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Welcome to the August 2020 issue of the MassMobility newsletter! In this month's issue, we highlight new transit services that recently launched in Hamilton and Southbridge. We also feature a wide range of resources - including webinars, reports, and peer learning networks - to support your efforts to expand mobility for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals in Massachusetts.
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CATA expands service to Hamilton
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As of July 1, older adults in Hamilton can now call the Cape Ann Transportation Authority (CATA) for dial-a-ride trips within town, as well as rides to 11 nearby towns. Hamilton joined CATA in late 2019, and town officials worked with the transit authority to transition the senior transportation from the previous provider and expand service. Rides are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. Seniors must reserve their trip at least two days in advance and can request rides to medical, shopping, social, or other destinations within the service area. CATA has partnered with the Hamilton Council on Aging and other partners on outreach.
As a result of joining CATA, Hamilton residents can also use the dialysis transportation service that CATA launched in March for all its member towns, with funding from a MassDOT Community Transit grant. Prior to the CATA pilot, no public transit option existed for Cape Ann residents to get to the nearest dialysis center, which is 15 miles away in Beverly. CATA developed the idea in partnership with the Mayor of Gloucester, Gloucester public health nurse, the North Shore Regional Dialysis Center, and other regional stakeholders. Dialysis patients alert the dialysis center that they want to use the CATA transportation, and the clinic schedules the trip. "The dialysis center knows the clients. They know what time the appointment starts, how long it's likely to take, and whether shared-ride dial-a-ride will work well for a client, so we work with them to actually schedule the trip," explains Felicia Webb, CATA Administrator.
Although both services were initially planned pre-pandemic, CATA instituted safety procedures that allowed them to launch. Each has attracted a steady ridership.
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New shuttle connects Southbridge and Webster
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The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) launched a new pilot service on August 3, a shuttle connecting riders to major employers and other destinations in Southbridge, Dudley, and Webster. Funded by a MassDOT Workforce Transportation grant, the shuttle connects two Harrington Hospital campuses and serves Dudley District Court, as well as shopping destinations and services such as the DTA and MassHire offices, a library, and a housing authority. The new service not only expands bus service to Dudley, but also expedites the commute between Southbridge and Webster, as riders no longer have to ride into Worcester and make a connection.
"We're really excited about this. It's a challenging time, so we're so glad we were able to launch a new service and serve people who may not have had access to transportation in that area before this route was available," shares Meaghan Lyver, WRTA's Manager of Marketing and Communications. The new shuttle is already attracting riders, and WRTA is partnering with employers located along the route to do outreach to employees. To encourage people to try the shuttle, WRTA is offering rides free of charge for the month of August.
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Massachusetts celebrates ABLE to Save Month
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August is ABLE to Save Month. Individuals with disabilities can use ABLE accounts to save and pay for qualified expenses, including expenses related to transportation. Plans offer tax advantages, and savings do not count towards asset limits for social security and Medicaid benefits. Massachusetts residents can choose the Massachusetts-based Attainable Savings Plan or can also enroll in a plan from another state.
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Upcoming webinar highlights tips and tools for marketing community transportation services
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Register for a webinar on Marketing Community Transportation, coming up Wednesday, September 30 from 3-4pm. Looking to inform older adults, people with disabilities, and other community members about your transportation service? Wondering how to get riders back onboard? Presenters from NADTC and CTAA will highlight free tools you can use to promote your community transportation service, as well as tips on how to reassure riders about safety during the pandemic.
This webinar is jointly organized by MassMobility and the Moving Maine Network as part of a webinar series featuring initiatives from Massachusetts and Maine, as well as mobility management best practices from around the country. Sign up to receive alerts when MassMobility organizes webinars or related events.
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Including riders in planning community transportation services
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The national Transit Planning for All initiative recently overhauled its website. Check out www.transitplanning4all.org for tools to help with engaging riders in all phases of planning and decision-making. This recorded webinar from July 23 features initiatives from Springfield and Worcester - as well as Portland, Maine - where riders have taken an active role in advocacy and decision-making.
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Hot off the press - check out these new reports for insights on operating a shuttle, age-friendly transportation, making shared mobility modes work for older adults and people with disabilities, and more!
Massachusetts reports
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Travel trainers and volunteer driver programs engage in peer learning
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In order to help practitioners in different regions share their expertise and learn from each other, MassMobility runs two peer networking communities:
The Massachusetts Travel Instruction Network is open to anyone who provides or plans to provide travel training in Massachusetts. Travel trainers help people with disabilities, older adults, or others learn the knowledge and skills they need to ride fixed-route public transit independently and safely. The network met virtually in July to hear a presentation on mental health and travel instruction, and will meet again in September to discuss offering travel instruction online. Contact us to join the travel instruction network listserv. The Massachusetts Volunteer Driver Program Network is open to anyone who runs or wishes to start a volunteer driver program. The network met in July to give programs the opportunity to update each other on how they are adapting to the pandemic and to pose questions to their peers. Upcoming meetings in September and October will focus on programs that combine volunteer and paid drivers, scheduling software, and more opportunities for programs to share their adaptations to COVID-19. Contact us to join the volunteer driver program email list.
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MBTA surveys seniors and people with disabilities
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The MBTA is collecting rider feedback on its Reduced Fare programs to learn how they can improve the application process. People who currently have a Senior Charlie Card, TAP card, or Blind Access card can fill out this brief survey for current customers. The MBTA is also interested in talking to older adults and people with disabilities who do not currently have a Reduced Fare card to explore the possibility of an online application. Prospective customers interested in providing feedback can sign up for a one-hour video interview.
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Champions Institute seeks local elected officials
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Local elected officials interested in learning more about Complete Streets can apply to the Champions Institute, a partnership of Smart Growth America and the CDC. Apply by September 10. Complete Streets provide safe and accessible options for all users, regardless of their age, ability, and mode of travel.
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UMass Boston offers senior transportation course
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Registration is open for Organizing and Managing Senior Transportation Options, a fall 2020 course offered through the Gerontology Institute and the College of Advancing and Professional Studies at UMass Boston. This online course is co-taught by Helen Kerschner, Director of Volunteer Transportation for the Shepherd's Centers of America, and Nina Silverstein, Professor in the Gerontology Department at UMass Boston. Kerschner and Silverstein, who are now in their eighth year of offering the course, also authored the course textbook: Introduction to Senior Transportation.
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COVID-19 and community transportation
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We want to thank all our readers who are on the front lines helping older adults, people with disabilities, and essential workers. We also wish to send a special thank you to all drivers!
For up-to-date information about a particular transportation service, please contact the transportation provider directly.
For general information, visit these websites:
In addition, various organizations have compiled COVID-19 resources related to transportation or mobility management:
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Job postings
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The Maine Department of Transportation is seeking a consultant to provide technical assistance to a network of volunteer driver programs.
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Follow us on Twitter
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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/.
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We want to know your stories
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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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Please share this newsletter
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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.
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