|
|
Happy spring! This May 2019 issue of the MassMobility newsletter covers
news related to mobility for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals in Massachusetts. Read on to learn about an upcoming funding opportunity, a new pilot to increase transit access for blind and low-vision riders, new resources, opportunities to share feedback, and more.
May is
Older Americans Month
, observed nationally and in
Massachusetts
. This year's theme -
Connect, Create, Contribute
- emphasizes that when older adults are engaged in their communities, we all benefit. Thanks for everything you do to ensure that older adults and others have access to the transportation they need to participate in community life here in Massachusetts.
|
Annual funding opportunity opens this month
|
MassDOT announced that its Community Transit Grant Program (CTGP) - the annual competitive funding opportunity for projects enhancing the mobility of older adults and people with disabilities - will open May 28 and close June 25. From May 13 to 24, MassDOT is holding a series of training sessions in locations around the state. Training is mandatory for new applicants, but past applicants are also welcome.
Municipalities, Regional Transit Authorities, non-profit organizations, and some transportation providers are eligible to apply for funding. Funding can be used to purchase vehicles, pay mobility management-related expenses, or support operating costs for service supplementing what is already available for older adults and people with disabilities. Projects should be targeted to older adults and people with disabilities but can serve others as well if space allows.
Check out the CTGP website for more information, including examples of past awards. Visit the MassMobility funding website for data sources to use in crafting your proposal, as well as additional funding opportunities.
|
New pilot offers visual interpreter service on the MBTA
|
In partnership with Aira, the MBTA launched the
Access AI Pilot Program
to provide indoor and outdoor wayfinding to help blind and low-vision individuals find and use transit stations. Riders who download the Aira app can receive free access to visual interpreter services throughout the MBTA bus, subway, commuter rail, and ferry systems. The app connects users remotely to professional agents who, through the technology, are able to see the user's surroundings and offer verbal directions to help the rider get where they need to go.
Check out this video
to see a demonstration. During the pilot, Aira is free for anyone using it on the T.
|
Local businesses partner with NRTA to promote year-round service
|
In March, the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) partnered with local island businesses on a promotional contest. The contest invited participants to answer trivia questions about the history of transit on the Island, find a special code listed on ads on buses, and take a selfie on the bus. Two winners each won a basket of prizes donated by local businesses. NRTA offered the contest to promote its new year-round service.
|
New report, webpage highlight TNC partnerships
|
Interested in learning more about how organizations in Massachusetts are partnering with Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), like Uber and Lyft, to improve mobility? Check out our
new
webpage on partnering with TNCs
to increase access for transportation-disadvantaged populations.
The webpage features our new report
"Partnering with Transportation Network Companies to Improve Mobility for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Low-income Individuals in Massachusetts." The report discusses how organizations in Massachusetts have structured and funded their partnerships, as well as challenges they have encountered, with additional programmatic details in a table. The webpage also highlights emerging partnerships and links to national resources.
|
EOHHS seeks input on HST brokerage through listening sessions & RFI
|
EOHHS is hosting public listening sessions for the Human Service Transportation Office's (HST) Brokerage System. The HST Office oversees non-emergency medical transportation for MassHealth members as well as transportation for Department of Developmental Services, Department of Public Health, Department of Mental Health, Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, and Massachusetts Commission for the Blind programs. MassHealth covers transportation for trips to medical, dental, mental health, or substance use disorder appointments, as well transportation to Day Habilitation programs.
EOHHS invites consumers, MassHealth members, and other stakeholders to attend, share their experiences with the program, and make suggestions for improvement. Comments and suggestions made at the listening session may be used to inform program design and procurement going forward.
The
listening sessions are open to all members of the public. The first took place in Boston on April 29. Additional sessions are scheduled in Springfield on May 6 and in Chelmsford on May 8. Locations, timing, and details are available on the
HST website.
If you have questions or need to request accommodations, please
email HST
. Occupancy may be limited and will be available on first-come, first-served basis.
EOHHS has also released a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit written input from all interested parties on an array of topics under consideration, including improvements to consumer experience, integration of additional service levels, and inclusion of ride-hail services in the future.
|
Share your feedback on the conference
|
|
|
|
|
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is hiring a
Program Manager for Planning and Policy to organize APTA's mobility management activities and support the National Center for Mobility Management.
|
Transportation coordination in the news
|
|
|
|
Follow us on Twitter
|
| 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. |
|
Please share this newsletter
|
| Please forward this newsletter widely to others who are interested in mobility management, community transportation, or related topics and encourage them to subscribe to receive future newsletters and publications. You can also read past issues of all MassMobility newsletters. |
|
|
|
|
