Short Range Transit Plan 2008-2013 - Omnitrans

IBI GROUP
SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN REPORT
OMNITRANS COMPREHENSIVE OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
& SHORT RANGE TRANSIT PLAN
9.7.4 DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Integration with Regular Fixed Route Transit
In spite of the growth in demand, ADA paratransit services will not need to be expanded appreciably if
more is done to ensure that people with disabilities use Access regular services whenever possible. With
the regular transit fleet being fully accessible, there are growing opportunities to use regular bus services
to meet some of the needs of many ADA paratransit customers.
It is recommended that Omnitrans encourage the voluntary use of fixed route transit services through the
deployment of demand management elements as described herein.
Partnership with Agencies/Mobility Manager
The structure of ADA paratransit services is changing due to shifts in policy and funding scenarios for
several agencies and organizations in the County. There is a need to develop partnerships with social
service agencies, the medical community and others in order to address the continuity of access to
programs and services.
ADA paratransit is by definition shared-ride public transit for those unable to use accessible regular transit
services. It is important to preserve the integrity of ADA paratransit services for those individuals who
have few or no alternate modes of travel. Typically, agency program requirements entail the transport of
individuals who may not otherwise be eligible for ADA paratransit services. This may include people with
cognitive disabilities or mental illness. Building on the partnership concept or collaborative approach to
mobility management, opportunity exists for Omnitrans staff to assume responsibility for the facilitation of
agency- or program-specific transportation.
It is recommended that Omnitrans:
• Embrace the concept of mobility management in order to bring a more broadbased
perspective to transportation service delivery; and
• Encourage the use of subscription trips for services tailored to meet specific
travel needs and requirements of local programs and agency specific
transportation.
Ancillary Demand Management Strategies
Free Fare Policy – In order to encourage ADA paratransit registrants to voluntarily use conventional
transit (possibly for some of their trips, some of the time), Omnitrans should consider instituting a free fare
policy. This policy will provide for the free use of accessible conventional transit services for a select
experimental group of ADA paratransit registrants for a six-month pilot period. It is important that the
administration develop an evaluation framework in order to gauge the effectiveness of this initiative.
Given the potential benefits (not only in cost savings for Omnitrans, but in the further integration and
expansion of transportation options available to ADA paratransit service registrants), it is recommended
that the administration select a sample of approximately 100 frequent ADA paratransit users to participate
in a six-month pilot. It is suggested that one half of the sample be requested to maintain a trip diary.
It is interesting to note that the experience in the paratransit industry with “free fare” policy is that while
there may not be a significant number of trips “off-loaded” from the ADA paratransit service, registrants
typically have increased their trip making rate and have chosen to make additional discretionary trips.
This is viewed as an additional benefit of this policy as paratransit customers choose to “get out and
about” more frequently.
July 11, 2007 204