assistance) establish an education and training program to ensure that the community at large is aware of their transportation options.

Goal 3: Work to facilitate and improve regional coordination opportunities with providers throughout the region and to coordinate available transportation alternatives.

Goal 4: Encourage local governments to improve amenities and publications (e.g., shelters, stops, service maps and schedules, pass sales, signage, transfer points, ramps and sidewalks) to promote accessibility and mobility.

Goal 5: Promote land use and urban design plans and standards that support transportation alternatives and include transit friendly facilities, such as: shelters, stops, transfer points, ramps, sidewalks, and lighting.

Goal 6: Providers will encourage MPO staff to incorporate the CPT-HSTP recommendations and policies into the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP), and to coordinate the development of MTP updates with the CPT-HSTP and vice versa.

The CPT-HSTP is available online for viewing at:

http://www.lawrenceks.org/planning/documents/CoordinateTransit.pdf.