San Luis Obispo - Caltrans - State of California

SAN LUIS OBISPO REGION
COORDINATED HUMAN SERVICES-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PLAN
Priorities for Project Selection, continued
Actions needed to expand the capacity of transit services and to improve access to the range of
transportation options suitable for the target populations will differ from the strategies needed to build
the transportation capacity of human services agencies. By building the capacity of human service
transportation providers, one can complement public transit services --- for instance with specialized
services that cannot be provided by the transit sector. Such services include non-emergency
medical, door-through-door and escorted trips. The Plan should encourage opportunities for
strengthening the human service sector’s ability to provide the hard-to-serve trip needs of seniors,
persons with disabilities and low-income individuals.
FRAMEWORK FOR COORDINATION
Recommendations focus upon building a coordinated framework and strengthening ties between
public transit and human service agencies and organizations. A central component of the
coordinated framework is the Regional Mobility Manager, including sub-regional and agency-level
mobility managers. The Federal guidance generally describes mobility management as:
“Mobility management techniques may enhance transportation access for populations
beyond those served by one agency or organization within a community….Mobility
management is intended to build coordination among existing public transportation
providers and other transportation service providers with the result of expanding the
availability of service.”
FTA Circular 9045.1 New Freedom Program Guidance, May 1, 2007, pp. III-10 – 11.
For the San Luis Obispo region, a single Regional Mobility Manager will provide leadership and
promote dialogue between the public transit operators and the human services agencies, as well as
among the public operators themselves. Bridging the communication gap between the two systems
is important and complicated as each speaks different languages and, to some degree, has different
values. Further dialogue among public transit operators is important as the plan speaks to the
critical need for continued coordination among public transit services, as has been the direction of
activities already undertaken. Coordinating public transit will go far in meeting some trip needs
identified by this plan – for example, around transfer locations and timing of connections, common
core service hours and standardized fare policy and fare collection mechanisms.
Given the complexities of this leadership role, the plan recommends that the Regional Mobility
Manager be strongly affiliated with SLOCOG as the metropolitan planning organization. SLOCOG’s
authority as the funding conduit for the public operators and its regional planning responsibility will
help to support and realize the coordination opportunities this plan envisions.
Sub-regional and agency-level mobility managers will also be needed to promote access to services
in the myriad of ways in which these target populations require assistance. This second tier effort
can focus on particular geographic sub-regions of the county, particular populations or even specific
agency’s clientele. The mobility management activities at these levels will extend activities directed
by the regional mobility manager, helping to improve the mobility choices and opportunities of
seniors, persons with disabilities and individuals of low income.
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OCTOBER 2007