Welcome to the January 2022 MassMobility newsletter! We'd like to thank all the drivers, transportation providers, and aging and disability services staff working hard to keep older adults, people with disabilites, and all of us safe and mobile during the pandemic.
Read on for grant opportunities, upcoming events, and other news related to transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals in Massachusetts.
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In this month's issue
Apply for funding
MassDOT announces Community Transit Grant awards
Attend a virtual forum on mobility management
Upcoming events
Learn something new
Job posting
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Taking a trip? Bring a mask!
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Government entities - including municipalities and Regional Planning Agencies - can apply for a Regionalization and Efficiency Grant to implement regionalization or other efficiency initiatives that allow for long-term sustainability. Past grants have included funds for regionalized community transportation. Applications are due February 10.
Municipalities and transit authorities can apply for a Shared Streets and Spaces grant from MassDOT to quickly implement improvements to sidewalks, streets, bus stops, and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and strengthened commerce. Projects that serve seniors or youth can receive bonus points. Applications are due March 1.
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MassDOT announces Community Transit Grant awards |
MassDOT announced awards from the FY22 Community Transit Grant Program, which distributes state and federal funding for vehicles, mobility management projects, and operating expenses to expand mobility for older adults and people with disabilities. Municipalities, Councils on Aging, and nonprofits are eligible to apply for this annual grant opportunity, which usually opens in the spring. A recent report from MassDOT and MassMobility highlights past grantees that have incorporated best practices into their projects. If you are interested in learning more or applying for the next round of funding, check out MassDOT's Community Transit Grant Program webpage or contact Jenna Henning, MassDOT's Manager of Grants. |
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Attend a virtual forum on mobility management |
Mobility Management in Massachusetts: a virtual forum
February 3, 10am-noon
Navigating community transportation options can be confusing for older adults, people with disabilities, and others in need of a ride. Through using mobility management strategies, you can facilitate mobility:
- by working directly with consumers to help them become aware of and learn to use the options available to them, and/or
- by working with transportation providers and other stakeholdres to coordinate and expand mobility options.
Join MassMobility, MassDOT, and the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative for a virtual webinar on Thursday, February 3 from 10-noon to learn about examples of mobility management in action in Massachusetts, as well as tools and resources you can use to incorporate mobility management strategies into your work. Register here.
During the forum, we'll hear from:
- A Transition Specialist from Westfield who assists young adults with disabilities in learning to use a range of types of transportation as they prepare to live in the community after they leave the school system
- SeniorCare, an Aging Servics Access Point whose volunteer driver program takes a mobility management approach
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TRIPPS, an initiative of the Brookline Council on Aging which engages older adults in providing peer-to-peer mobility management
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GATRA's Mobility Manager discussing how transit authorities can use mobility management strategies to work with partner agencies and expand local and regional mobility
- Judy Shanley, Partner Director of the National Center for Mobility Management, discussing mobility management at the national level
This virtual forum is targeted to aging and disability services staff, transportation providers, planners, advocates, and anyone else interested in expanding mobility for older adults, people with disabilties, and others who lack access to transportation. Register today!
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Transportation in the news
New reports from the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
New reports and studies
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You can read all past issues of the MassMobility newsletter in our archive
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Contact us anytime if you have a suggestion for something we could cover in a future article, or if you would like to submit a guest article! |
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