Creating Community Options Through Public Transit

Creating Community Options Through

Public Transit

September 18, 2013

Introduction

Robyn Bernardy

• MTM, Inc.

Frank N. Roth

• Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)

Krystian Boreyko

• Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA)

What is Travel Training?

Travel training is the “professional activity of teaching individuals

how to access their environment & their community & use public transportation independently.”

-The Association of Travel Instruction (ATI)

Travel Training Skills

Skills Learned During Travel Training

Planning trips Reading & using maps & schedules

Crossing streets appropriately & safely Walking to bus stops & train stations

Standing in appropriate places at the stop

Identifying correct vehicles & stops

Paying fares Boarding & disembarking vehicles

Recognizing landmarks When to get off the vehicle, how to let the operator know & transfer process

Identifying & using accessibility features Handling unexpected situations & emergencies

Obeying vehicle rules & exhibiting appropriate behavior

Stranger & safety awareness

Family of Travel Training Services

Train-the-trainer training

Group travel training

One-on-one travel training

Travel Training Benefits

Benefits to successful trainees:• Increased independence &

confidence

• Cost savings

• Additional vocational & social opportunities

• Decreased feelings of fear & anxiety

• Health impact

Finding Trainees

Word of mouth

Community outreach

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit eligibility process

WMATA Travel Training

Began in 2004

10 travel trainers

• Six contracted

• Four WMATA employees

Various training levels to cover all disabilities

• One Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Trainer

• Partner with Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind

Target audience: paratransitcustomers & senior citizens

Travel Training Benefits

Benefits to transit agencies:

• Effective hands-on, individualized teaching

• Cost savings/avoidance

• Accessibility options & services

WMATA Success

2012 training opportunities• 760 completed one-on-

one travel training• 1,430 completed group

travel training

25 individuals have completed Train-the-Trainer Workshop in 2013

Success stories

Estimated Cost Savings/Avoidance

$50/paratransit trip

Average customer three trips/week

Annual savings of $7,800/customer

Annual system savings of $400,000

Total savings of $1.2 million

Contracted vs. In-House Travel Training

WMATA utilizes both contracted & in-house trainers• Six contracted trainers (two in each of the three main

jurisdictions)

• Four WMATA in-house staff trainers

• Each train customers & perform outreach

Benefits:• Allows trainers to be where customers are

• All referrals reviewed by internal staff

• Expedites training

WMATA Funding

Current funding: $600,000• Future funding anticipated to remain

the same

Presenting travel training to your board• Reduction in paratransit costs• Revenue for bus & rail• More independence for customers with

disabilities• Community relations

Cost-Benefit Analysis

A Travel Training Cost-Benefit Model for People with Disabilities, Public Transportation Agencies, and Communities• Presented at the International Conference on Mobility & Transport

for Elderly & Disabled Persons (2010)

Components of the cost-benefit model• Cost of vehicles & equipment for training (a)

• Cost of travel training personnel (b)

• Cost of supplies & office space (c)

• Increased taxes paid by customers (y)

• Cost avoidance –paratransit trips not provided (z)

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Benefits: y + z

Costs: a + b + c

Three agencies surveyed:

• Agency 1: Cost-benefit ratio of 2.07; total savings of $201,822

• Agency 2: Cost-Benefit ratio of 1.45; total savings of $341,300

Benefit/Cost Ratio:(y + z) / (a + b + c)

Net Benefit:(y + z) – (a + b + c)

• Agency 3: Cost-Benefit ratio of 3.98; total savings of $440,918

Funding Travel Training

Federal funding available through MAP-21• Urbanized Area Formula Grants (5307)/JARC

• Rural Area Formula Grants (5311)/JARC

• Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities (5310)

Funds can come from a transit agency’s capital funding as a mobility management expense• Can also use funds to contract with human

service agencies offering travel training

Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA)

Mission: Promote universal access to transportation for people with disabilities under federal law & beyond by partnering with transportation providers, the disability community & others through the provision of training, technical assistance, applied research, outreach & communication

Functions• Training

• Technical assistance

• Outreach

• Applied research

Introduction to Travel Training Workshop

Train-the-trainer model

• Target audience: new travel trainers or individuals interested in the field

ESPA has been conducting the workshop since 2008

• Approximately 500 individuals have been trained

No other similar training curriculum is available

Introduction to Travel Training Workshop

Seven modulesAssessment

Trip Planning

Assessing Path of Travel

Task AnalysisStreet

Crossing

Riding the Bus

Emergency Preparedness

Introduction to Travel Training Benefits

Training conducted by experienced professionals

Opportunity for hands-on learning during bus & street crossing modules

Audience has wide national representation

Networking

• Access to the global travel training community

ESPA Resources

Competencies for Practice of Travel Instruction & Travel Training• Key guidelines & outlines fundamental abilities needed for

effective travel training

• Viewed as standard in the field

Fundamentals of Travel Training Administration course

Ask the Expert: Nate Neeley, Travel Training Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools

Buses & Trains for Everyone

ESPA Resources

Cost-Benefit Model for Travel Training

Considerations for Selecting & Hiring Travel Trainers: A Compilation of Resources

GET Going! Guiding Everyday Travel

Public Transportation: The Route to Freedom

Travel Training for Student Success: The Route to Achieving Post-Secondary Student Outcomes

You Can Ride

Global Travel Training Community

Online community of trainers• More than 300 members

Members share knowledge

Resources available on all aspects of travel training• Program administration

• Travel instruction planning

• Instruction methods

Visit www.projectaction.org to access ESPA’s resources

Closing

For questions about MTM’s On the Move travel training program contact Robyn Bernardy, Director of Travel Training

• rbernardy@mtm-inc.net

Keep in touch with ESPA

• projectaction@easterseals.com

• 1-800-659-6428

Questions?