Accessible Transportation Options In Florida

Accessible TransportationOptions in Florida

Accessible TransportationOptions in FloridaPresented by John Irvine,Public Relations ManagerFlorida Commission for the Transportation DisadvantagedEmail: john.irvine@dot.state.fl.usWebsite: www.dot.state.fl.us/ctdTransportation Disadvantaged Help Line:1-800-983-2435

Private VS Public TransportationPrivate Transportation Companies Located throughout the state Most have accessible vehicles Few restrictions on when/where/time Often more costly than publictransportation.

Private VS Public TransportationPublic Transportation Located throughout the state Accessible vehicles Some restrictions on when/where/time Generally less costly than privatetransportation.

25 Counties With Public FixedRoute Transportation Alachua – Gainesville Regional Transit SystemBay – Bay Town TrolleyBrevard – Space Coast Area TransitBroward – Broward County TransitCollier – Collier Area TransitDuval – Jacksonville Transit AuthorityEscambia – Escambia County Area TransitHernando – Hernando County TransitHillsborough – Hillsborough Area Regional TransitIndian River – Indian River Council On AgingLake – LakeXpressLee – Lee County TransitLeon – Star MetroManatee – Manatee County Area Transit

25 Counties With Public FixedRoute Transportation Marion – Marion County Area TransitMiami-Dade – Miami-Dade Transit AgencyMonroe – Key West Transit AuthorityOkaloosa – Okaloosa County TransitOrange & Osceola & Seminole – Central Florida RegionalTransit AuthorityPalm Beach – PalmtranPasco – Pasco County Public TransportationPinellas – Pinellas Suncoast Transit AuthorityPolk – Polk County Transit SystemSarasota – Sarasota County Area TransitVolusia – Volusia County Transportation Authority

Advantages to the Public FixedRoute Transportation Each must comply with ADArequirements, by providing accessibletransportation Hours of Service and Service Area ofParatransit Service must be the sameas the Fixed Route No limits on the number of trips youtake or for the trip purpose

All 67 Counties in Florida haveAccessible Public Transportation Access transportation services thru theCommunity Transportation Coordinator(CTC) Must complete an eligibility application Service may be limited in hours andtype of trips.

Government SubsidizedTransportation in Florida Government programs provide transportationservices to people who qualify for them.None of these programs are an entitlement.An individual must qualify on the basis ofeither income, age, disability, or employmentstatus, be unable to use the fixed route publictransit (bus) system in the community, andhave no other means of transportationavailable to them.

Government SubsidizedTransportation in Florida Fixed Route/Fixed Schedule/Deviated PublicTransit (i.e. city bus). This service is heavilysubsidized by both federal and local governmentfunding. Passengers pay a nominal fare that isestablished by the local government. Typically,individuals with disabilities may ride at a reducedfare. Most systems offer bus pass programs – e.g.,for unlimited trips by the day, week, or month. Thereare no eligibility requirements. Not all of the fixedroute/fixed schedule public transit systems’ routesserve the entire county in which it operates. Deviatedsystems are similar to fixed route/fixed schedulepublic transit, but on a smaller scale.

Government SubsidizedTransportation in Florida ADA (American with Disabilities Act) ComplementaryParatransit. This is a “paratransit” (door to door) service that isrequired by law to be provided by all fixed route/fixed schedulepublic transit companies. This purpose of this service is tomake public transit “equally accessible” to people withdisabilities. To be eligible, an individual must have a disabilityand be unable to use and maneuver the fixed bus route systemand the individual’s home must be within ¾ mile of anestablished bus route. The rider must pay a nominal fare, whichcannot be more than twice the fare charged to ride the fixedroute public bus for the same trip. It is in the best interest ofboth the rider and the taxpayer for the rider to be able to use thefixed route system to the greatest extent possible.

Government SubsidizedTransportation in Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Program. This is a“paratransit” (door-to-door) service that is subsidized byfederal, state, and local government. The purpose of thisprogram is to coordinate trips of all riders to the greatestextent possible in order to be as cost efficient as possible.Trips must be scheduled in advance to enable the CTC toschedule vehicles and routes. To be eligible, an individualmust have a disability, must be unable to drive him orherself because of age or income, or must be unable topurchase private transportation (e.g., taxi services) becauseof income. Because of limited funding, the government boardof each CTC establishes priorities for trip purposes.Typically trips are provided for non-emergency medical,nutritional, educational, and employment before social orrecreational trips can be provided.

Government SubsidizedTransportation in Florida Medicaid. This program is a federal and state fundedinsurance program to provide health coverage for selectedcategories of people with low income. Medicaid will pay for aMedicaid-eligible individual’s transportation to and from amedical service that is authorized by Florida’s MedicaidState Plan, provided the individual has no other means oftransportation (i.e., self, fixed route, friend, relative). Inorder to provide “Medicaid Transportation”, Medicaidcontracts with the Commission for the TransportationDisadvantaged, who in turns contracts with a single atransportation entity in each county. In most counties, thatprovider is the CTC. Medicaid requires its transportationproviders to first confirm the rider’s Medicaid eligibility,and then to coordinate, provide or arrange the mosteconomical and appropriate mode transportation available.This includes the purchase of bus tickets or bus passes andthe provision of parartransit services.

Government SubsidizedTransportation in Florida State Government Program/Services. Pursuant to Chapter427, Florida Statutes, whenever state government funds(including federal funds that are administered by stategovernment) are to be spent to transport individuals beingserved by a state program, that transportation must bepurchased from the local CTC, to enable the CTC to coordinatesuch trips with all other trips it provides, thus ensuring costefficient use of government funds. There are specialcircumstances when transportation authorized under agovernment program may be purchased from other entities.These exceptions are established in Rule 41-2, FloridaAdministrative Code, and should be known to the administratorsof each state program. Before such funds can be spent,payment for an individual’s transportation must be authorized bythe government agency.

WHO ARE THETRANSPORTATIONDISADVANTAGED?Those persons who because of physicalor mental disability, income status, orage are unable to transport themselvesor to purchase transportation and are,therefore, dependent upon others toobtain access to health care,employment, education, shopping,social activities, or children who aredisabled or high risk or at risk.

Florida’sCoordinated Transportation“the arrangement for the provision oftransportation services to the transportationdisadvantaged in a manner that is costeffective, efficient and reduces fragmentationand duplication of services.”

OUR MISSIONEnsure the availability of efficient,cost-effective, and qualitytransportation services fortransportation disadvantaged persons.

Coordinating: Social Service funding streams for:67 Counties (Service Areas)456 Contracted Transportation Operators5,746 Vehicles

WHO IS THE FLORIDA COMMISSIONFOR THE TRANSPORTATIONDISADVANTAGED? 7 Voting Members– 5 members who must have significant experience in the operation of abusiness.– 2 members must have a disability and use the transportationdisadvantaged system 8 Ex Officio, Nonvoting Advisors––––––––Secretary of TransportationSecretary of Children and FamiliesDirector of Workforce InnovationExecutive Director of the Dept. of Veteran’s AffairsSecretary of Dept. of Elder AffairsSecretary of Agency for Health Care AdministrationDirector of Agency for Persons with DisabilitiesCounty Manager or Administrator (appointed by the Governor)

Key Numbers 697,159 Passengers51,532,055 Total Trips Provided6,864,421 Employment Trips18,049,456 Medical Trips140,577,456 Total Miles Driven8,933 Employees Statewide

Those Not Served- Unmet Needs 781,850 trips were denied in 2007of those, there were: 32,733 Employment Trips denied 39,077 Medical Trips denied 24,684 Education/Training Trips denied

Consumer Advocate Services TD Helpline/Ombudsman Program Every vehicle is required to have the TDHelpline posted Service Availability, Quality of Service,Referrals, etc.

MAJORACCOMPLISHMENTS Statewide coordination in all 67 counties Florida continues to be a national model forcoordinating transportation Uniform standards in place to ensure safetyand quality Legislature recognizes role of Commission toensure accountability of limited tax dollars

MAJORACCOMPLISHMENTS US Department of Transportation and USDepartment of Human Services “BestPractice” Model Received the 1998 and 2005 Florida TaxWatch and Florida Council of 100’s DavisProductivity Award Received Community TransportationAssociation of America’s “2008 StateLeadership Award”

Don’t Forget . . FUNDING 1989 Legislature upgraded the Coordinationstatute & created independent Commissionand first-time dedicated trust fund; 1990 Commission obtained additionalfunding source (15% transit block grant &temporary parking placards); 1994 Commission obtained additional funds( 1.00 added to existing 50 cents on tagfees);

FUNDING, FUNDING,FUNDING Continued. . . 2000 Commission sought additional fundingfor TD Trust Fund; not authorized; 2001 Commission sought additional fundingfor TD Trust Fund; not authorized; 2002 Commission sought additional fundingfor TD Trust Fund; 9 Million AdditionalFunding granted by Legislature. 2008 additional funding sought; notauthorized

How Service isProvided Provided Local Partnerships

Official PlanningAgencies Contracted for each County(i.e. MPO,RPC, other Commission appointedplanning agency) Appoints LCB Members Staffs the LCBs Conducts Competitive Procurement ofCTC

Local Coordinating Board(LCB)¾Established in Every County¾Provide assistance to the CTCs¾Identify local service needs, provideinformation, advice and direction to CTCs

Community TransportationCoordinator (CTC)Contracted in Each CountyThey consist of: Private For-Profits/Non-Profits Public Transit Agencies County Governments

The Commission’sOmbudsman ProgramThe Ombudsman Program beganin 1994 to ensure qualitycustomer service fortransportation disadvantagedcustomers.

Primary Goal: Provide consumers a forum toexpress concerns relating toservices. Provide the Commission with a toolto improve policies and programimplementation.

Ombudsman Staff: Intake calls Listen and document concerns of theconsumer Provide callers with information Refer callers to appropriate localarea services Maintain a database of informationfrom all callers

Contact the Commission Toll free (800) 983-2435Commission for the TransportationDisadvantaged605 Suwannee StreetMS-49Tallahassee, FL 32399-0450 www.dot.state.fl.us/ctd

Thank You

transportation (i.e., self, fixed route, friend, relative). In order to provide "Medicaid Transportation", Medicaid contracts with the Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged, who in turns contracts with a single a transportation entity in each county. In most counties, that provider is the CTC. Medicaid requires its transportation