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Happy spring!

This April 2016 issue of MassMobility covers news about community transportation, human service transportation coordination, and mobility management in Massachusetts.

Read on to learn about a new federal funding opportunity for healthcare transportation, a new law in Massachusetts that promotes mobility and access for people re-entering society after a conviction, a joint transit authority and planning agency initiative on Cape Cod to examine bus stop access, and more news from around Massachusetts.

This newsletter is compiled by the MassMobility team, a joint initiative of the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and MassDOT. Above, we have added the MassDOT Rail & Transit logo to the newsletter to emphasize the joint nature of the mobility management work between EOHHS and MassDOT and the close working relationship between MassMobility and our colleagues at MassDOT Rail & Transit.
Waitlist active for the 2016 Massachusetts Community Transportation Coordination Conference on May 3
This year's conference is fast approaching, and registration is full! If you have registered but will no longer be able to make it, please let us know as soon as possible so we can let someone in off the waitlist. If you would like to attend but have not yet registered, you may still join the waitlist just in case last minute spots open up.

Getting excited? Post on social media using #MassMobility2016.
FTA releases Rides to Wellness grant opportunity
As part of the federal Rides to Wellness initiative, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is making $5.3 million available for innovative, 18-month pilot projects enhancing access to healthcare for transportation-disadvantaged individuals . Only states, tribes, and direct recipients of federal funds can apply; in Massachusetts, MassDOT and most transit authorities are direct recipients . Applicants must work in partnership with healthcare and human service agencies, as well as transportation providers. Applications are due May 31, and the FTA expects to announce awards in July.
New law increases mobility for people re-entering communities after drug convictions
On March 30, Governor Baker signed into law An Act relative to motor vehicle licenses suspension . As a result, people convicted of most drug-related crimes no longer have their driver's license automatically suspended. The bill was bipartisan , with unanimous support from both the House and Senate. Most provisions went into effect immediately , including reinstatement of driver's licenses.
 
Originally signed into law in 1989, the automatic suspensions created a barrier to successful re-entry into the community. Without a driver's license, it was much harder to find or keep a job, take care of a family, or access drug treatment services.
 
In 2012, Ex-Prisoners and Prisoners Organizing for Community Advancement (EPOCA), a non-profit of ex-prisoners and current prisoners working together on criminal justice issues, began to organize to end the automatic suspensions. They had recently championed a successful effort to reform Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) practices to reduce the effect of past convictions on employment outcomes. However, EPOCA's members reported that past convictions were still showing up on their driving records, hindering employment opportunities and increasing insurance costs - as well as restricting mobility and access. The law was affecting 7,000 people per year for drug-related offenses that were unrelated to operating a vehicle.
 
After a meeting with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, EPOCA partnered with Senator Harriette Chandler and Representative Liz Malia to introduce legislation to end the automatic suspensions. Although they amassed many cosponsors, the bill did not pass that session. They reintroduced it in January 2016, and this time it moved quickly, thanks in part to support from Attorney General Maura Healey, the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, and the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, as well as the numerous phone calls, letters, and stories from constituents that EPOCA generated.
 
The new law is already having an important impact on people's lives. According to Director Cassandra Bensahih, many of EPOCA's members have already reinstated their licenses successfully and are now able to access employment, healthcare, and community opportunities previously unavailable to them. Under the new law, people convicted of drug trafficking can still receive a license suspension, but can apply for a hardship license if they need to drive to work. Visit the RMV website for details on how to reinstate a license. 
Cape examines access to bus stops at suggestion of RCC survey
Infrastructure barriers that prevent riders from accessing bus stops pose one of the most pressing transportation issues on the Cape, according to findings from a rider survey developed and administered by the Cape and Islands Regional Coordinating Council in 2014. Sixty percent of survey respondents indicated that the lack of infrastructure impedes their ability to access public transportation. 
 
This summer, the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (CCRTA) is partnering with the Cape Cod Commission on a region-wide assessment of CCRTA's bus stops. Technicians will visit every bus stop and collect data on amenities such as shelters or benches, as well as recording any physical features that could pose a barrier for riders' access. Technicians will also investigate areas commonly used as flag stops. In the fall, the Cape Cod Commission will analyze the data, prioritizing by ridership, equity, and cost. The results will help determine where investments are needed for bus stop upgrades and infrastructure improvements.
Stakeholders discuss volunteer driver programs
The third Volunteer Driver Program Forum was hosted by the Montachusett Home Care Corporation on April 5 in Leominster. Twenty attendees gathered from as far as Ware and Westport to discuss best practices and share their experiences. 
 
The group talked about different ways to structure a volunteer driver program, as well as insurance and liability concerns.  One attendee noted that the forum was a " wonderful opportunity to learn more about volunteer driver programs, hear about programs other organizations offer, and - most importantly - connect with other Council on Aging Directors to share info!"

Previous forums were held in Pittsfield and Plymouth. All three forums have provided an opportunity for program staff to learn from each other and better understand the challenges and successes of their peers.  If you would be interested in hosting a forum in your region, please contact us .

Visit our volunteer driver program resources for more information about these topics.
School receives grant to develop bus stop location app
MassMobility thanks Susan Bregman, principal and founder of Oak Square Resources, LLC, and editor of The Transit Wire, for submitting this guest article, which was previously published in The Transit Wire. If you would like to submit an article or have an idea for a topic, please contact us.

F orget about the last-mile problem. The Perkins School for the Blind wants to solve the "last 30-feet problem."

The Watertown school received a $750,000 grant through the Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities to fund the development of a mobile application that helps users locate bus stops and other very specific locations.

"For people who are blind or visually impaired, locating an exact, physical landmark like a bus stop can be a real challenge," said Bill Oates, vice president of Perkins Solutions, the school's technology division, in a statement. "GPS can only get you so close, so we're going to focus our grant on micronavigation - helping people safely traverse those last 25-30 feet to their destination."

The app will benefit people like Joann Becker, an assistive technology trainer for Perkins Solutions. She can map her transit route and track bus arrival times with existing mobile apps, but they fall a little short. "My iPhone does a great job of telling me approximately where I am, but it doesn't give me any information about specific bus stops," she said. "That's a really big problem. I need to be able to find where the physical bus stop is; otherwise the bus goes right past me."

Perkins wants to fill that gap by giving users detailed navigation clues that bring them within a white cane's length or less of bus stops and eventually other transportation markers like taxi stands and crosswalk signals. Perkins plans to use crowdsourcing to gather information on bus stops in and around Boston. The school expects to design, develop, and test the app over the next year.
Seven Massachusetts towns receive national recognition for complete streets policies
Smart Growth America honored seven Massachusetts towns for passing high-quality complete streets policies in 2015: Ashland, Framingham, Longmeadow, Lynn, Natick, Norwell, and Weymouth. Congratulations!
 
A Complete Streets approach considers the needs of pedestrians, bicyclists, and others in development of transportation systems and regional planning, and takes into account the needs of people of different ages and abilities. To learn more about best practices, check out the report.
 
To promote policy adoption and support communities in implementing this approach, MassDOT is currently making funding for complete streets projects available to municipalities.
Businesses and universities promote excellence in commuter options
On March 22, MassDOT, MassRIDES, and MassCommute celebrated Massachusetts businesses, colleges, and universities for their efforts in promoting active, healthy, and sustainable travel options at the sixth annual Excellence in Commuter Options (ECO) Awards ceremony. This year's event was the largest to date, recognizing over  220 employers .
 
Eight employers received awards for outstanding accomplishments. Eastern Bank received the Leadership in Innovation award for their new "Commute Another Way" event, which encourages employees to commit to trying a green commute. Six Flags New England was recognized as a "Rising Star" for its engagement with MassRIDES and promotion of commuter options to employees. The Employment Transportation Coordinator at Worcester State University received the Leadership in Commuter Engagement award for his work bringing carpool, carshare, bikeshare, and public transit to campus. As a result of his efforts, the university has been recognized in the Princeton Review's Guide to Green Colleges as the "Most Environmentally Responsible College" for 2010, 2011, 2014, and 2015.
 
Five employers were recognized for leadership in commuter options, one for each commuting mode. The walking award went to UMass Boston, which began a 25-year master plan to improve pedestrian access on campus. For transit, MIT was recognized for its subsidies and partnerships that result in 15,000 commuters using transit daily. Digital Lumens received the award in the bicycling category; this year they added reimbursement for bike commuting expenses to their robust offerings to commuters. MGH was recognized for a carpool program they developed in winter 2015 to ensure that staff were able to get to work during the snowstorms. MIT Lincoln Labs received recognition for doubling its vanpool program in 2015.
 
Visit MassRIDES and MassCommute for more information on how they support employers in implementing best practices in commuter options.
Planners offer help with first & last mile connections
Municipalities, Transportation Management Associations, and other organizations located in the 101 cities and towns that make up the Boston MPO service area are invited to submit applications for planning assistance to identify solutions to "first and last mile" gaps between  transit and employment, commercial, or residential centers. The MPO is accepting applications through April 29.
Congratulations to Jonathan Church
Congratulations to Jonathan Church, new Administrator of the Worcester Regional Transit Authority. In his previous role as Transportation Project Manager at the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, he was involved in many innovative coordination projects, including partnering with a design/engineering firm to improve bus access as part of roadway construction and development of the Westborough shuttle. Please join us in congratulating him.
Coming up in May
If you have registered, we'll see you at the Massachusetts Community Transportation Coordination Conference on May 3! If you have not registered, join the waitlist, and we'll let you know if space opens up.

On May 11, UMass Memorial - Health Alliance Hospital and Heywood Healthcare are offering a Caregivers Transportation Forum in Gardner. The Montachusett Regional Transit Authority, MassMobility, and the North Central Regional Coordinating Council will be providing training on finding transportation services to medical appointments. 

Bay State Bike Week starts May 14! Sign up to host an event, or find an event near you. Last year's offerings included events targeted to seniors, as well as multi-modal programming.

The Kennedy Center returns to Massachusetts May 16-18 for another in their series of three-day workshops on travel training. Anyone who is currently offering travel training services or plans to start is welcome to sign up. The workshop is funded by MassDOT, so there is no charge to attend, but attendees must provide their own transportation and lodging. The workshop will be held in Worcester, and you can register here.

Check out our calendar for additional upcoming events and opportunities.
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Are you on Twitter? If so, follow us @MassMobility for links to community transportation resources relevant to organizations and agencies here in Massachusetts. If you aren't on Twitter, you can still see our posts online at twitter.com/MassMobility/.

We want to know your stories

If you have suggestions for news items or topics to cover in future newsletters, please contact us or submit a guest article. Comments, questions, and feedback are also welcome.

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You can also read past issues of all MassMobility newsletters.