San Luis Obispo - Caltrans - State of California

SAN LUIS OBISPO REGION
COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PLAN
In the cases of the Section 5310 (Special Needs of Elderly Individuals and Individuals with
Disabilities), Caltrans will program the combined FY 06/07 and FY 07/08 at the same time.
Funding levels are higher than historical in each programming cycle.
While no actual apportionments for the next three cycles (FY 06/07 to 08/09) are available until
the start of each Federal fiscal year, the SAFETEA-LU estimates from November 2005 suggest
upward trends in the level of funding available for competitive awards. For instance, JARC
levels are expected to grow by 6 to 8 percent a year; New Freedom levels by 4 to 8 percent a
year; and 5310 levels by 5 to 9 percent a year. Based on the FY 05/06 carry over funds and the
anticipated year to year increases (at national level), one anticipates those programs to grow to
the end of FY 08/09.
With regard to Section 5310 funds, in prior years awards to region were primarily to Ride-On
and ranged from $200k to $250k. This is more than double the JARC funding level for the UZA.
In the rural categories for JARC and New Freedom, the region could increase its funding
potential via competitive projects. For example, in August 2006, Caltrans application guidelines
set a cap of $190k per project – a high target for small agencies with need for matching funds at
a comparable level. The Caltrans application and project evaluation guidelines are being refined
with participation of a JARC/New Freedom Small Urban Advisory Committee with release dates
not known as of this writing.
7.2 OTHER POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION
Tracking down local funding levels for the 62 Federal programs cited in the GAO report on
coordination (2004) is difficult for a number of reasons. In some cases the choice of spending
such funding on transportation is made locally, as with the Title III (b) funding of the Older
Americans Act, and such funds are not automatically directed to transportation. In other cases,
transportation funds are not itemized as they may be absorbed in other budget categories, such
as through staffing assistance to consumers on county vehicles (as with the County Dept. of
Public Health and County Dept. of Social Services).
In the case of the Headstart program operated by the EOC, or with the Tri Counties Regional
Center, substantial transportation investment exists. However, agency policy and operating
practice has traditionally offered limited opportunity for coordination around direct services to
these constituencies, pre-school children and persons with developmental disabilities
respectively. In the case of the Tri-Counties consumers, where Ride-On is the contracted
operator, there is some indirect coordination through cost-sharing on overhead expense.
State funding sources of specialized transportation under Transportation Development Act is
significant in California, and therefore to the San Luis Obispo region. The California Department
of Developmental Services, providing life long services to consumers with developmental
disabilities has a substantial transportation budget, reportedly recently increased in the latest
revisions to the California state budget. The mental health system received an infusion of funds
through the Mental Health Services Act (2005) with funding transportation to consumers of
mental health programs. Tobacco Revenue Settlement funding in California has been largely
directed to “First Five” programs which, in some regions, have directed funds to transportation
for children ages 0 to 5.
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OCTOBER 2007